Cerith Snails eating Brown Algae?

This has to do with sand, snails, and algae..so I figured it would fit best in here..

I have a pretty solid layer of brown algae/diatoms whatever you want to call it on my sand bed (nowhere else). I'm 90% sure its because there is probably silicates in my tap water, but with an ro/di system out of the question I was wondering if cerith snails would help take care of this problem. I read that they spend the majority of the time in the sand, but I'm not sure if they will eat this stuff or just detritus etc...either way..i have 20 of them on the way (i dont have much of a clean up crew to begin with..)..So will these guys help out or not?

 

Hi Ir0001 - not sure on Cerith to be honest but my Astrae snails do spend some time cruising along the sand bed and they did consume some of the diatoms that occured after the cycle

if you are using tap water - then these Diatoms will have a constant source of new nutrients and may never be completely erradicated
in addition Diatoms may just be the start of your problems - becuase with tap water - other more annoying and harder to erradicate algaes may follow

have you considered buying RO/ DI water - as and when you need it, its a short term cheaper alternative to buying the unit and making your own

Steve

 

Well hello there to China, and good answer

If you look at store bought RO/DI figure out how many months of WC's it will take to buy an RO/DI. Also the store RO/DI's aren't always 0-1ppm. Many times those filters are worn or no longer in spec. There's several sponsors here who sell inexpensive RO/DI water filters, you should consider them.

 

I thank you Trelane - I do have the advantage of being ableto buy it in 5 gallon tubs at about 1.5 USD (was cheaper until the Ex rate went all wrong for me)