Nerites avoiding water. Is it too soft? Something else?

Our two nerite snails avoid the water. I’ve peeked in on them during the night, and have never found them more than partially (and slightly) below the water line.

They’ve been in the tank for weeks, and I see their poop, so I assume they eat biofilm above the waterline.

They are usually parked, upside down, inside the tank lid, but frequently I find them inside the HOB filter. The propeller isn’t exposed, so that’s not a worry.

I recently found one outside the tank, parked on the outside of the glass.

This morning they were both on top of the filter! See pic.

Why don’t they like the water and what can I do?

10 gallon tank
Temp 75-78
pH 6.6-7.2
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 0 ppm
GH 4 degrees
KH 2 degrees

4 zebra danios
2 nerites
Many Amazon Sword plants

Thanks!

 

This could be a sign of water quality issues.

Although you said your tank is heavily planted, having 0 nitrates could mean your tank isn’t cycled.

How long has your tank been set up?
What are you using to test?
How often are you doing water changes?
How are you cleaning the filter?

Can you post a picture of your tank so we can see how heavily planted it is?

 

Thanks.

Tank has been set up since April, and after some missteps, I believe it was truly cycled by the end of June.

I test with the API Master Kit, and test at least twice a week, often more.

I do multiple water changes per week, usually two 25% changes.

I’ve only cleaned the filter in any way twice. About a month ago I took out the sponge and gently squeezed it in a bucket of tank water to remove a lot of buildup.

I had to take apart the propeller compartment two weeks ago after a power failure. The filter would not go back on, and I read online to try manually turning the propeller. I did, and it worked. While I had it open, I rinsed off the propeller.

I’ve never cleaned the biomax rings.

I usually have a 10-20 nitrate reading, but did a course of General Cure last week (posted elsewhere) thankfully saved the fish—and I added a carbon filter after that, as directed.

Maybe the GC or carbon knocked out the nitrates?

In either case, the snails have been avoiding the water all along.

Attaching a pic as requested. I actually removed several of the most diatom-covered leaves recently, because they just looked so icky.

 

This is very interesting and informative to know! I just purchased four nerite snails about a week now. Each of my nerite snails move all over the inside and above their tanks. I did notice one of my nerite snail above the waterline. He stay still for at least five minutes or more! I was concerned that he might have got ill or possibly was sleeping! When I came back he started to move and go down into the water of the tank. So far my nerite snails have not crawled out of their tanks!

 

Mine appear to be entirely nocturnal. I wish I could watch them move. They’re so cute!

 

I am curious about your pH reading. That is quite a swing between 6.6 and 7.2. Does it fluctuate between the 2 numbers? If so that may be what's happening.

 

Mine appear to be entirely nocturnal. I wish I could watch them move. They’re so cute!

 

These are my nerite snails that love to move around on the decor in their tanks,.

 

Mine appear to be entirely nocturnal. I wish I could watch them move. They’re so cute!

Hello Carrie! I read up on the snails. They stated they are nocturnal. They are up more in the later part of the day and evening! Lol My nerite snails are up during the day as well as the evening! They do take naps or rest off and on.

 

I am curious about your pH reading. That is quite a swing between 6.6 and 7.2. Does it fluctuate between the 2 numbers? If so that may be what's happening.

Mattgirl, yes! I’m curious about the pH swing too and would love your thoughts. When I first do a water change, it’s at 7.2, and then gradually drops. This has been happening since the tank was cycled. I was just reading about adding crushed coral.

 

One of my olive green nerite snail is on his favorite decor, ladder.

 

I just did a water test to get the most current parameters. I did a 25% water change, including a gravel vacuuming, last night.

pH: 7.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5 ppm (looks like it’s coming back from a temporary dip to 0.)

I still have the carbon insert in the filter. I put it in after the course of General Cure. It’s at the top of the cartridge (sponge, biomax rings, carbon packet). Not sure when/if to take it out again.

The escape artists are back to usual daytime sleeping spots: one at waterline at back of tank, and one in the tank lid.

 

Mattgirl, yes! I’m curious about the pH swing too and would love your thoughts. When I first do a water change, it’s at 7.2, and then gradually drops. This has been happening since the tank was cycled. I was just reading about adding crushed coral.

Crushed coral should stabilize the pH up to the 7.2 you are seeing out of your tap. I run it in all my tanks to help my very soft water. It is possible your nerites aren't comfortable in the lower pH.

 

Could it be from using the General Cure? Or have they been doing that since u got them?

 

Could it be from using the General Cure? Or have they been doing that since u got them?

They were doing it before.

 

Crushed coral should stabilize the pH up to the 7.2 you are seeing out of your tap. I run it in all my tanks to help my very soft water. It is possible your nerites aren't comfortable in the lower pH.

Is there a particular type I should look for? And would I add it to the filter? I’d have to take the charcoal out because there’s no more room.

 

Is there a particular type I should look for? And would I add it to the filter? I’d have to take the charcoal out because there’s no more room.

I prefer the chunks of crushed coral. It will work best if it can be situated in the filter. Charcoal isn't really necessary so removing it to make room for the CC should work. Just put a handful of it in a small media bag. You are not going to add too much because it won't just keep raising the pH. How high it goes is determined by the chemistry of your source water. What it should do is just keep it at the same level it is when it comes out of the tap.

 

I prefer the chunks of crushed coral. It will work best if it can be situated in the filter. Charcoal isn't really necessary so removing it to make room for the CC should work. Just put a handful of it in a small media bag. You are not going to add too much because it won't just keep raising the pH. How high it goes is determined by the chemistry of your source water. What it should do is just keep it at the same level it is when it comes out of the tap.

Ok. Thank you. I don’t mind taking out the charcoal—it was only in to clear out the General Cure. I’m going to go ahead and order some coral chunks now and give those a try.

 

Ok. Thank you. I don’t mind taking out the charcoal—it was only in to clear out the General Cure. I’m going to go ahead and order some coral chunks now and give those a try.

When you get it be sure to rinse it before putting it in the filter. The coral dust will raise the pH quicker than I would be comfortable with. Once in there give it a few days before deciding to add more. It isn't going to instantly raise the pH. Once in there and your pH is holding steady it should continue keeping the pH stable for quite some time. It works by very slowly dissolving. Eventually you will have to add more but a handful of it should last for a very long time.

I pull mine out every now and then and kinda scrub the chunks together in some used tank water. Doing this scrubs off the outer layer of bio-film and allows the coral to interact with the water better. I do this every couple of months but could be done more often if needed.

 

My nerites tend to be escape artists as well, and a few of them do like to sit above the water line. I don’t think there’s anything going on with my water tho because when I peel them off the lid and set them back on the substrate they usually stay under for a while, and some of them don’t stray out at all. I think they just like to explore..