hiya everyone

[wildcat76]

hi all, im a new fishkeeper and my tank consists of 2 placostomus and lots of platys and sword tails and 1 serpea tetra and neons. ive a 3ft and 2ft tank. im currently in trouble my 3ft tank is covered in snails i have tried snail smasher and it aint working and i think my fish are stressed the temp is 75 farenheit. the fish have currently been stayin on the surface,but i gave them a water change today and they seem better swimming everywhere now. but these snails i was advised snail traps at the shop but took the smasher but no effect they keep comin back in hundreds please help.

im from uk

thanks wilcat 76

 

[William]

Hiya - the snails are a pain. But you can conquer them!!

First off - welcome to the forum

Secondly- why are the snails there... because there is food for them right. So that means there must be excess food which you are feeding and the fish aren't eating this abundant food supply fuels a snail population explosion! So while you will not kill all your snails I would definately reduce your feeding!! How long has your tank been set up, it may still be cycling. The water change was a very good move - as you realised yourself.

If the fish start repeating their stressed symptons then do another water change like you did now. Make sure you don't disturb the filter (this is where the bacteria live which convert fish waste(ammonia - toxic) -> (nitrite - toxic) -> nitrate (almost harmless), the cycling proccess is the build up of bacteria until they are of such a great number that any ammonia produced gets converted to nitrate almost immediately. I've got to go so I may have missed some stuff but hopefully some of the other members can pitch in if I missed stuff.

 

[cichlidmaster]

Welcome to the forum, wildcat76,

Feel free to post as often as you like.

CM