Turbo Snails

I have a nano ( 10 -11 gallon ) salt water tank. Algae was becoming a problem, but I couldn't keep my snails alive. I tested the water, checked for an electrical current, all the suggestions I received. A couple of weeks ago a friend told me to get 5 turbo snails. I have lost 2, but 3 are still going strong. Are 3 enough for my small setup. Could some have starved for lack of algae ? Any suggestions ?

 

Turbos do need some serious grazing room I think.

Your idea of not enough for them to live on sounds about right.

Would not add anymore.

Have a couple in my 12 gallon, and they keep things very well cleaned up.

 

which turbos are you talking about the all black ones or the larger mexican variety. the black turbos never seemed to last for me, you may want to try nerites or astrea snails. also you may want to invest into some nassarius snail just 2 or 3 to keep you sand bed stirred up they are also great scavenger/detrivores.

 

hmm i know water chanes can cause snails to die.they hate water changes.the new water needs to be mixed very good with oldwater so they can accept the changes.i use to lose some until i realized what was going on.

 

once i received my controller and i kept my ph in the 8.2-8.4 range i haven't lost a snail since. before the controller my ph was low between 7.5-7.9 i attributed that to the crappy luck with snails.

 

I do have a few nassarius snails. My turbos are white. I do a water change every 2nd week. My ph is between 8.2 & 8.4

 

I never had a problem losign snails when doing water changes.... Even when I messed my salanity up one time most seemd to make it thru fine.

As for algae eaters- Get 1 Mexican turbo snail. I have 2 and I think that is probably too much. They have been alive for over two years in my tank but they are big snails and the 10 gallon setup I have probably jsut barley feeds them and the urchin.... (That reminds me I need to give the urchin some seaweed).

Back to the story- I had a huge algae issue when I first setup my tank. I used regualt tap water cause I did not have a purifier. Well the phosphates were high and I had all types of green algae and some in the brown range. Rocks were coverd and I almost gave up before I started cause I could not figure it out. I ended up buying a purifer and it has been a lifesaver but in order to clean up the algae I decided on some mexican turbos.

Those snails mowed down all the algae in less than a weeks time. I could not beleive it....

 

I loose turbo snails left and right. My LFS said they don't last very long. Then someone told me and I also read that if they turn upside down they will drown. I am boggled by this. The funny thing is, they are always turning over. What do I need, a snail sitter? LOL Does this make sense to anyone else?

 

Have you checked your tank for copper??

 

i thought it was only the astraes (sp?) that would die if turned over. ive lost quite a few of them for reasons i still cant pinpoint. my LFS said that had considering not selling them because they lost so many to "turnover" (no pun intended)

my turbos have been the hardiest snails in my setup so far. and DEFINATLEY the hardest working