Nerites Are Dead!

I have a tank with mystery snails and A couple Nerites. I woke up and my Betta and mystery snails seem okay but both Nerites are dead. Any ideas of what’s going on?

 

Since the water conditions are fine the only that really comes to mind is feeding. Were the nerites just living on waste or did you specifically feed them. Seems unlikely but perhaps they both starved at the same time. Probably not but that's all I can think of. Sorry that I can't be more help.

 

Spinach 1-2 twice a week and fish food daily. I’m wondering if it could ammonia I have yet to change the filter this month.

 

Spinach 1-2 twice a week and fish food daily. I’m wondering if it could ammonia I have yet to change the filter this month.

You need to read up on the nitrogen cycle, do NOT change your filter, especially if your tank is not cycled. What are your water perimeters? What size is the tank? What are all the inhabitants?

 

Spinach 1-2 twice a week and fish food daily. I’m wondering if it could ammonia I have yet to change the filter this month.

Spinach and fish food doesn't seem like a very adequate diet for snails that live on algae. How about getting your snails some algae tabs, spirulina, squash and broccoli?

 

Update! My snails were fine my tank is cycled now officially!

 

Cool, That quickly? Wow, did u seed it with cycled filter media? What are your perimeters?

 

Cool, That quickly? Wow, did u seed it with cycled filter media? What are your perimeters?

I got some aquarium plants that sucked the nitrite out of my tank and did Daily - every other day 25-50% water changes.

 

You need to read up on the nitrogen cycle, do NOT change your filter, especially if your tank is not cycled. What are your water perimeters? What size is the tank? What are all the inhabitants?

Wait.. I am cycling. What do you mean by do not change your filter? Am I not supposed to change it every month or should I wait it change it one month after I cycle and cut off the blue sponge part and put that part in the filter again with the new cartridge?

 

Wait.. I am cycling. What do you mean by do not change your filter? Am I not supposed to change it every month or should I wait it change it one month after I cycle and cut off the blue sponge part and put that part in the filter again with the new cartridge?

Just don't change the filter media, especially while you're tank is cycling. Rinse it thoroughly in dechlorinated water if it's gunky. Most of your nitrifying bacteria are growing on it. A couple months after your tank is fully cycled, you could change it. Cut the old media off and add it into the filter with the new cartridge. But why? You really don't need the carbon unless your source water contains toxins or you're removing meds from the tank, and if the media is working fine after a good rinse, why change it? You could add some Seachem Matrix, Fluval Biomax or some other ceramic beads to your filter overflow now and when you have to change your filter mesh media (when it's irreparably clogged up or falling apart) you'll have a good colony of bacteria on the ceramics.

 

Just don't change the filter media, especially while you're tank is cycling. Rinse it thoroughly in dechlorinated water if it's gunky. Most of your nitrifying bacteria are growing on it. A couple months after your tank is fully cycled, you could change it. Cut the old media off and add it into the filter with the new cartridge. But why? You really don't need the carbon unless your source water contains toxins or you're removing meds from the tank, and if the media is working fine after a good rinse, why change it? You could add some Seachem Matrix, Fluval Biomax or some other ceramic beads to your filter overflow now and when you have to change your filter mesh media (when it's irreparably clogged up or falling apart) you'll have a good colony of bacteria on the ceramics.

Well so I read online and on the company website. I don't know, this is the first time I have a filter. I do have ceramics added in both filters of both tanks (Marineland biowheel 350 and 100). I also bought spare cartridges. So changing the filter media (I assume you mean the cutting the blue spongy part and adding it inside with the new cartridge) every couple of months is perfectly fine with me. I won't have to buy cartidges again for a very, very, very long time. Thanks for the tip.

 

Well so I read online and on the company website. I don't know, this is the first time I have a filter. I do have ceramics added in both filters of both tanks (Marineland biowheel 350 and 100). I also bought spare cartridges. So changing the filter media (I assume you mean the cutting the blue spongy part and adding it inside with the new cartridge) every couple of months is perfectly fine with me. I won't have to buy cartidges again for a very, very, very long time. Thanks for the tip.

Wait until a couple months after you're completely done cycling though. Everytime you toss that filter cartridge, you throw away TONS of nitrifying bacteria.

 

Wait until a couple months after you're completely done cycling though. Everytime you toss that filter cartridge, you throw away TONS of nitrifying bacteria.

I wish I knew before I bought those cartridges. Thanks. I have a problem in the 20 gallons. The 5.5 gallons has shrimp and bladder snails that were uninvited. But at least it is clean, plants are perfect and the water is crystal clear. In the 20 gallons I have the black ruby barbs and they will eat everything. Plants, snails, shrimp. I noticed a browning on the plants from probably algae or something. I also have green aquarium glass that I am scrapping off and it comes back. They stopped nipping on the plants so I need to add something, larger shrimp than the red cherry and large snails. They were intimidated by a 1 inch shrimp, but a little less they will tear it apart. They sucked out a bladder snail I dropped in. The Black Ruby Barbs are juveniles. Any ideas to keep that aquarium clean? Black Ruby Barbs are fun fish, but I am really getting annoyed at their tendancy to eat everything helpful.

 

I wish I knew before I bought those cartridges. Thanks. I have a problem in the 20 gallons. The 5.5 gallons has shrimp and bladder snails that were uninvited. But at least it is clean, plants are perfect and the water is crystal clear. In the 20 gallons I have the black ruby barbs and they will eat everything. Plants, snails, shrimp. I noticed a browning on the plants from probably algae or something. I also have green aquarium glass that I am scrapping off and it comes back. They stopped nipping on the plants so I need to add something, larger shrimp than the red cherry and large snails. They were intimidated by a 1 inch shrimp, but a little less they will tear it apart. They sucked out a bladder snail I dropped in. The Black Ruby Barbs are juveniles. Any ideas?

Nerite snails will eat all kinds of algae like dessert. The problem with nerites is that females lay flat white eggs on everything and the eggs stick like glue. But your algae will be gone! If you want to get nerites, try to find adult ones. If there's a bunch of them, choose the smallest one(s) in the lot. Males are smaller than females and you might get lucky and get a male. One would clean up a 20 gallon tank and keep it clean (it would take him a couple weeks) but two would do it faster. You still have to feed them especially once the bulk of the algae is gone or they can starve to death.

 

Nerite snails will eat all kinds of algae like dessert. The problem with nerites is that females lay flat white eggs on everything and the eggs stick like glue. But your algae will be gone! If you want to get nerites, try to find adult ones. If there's a bunch of them, choose the smallest one(s) in the lot. Males are smaller than females and you might get lucky and get a male. One would clean up a 20 gallon tank and keep it clean (it would take him a couple weeks) but two would do it faster. You still have to feed them especially once the bulk of the algae is gone or they can starve to death.

Thanks. I am thinking about nerites, but I have a lidless aquarium and that might be an issue. Would algae waffers do?

 

Thanks. I am thinking about nerites, but I have a lidless aquarium and that might be an issue. Would algae waffers do?

If you don't have a lid, nerites will climb out. I lost two that way, and was missing the third one until I found him in the tank next to the one he had been in originally! He'd crawled across to it and apparently liked it better lol!
So, sorry, nerites might not be the best choice for you.
You could start your own thread specifically about your algae problem and might get more hits and information from 'algae experts'.