Will Malaysian Trumpet Snails Lower Nitrates In Any Way?

[Gage Zamrzla]

What the title says, just curious. I know they breed fairly fast and they're decent for airiating (spelling) sand but I'm wondering if they'll help dent nitrates a little. I know frequent water changes and lowering feedings are a few ways to maintain lower nitrates, I'm not trying to skimp with snails it's just a possible addition to help.

 

[HungDang]

they are an animal so they should produce more nitrates not reduce it!

 

[Anubisscott]

If you consider the fact they eat left over food that could rot and raise the nitrates/ammonia levels if left uneaten yes. It's just not by much.

 

[plecostic]

To my understanding removing nitrates can only be done via water changes. Another option is lots of plants, I hear they can reduce nitrates.

 

[Zari]

Well with them aerating the sand you could do a freshwater deep sand bed which should reduce nitrates, however I don't really know too much about freshwater deep sand beds.

 

[alexanian]

+1 on the plants, being water plants or just putting roots of a land plant in the tank is the best way to reduce nitrates. Deep sand beds are debated to remove nitrates cuz there would be no air deep down in the sand thus allowing anaerobic denitrifing bacteria to consume them. In that case however u do not want snails as they would disturb the sand bed allowing air deep in the sand. The effectivness of this method is debated cuz it is suspected that pockets of some toxic sulphuric acids or some other chemical ( can't remember right now) will be trapped in pockets under the sand, and if released would poison the fish. Others say there is no real evidence of that happening. Same effect can be donne with deep gravel beds with a plenum. Plenum is and empty space between the gravel and the bottom of the tank.

 

[Zari]

Well they help aerate it to keep the toxic gasses from building up in high quantity's that would be poisonous while still allowing anaerobic pockets to form for bacteria to consume nitrates. At least that's what I read somewhere, I know in salt water you want the same, a couple critters to disturb the sand bed some but not too much if you go with a deep sand bed.

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

Well with them aerating the sand you could do a freshwater deep sand bed which should reduce nitrates, however I don't really know too much about freshwater deep sand beds.

This is interesting and some what new to me. My Biocube sand is about 3"-4" in some areas so I'll look into fresh deep sand beds then, thanks.