click

So my tank has been cycling for about 2 weeks now. Today I found a small snail on one of the leafs of my plants. I took it out and I can't see any others yet. Is my tank doomed to be infested by snails now? I'm also getting brown algae on my plants... and the tank is not fully cycled yet so I can't add fish to help with these problems

What should I do?

Amanda

Just take out the snails if you don't want them.
How much light is your tank recieving?

JaneAustenAddict

Is your tank located near a window or do you have the tank light on for a good portion of the day? My tank had a bad algae breakout a few months ago so I put it in a sort of black out for a week where I didn't turn the lights on at all and the algae went away.

click

My tank is nowhere near a natural light source. The one 20W 24" Flurescent light has a timer and is on for 12 hrs and off for the remaining 12. I think what I see on leaves is algae, since what else can it be?

And what are snails doing in an uncycled tank? I thought they didn't like bad water. My nitrites are pretty high. And I add ammonia every now and then.

gunner13

Try changing the timer to only light up the tank for 8-10 hrs only, this should help with the algae. The snail probably came with the plant so you shldnt have many if any more.
Nick

Robin4

jdhef

Since your algae is brown, I'm going to guess that it is actually Diatoms. Diatoms are very common in newly cycled (or cycling) tanks. While not to easy on the eyes, it is harmless to fish and will go away on it's own in a few weeks.

Razmear

loaches will take care of your snail problem.
if you buy live plants you get snails, not much you can do about it other than have fish that eat snails.
brown algae is ugly but harmless, usually passes.

eb

eiginh

What do the snails look like?

aquarist48

Hello Click. As stated above brown algae/diatoms, very common in new tanks and will eventually go away. You can always remove it from your plants with your fingers. Vacuums will take care of it on your substrate once you are cycled. Please do not add any fish until your tank is cycled.
As for snails...they can live in the most horrible conditions. Old stagnant, stale water it doesn't matter to them about the cycle.
Mystery Snails
A link on snails you may find interesting:
Ken

click

Thank you all for the encouraging words. I have to admit I paniced a little yesterday when I saw that snail and the algae was much more visible. As I did some reading and with your help and advices, I know better now and kinda feel silly for reacting like I did.

Absolutely no fish till the cycle is complete. I was planning for a mystery snail later on, but I wanted to have good water quality first ( I thought they need it). Hmmm, reading the link you provided, seems like I could get one now? At least I would have something to look at in my tank. Plus I have hard water, the snail would love it. Would the snail suffer from nitrites? I have to do some more research first, I don't want to make any creature suffer, it would defeat the purpose of the fishless cycle.

I was not planning for loaches. If I get some snail infestation I think will try the cucumber method first, then the picking one by one method, and last resort loaches.

It looked something like the pic attached only much much smaller. Think is the "pest" type.

Attached Images

pond-snail1.jpg (59.7 KB, 39 views)

iloveengl

I have "pest" snails in my planted brackish tank, so yep, they can pretty much live in any water!

I have sand substrate, though, so I actually appreciated them because they stir the sand and reduce dangerous gas pockets. So long as you don't overfeed your fish, the population will stay in check (I only have three for months now) and you can just enjoy how pretty their shiny shells are.

click

Never mind on adding mystery snail before the cycling is done. Reading the webz seems like is not such a great idea. If I see any other pond snails on my plants, I will elt them be for now.

aquarist48

Hello Click. I'm glad you decided not to add any snails until your tank is cycled. Even though they may survive it, I'd hate to risk it. I have round my snails to be just too cool.
Another link you may enjoy: Snail photos


Ken

click

Oh no Ken, why did you give me that link. They are so beautiful ..now I want one of each

Chosing the snail will prove to be harder than chosing fish.