Malaysian Trumpet Snails - Yes Or No With Ada Aquasoil.

[craynerd]

Most of you are aware that malaysian trumpet snails are useful to turn over the substrate and reduce pockets of anairobic gases, as well as being moderate algae eaters.
When i had my sand substrate i thought this was a great idea, but now with ADA AS i am not so sure. The AS is much lighter and the granuals are much larger in size, so i don`t think gas build up is an issue. However, my other trail of thought is that MTS turn over the substrate, which is surely always a good thing.

Please add your vote, but also reply with a little explanation.


Thanks
Chris

 

[phlawed]

what can it hurt? i have probably more than 50 in my tank by now, but only ever see a few at a time, they hide most of the day.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I voted against them.

The reason being is that allthough they do a great job they may ( over time ) brake down the structure of the aqua soil. Aqua soil is not like gravel and will break down when put under pessure and roughly handled so i could see the snails doing this but on a small and slow process.
MTS can get quite big so emagin one of those burrowing into your lovely aqua soil, Nahh go with amano shrimp and ottos for algae control.

 

[craynerd]

YEs, now after those two replies i am with you moody.

I hadn`t thought about them breaking the AS up, but that could be possible. Also i find my AS is lighter than sand or gravel and i was worried they would uproot my plants at such an early stage since the root systems are not yet developed.

Thanks for your input.

Chris

 

[dasmall1]

Voted same as moody. I only found them beneficial with sand.

 

[AquaBarb]

I know this is an old thread but as any of our current members had malaysian trumpet snails with a substrate of aquasoil capped off with sand?

Wondering if the snails would uproot all the aquasoil?

 

[Byron]

I would be equally or even more concerned about the bacterial issues with any form of planting substrate for the fish, especially the substrate-level species. I suppose the snails might quicken this, just a thought.

 

[AquaBarb]

Kind of regetting it now tbh Byron, first time using aquasoil and i wasnt aware or heard many issues of bacterial problems using it. I normally just do playsand with root tabs but i was planning on doing a land section with trees with a dried out river bed wrapping round it.

Im not having any bottom dwellers so i thought mts would be good to help turnover the sand but i dont want the aquasoil coming up to the surface as i think it looks messy.