Sand Maintenance - Mts And Assassin Snails?

[kaivalagi]

Hi All,

I have just sorted out my new tank and have sand substrate for the first time. I figure I should get some Malaysian Trumpet snails to keep the sand in check, but understand they breed like rabbits...

The tank is 5ft so I figured on getting maybe 20 MTS?

What would be a good ratio of Assassin snails versus MTS to keep them in check but not lose them all?

20 MTS v's 5 Assassins?

Any one with experience of keeping a good balance between the 2? Or any other suggestions to accomplish the same thing with the substrate?

Cheers

 

[Mikaila31]

IMO you don't need the assassin snails. I keep MTS, ramshorns, and pond snails. I have not had any tank with a uncontrollable snail population. I'm not too sure how well assassin snails will be able to prey on MTS. I know my MTS have a "door" to seal the shell. Either way its easier to control the avalible food then to add fish or other things that will eat them.

 

[kiriyama]

They will only really have a population explosion if you over feed the tank, the assassin snails will eat some of the MTS but they eat a few snails then burrow into the sna dfor a few days and rest so they will only help keep the population under control a little bit.....

 

[walkers101]

if you get over run a few clown loaches will do the trick

 

[kaivalagi]

Okay so I'll see how it goes, at least it will be a good indicator of over feeding