Some advice need please =D

[duyisalilaznboi]

Ok, so...recently i got a 35 gallon tank from someone because he needed more space in his house and i brought it home. The tank is HEAVILY planted, with the biggest plants being ozelots swords, and tiny dark crypts as foreground on the right half of the tank, and some stringy plants in front (its not too bad). Oh, one more thing, it has a bad case of SNAILS!~

So, not liking the sight of gasping mouths on the glass, i thought of yoyo loaches, but my mom though they were "ugly", so no loaches >.< Im thinking of getting 3 angels since i've read that they can harrass and eat those little buggers.

And here's where the problem lies:

1. There are tons of DEAD snails on the floor and i cant net them out since my arms arent that long enough to reach down there, the net in my hand can but i cant see where im netting

and there are tons of them, the guy said that the tank has been establish for 2 years, so this probably wasnt a problem for him, but im worried if i put in the angelfish now, they'll get sick, is there a scavenger for dead snails that would match with angelfish?

2. Im thinking of getting and breeding red cherry shrimp in my other 10 gallon (i only have 2 tanks) so im thinking of moving the cardinal tetras and otos into the 35 gallon to prevent them from eatting the small baby shrimps, bad idea? should i just leave them in there? will they eat the shimps?

3.Im thinking of breeding the angels too, but since im going to get 3 for better chances of a pair, where should i put the extra angelfish since i want the babies to be parent raised, then take them out during the free swimming stage into the shrimp tank ?

So, suggestions please?

 

[Lupin]

to MFK!

1. What are the water parameters? Determine first why the snails died in the first place. The ones you have are quite resilent and should not die that quickly. If they died in mass numbers, your water must have chlorine, chloramine, high ammonia and high nitrite. Did you use a dechlorinator to change the water? Siphon the suspected dead snails.

As far as snails are concerned, they are far from being actual issues. People find them annoying in mass numbers but overfeeding is often the cause of this. Cut back on feeding and they will eventually decline in number. They are part of the ecosystem useful in consuming leftover foods, cleaning up dead and decaying plant parts and in trumpet snails, they burrow the substrate thus preventing anaerobic bacteria from colonizing which when disturbed will then release hydrogen sulfide, a dangerous gas that prove fatal to both the owner and the fish.

2. Otos will not eat the shrimps. Leave them where they are. Cardinal tetras do eat young shrimps but if your tank is heavily planted, this is hardly an issue at all.

3. Get 4-5 angels. 3 isn't going to help as once two pair up, they have a tendency to harass the last one constantly unless you have a spare tank as a backup in case this does happen.

 

[dingoofus]

Crikey, you must be pretty short if you can't reach the bottom of that tank, lol. Welcome to Mfk 8D

 

[duyisalilaznboi]

well they are pretty hardy so their not dying in mass numbers, theres still TONS of them left, i figure they died of old age, and the tank is not that heavily planted, a few growing wisteria and some other plants(i forgot the name)
and if i get 4 angels i think thats going to overstock the 35gallon tank
and i just put in a large mts from the future-shrimp tank into the 35 so yea...
and for dingoofus, im 15, going to be 16 in july so my arms barely reach down the about 16-18 inches tank 0.o

 

[duyisalilaznboi]

plus i forgot, no fish in the 35 gallon as of right now, but the last owner said that it is cycled already, going to test it at the lfs to be sure anyways

 

[Lupin]

Have your LFS list down the exact results and check if they're using liquid test kits. If they are using test strips, then you'll need to buy your own liquid test kit for accurate results.

 

[duyisalilaznboi]

they use lidquid, i saw them the last time i went =D good store too and im buying angels from there 3 for 10 bucks

 

[hillbilly]

Aquarist beaten down by snails! Sorry. Just kidding. I have a tank that hasn't been planted in over a year, and snails still multiply in there. My fault really, I just ripped the plants out, did a water change, and called it a day. A real easy way to control them is with your siphon hose during water changes. Yep, just siphon the little buggers up. One will get stuck in there occasionally, but give the tube a smack, and the snail falls out. I like things that are easy.

 

[hillbilly]

plus i forgot, no fish in the 35 gallon as of right now, but the last owner said that it is cycled already, going to test it at the lfs to be sure anyways

I suggest that you get a test kit of your own, unless you live next door to a LFS. It's not practical to have to run down to the store every time you need to test your water. A good basic kit is not that expensive, and should be part of every fish keepers equipment.

 

[migetguy]

welcome to mfk
man u do have short arms i clean my dad's 100 gallon and 55 gallon and i can almost reach the bottom anyways i agree with lupin