TonyF

I'm guessing under an hour. Active at first, then just roll over on the gravel.

How long do the snails generally live once in the tank?

Tried that with the first batch, without success I'm afraid. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

You might also just try temperature acclimating the next batch of snails. Like water changes, everyone has their own opinion on how to acclimate new fish/corals/inverts. I personally no longer use the drip method. I let the bag float on the surface of the tank for 15-20 minutes, then release the critter into the tank (just the critter, not the bag water).

I'm pretty sure there are no hermit crabs. Also no antifungal dosing. I'm in the process of cleaning up the gravel with a siphon and then replacing the water a portion at a time. My temperature is around 78 F - no heater yet although I have an in-line which I will hook up to the eHeim when I can find a 5/8 to 12/16 converter.

Your osmotic shock suggestion is an interesting one - they sure seemed dead but perhaps they weren't. Is it common for this to happen?

have any hermits? some hermits can be douchy little snail murders. the only snails i lose are the ceriths that fall on their "backs"

I am assuming you haven't dosed any antifungals or anti-algae agents right?(notorious for copper sulfide)

How is your temp...does it "sway" much? snails are real sensative to PH(they prefer higher 8.2-8.4) and salinity..but that all seems fine.

Also snails can "play dead"(osmotic shock) for DAYS then just be fine(i.e. not dead)

Specific gravity is 1.023. River City Aquatics (where I buy the snails) says theirs is the same.

There's also a fair amount of waste sitting on the gravel, which I'm trying to get rid of a section of a time now that I have my siphon working properly.

I'm new to this game - should I be replacing the water at intervals?

How is your specific gravity?

The N02 says you are still slightly cycling, that might do it.

Sorry for the delay. In response:

- tank was new

- equipment (sump, eHeim canister filter, skimmer) was used

- ph: 8.0

- NH3/NH4: 0

- NO2: <0.3

- kH: 6

Thanks for any input, and let me know if I should test anything else.

- Tony

I have a new setup - 65 gallon tank with a couple of clownfish and an angel in it. They've been living quite happily for three months now. However, every time I add snails, they don't last an hour. I put them in a rubbermaid, drip the water from my tank in it for two hours, but when I finally drop them in my tank they don't last long. My levels are all unremarkable, the water is circulated with a Mag 70 pump, and I keep the tank clean.

Any ideas why they won't live?

- Tony

Hi everyone,

I'm a long-time freshwater fishkeeper who has decided to stay indoors during these hot summer months and try my hand at building a live rock marine system. It's been a long-time desire and finally I have the time and money.

So far, I have either acquired or have been given:

- 60 gallon tall tank (48 x 24 x 12) with wooden base stand

- Amiracle sump tank

- Eheim Ecco 2233 canister filter

- Hagan Fluval 104 canister filter

- CPR model CYHO protein skimmer

- 2 x Rio 600 pump

- PH601 aquarium head pump

A lot of this stuff was given to me. My only real requirement is that I'd like as much of the equipment as possible to be hidden away in the stand, rather than hanging off the side of the aquarium.

So, any advice? Maybe someone would like to swing by and give me some pointers on how to assemble all this stuff in the best way?

Thanks,

- Tony (Central Austin)