[prow]

hi all i have a 120gal tank with a 45gal sump with macro algae. 165lbs LR. 1/2" sandbed. just trying to get my coraline set. tanks been going for about 4 months. currently there are 4 green chromis, 1 blue devil damsel, 1 ekectric blue hermit about 2.5 inches, 1 zebra hermit 1" and 4 torchus snails. i want to let it run for 6 more months before stocking corals and more fish. i plan on getting some more snails today. i was thinking of getting 5 astrea, 4 cerith and 4 Nassarius snails plus a tiger serpant star. i have some growth nothing bad or any problems. do have many mysids worms and things. the coraline just started to take off. the torchus snails were added last week. so do you think this is to much to add at this point? what would recommend to keep for tank cleaners for the next 6 months? no more crabs though.

[gqsmoothster]

you may need about 5 times the amount of snails you mentioned. The nassarius are my favorite, along with turbo snails. I also enjoy my two crown conch. I have about 10 nassarius but would happily double that amount. They are the main ground crew and are enjoyable to watch them just after feeding time (when they look like "night of the living dead" snails and just pop up to clean up the mess).The others you mentioned are great, too. Just think with your amount of rock and tank, you'll end up needing more. No crime in starting small though.

[gqsmoothster]

PS

check this thread: Hermit Crabs/snails etc... which I think should be a sticky. You probably already know about what different snails do since your questioned seemed to just be about number. Regardless, it may be helpful.

Also, I believe the snail is spelled trochus (not torchus)

[prow]

yeah they should make that a sticky too. starting small. i know i will need more. will have more just want to add the ones i need more of as i go. but do want a good enough now, at least for the next 5 months or so. i now have 10 turbos and 10 trochus cant seem to find any cerith snails though leaving out the nassarius snails for now.

[gqsmoothster]

I think the Nassarius are essential. Any reason for leaving them out now? From your list, I believe they're the only substrate stirrer you'll have. Trust me when I say they put the "cleanup" in "cleanup crew"

[prow]

just not really feeding now. no food for them. i syphone the the sand bed real good everyother week and its only 1/2" deep. close to bb. o i have 2 tiger serpants in there too. i guess i could add a couple nassarius but dont want them to starve right now. if i start to have high nitrates/phos and or bad algae growth i will add some. not dout though i also think they are a must have and will be getting some when the time is right.

[zhenya]

Just to add to confusion, I'll add this old link for you to read over,prow.

http://web.archive.org/web/200104100...=&RecordNo=166

I think this article may answer some of your questions before you go out and start buying snails left and right. Don't forget that all of the snails will need enough food to sustain them, so I would start on the catious side as to the numbers of them you plan to put in your tank. Personally, I usually see if a small amount of them can handle the various clean up duties and if not, than I add few more as needed. Beats the hell out of spending all that money first and than wach them die of starvation. 1/2" sand bed is probably not deep enough to have many Nassarius snails and I would forget about the conchs as well. I believe Dr.Shimek recommends somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 or 2 square feet per inch of shell of open sand for those,IIRC.

[prow]

nice read. that is what i was thinking wait and see. i got 20 snails because i knew some would die. so far lost 6 of turbos and 2 of the trochus. ouch. that leaves me with 12 . the rest seem to be doing good eating cruzing around being a snail. think i will just add 5-10 ceriths next month depending on what my needs will be.