How Vital are Snails to the CUC?

[Poonagi]

I'm not a huge fan of them in my tanks. I don't like the way they look, they get flipped over and die for some of the stupidest reasons, and they just seem to get in the way.

Having said that, I know most of us run at least a handful of them in our tanks for cleanup in the sand or glass. But how important are they really? Is there function so vital that we can't live without them completely? Say, using manual glass cleaning and other sand-cleaning CUC like crabs, shrimps, stars, or others?

What are your thoughts?

 

[username in use]

They are the cleanup crew. I can do without crabs and shrimps. Stars are useless for a cleanup crew. You can do a tank with just snails.

It's more than the glass. The rocks need cleaning as well.

 

[FindingEmily]

I only have Trochus snails (and a tiger tail cucumber) as my CUC. They do a fantastic job of keeping the glass and rocks clean and right themselves if they fall over.

 

[cloak]

I'm the best clean up crew member my tank will ever see... I can do without all of the things mentioned above if I choose. While I do have an orange Linkia star and a Peppermint shrimp in my tank now, (an Aiptasia popped up in an awkward spot) my CUC consists of one Banded Trochus snail and that's it. There's just no need for anything else.

 

[CheckeredPants]

Vital enough that they are in every reef on the planet.

 

[Xxero]

I like this thread so far...good topic!

I don't know if they are a necessity in a home aquarium, but I'm a BIG fan for some reason. I Love snails. They are one of my favorite tank inhabitants, and I find them interesting as hell. :bigeyes:

 

[Poonagi]

Vital enough that they are in every reef on the planet.

True, but there are also tons of things in every reef on the planet that we don't want in our tanks either. Also, every reef on the planet doesn't have a human willing to clean it most of the time!

I'll have to look into Trochus snails... I've never used those.

 

[RayAllen3422]

I would say it depends on the tank size and how much time you are personally willing to be the CUC. Obviously a small tank would be much easier to maintain.

 

[RayAllen3422]

That being said I have always had snails. But I think they are cool.

 

[heathlindner25]

I only have Trochus snails (and a tiger tail cucumber) as my CUC. They do a fantastic job of keeping the glass and rocks clean and right themselves if they fall over.

Trochus...... best nails in the world

 

[Sk8r]

Get ceriths. The pointy round ones can't crawl on sand: that's not where they live, and they have trouble in our tanks. Ceriths don't fall over.

 

[linkedsilas]

I just added 7 snails to my tank and I love, love, love them so far. They did an awesome job with the glass and I like watching them.

 

[heathlindner25]

I've never seen a problem with snails moving around from rock to sand to glass, whatever species you choose.

 

[JammyBirch]

I'm the best clean up crew member my tank will ever see... I can do without all of the things mentioned above if I choose. While I do have an orange Linkia star and a Peppermint shrimp in my tank now, (an Aiptasia popped up in an awkward spot) my CUC consists of one Banded Trochus snail and that's it. There's just no need for anything else.

I'm a fan, although they don't do as much as I hope they would. I really like nassarius snails and dwarf cerith, I'm not a fan of nerite at all...they get huge and plug my drain.

The best CUC in my opinion for glass and rocks is a crew of stomatella and bristle worms, man they are awesome, I had a ton spawn in the tank but lost most of them through the return pump.

 

[polaravic]

I love my big (2.5 in) Florida Fighting Conch (doesn't fight anything). It cleans only the sand all the time and keeps it relatively white.

I also have a few small ones that go everywhere cleaning the rock and glass.

polaravic

 

[MadCnty]

I love my big (2.5 in) Florida Fighting Conch (doesn't fight anything). It cleans only the sand all the time and keeps it relatively white.

I also have a few small ones that go everywhere cleaning the rock and glass.

polaravic

What are your tank specs??? If I may ask, because these are the snails I want for my CUC... And how many do you per gallon??? That and scarlet leg hermits...

 

[leviburns89]

+1 on trochus snails. They can flip themselves back over, stay small, and clean like crazy.

Gonna be picking up a few this week.