Snail Bloom! Help!

[foboiax]

Hey guys,

My tank is about 1.5 years old and for the last two months there have only been coral, and I picked up two clowns about two weeks ago. Yesterday I started to notice a few tiny snails, and within a day or so they blew up my tank, they are EVERYWHERE! What are they and how do I get rid of them?!

Thank you so much!

 

[DETANE]

If they are limpet snails they are ok. What you don't want in your tank are flat worms.

 

[coral diver]

this might help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpet
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=497+526

 

[ReeferChick85]

I have a TON of those and they are harmless. They look like what I have, which are small baby limpets. Great algae grazers. Mostly come out only at night. I was shocked and still kinda get blown away at how many there are but after doing research and getting confirmation about them, I didn't worry anymore! I was mainly concerned about the HUGE amount I have and if it was going to affect my corals but it's all good!They're great and reef safe! :top:

 

[foboiax]

Thanks for the replies guys/gals!

Okay I was mainly worried because hundreds of them seem to have popped up over night, really strange!

 

[zigginit]

i had the same thing happen in the last few weeks. i see them mostly at night. but my are not limpets, mine have curly shells, i think mine are little baby turbo snails, i have seen a few that look to be a little older and they seem to be growing in size. most are super small right now though. i think its cool.

 

[BeanMachine]

i had the same thing happen in the last few weeks. i see them mostly at night. but my are not limpets, mine have curly shells, i think mine are little baby turbo snails, i have seen a few that look to be a little older and they seem to be growing in size. most are super small right now though. i think its cool.

those might be colinista snails

are you guys talking about limpets, or stomatellas?

Your pics are terrible... sorry but some look like flatworms but cant really tell. Can you get a better picture or maybe pop one of the glass and take a pic of it in a white styro cup?

 

[foboiax]

those might be colinista snails

are you guys talking about limpets, or stomatellas?

Your pics are terrible... sorry but some look like flatworms but cant really tell. Can you get a better picture or maybe pop one of the glass and take a pic of it in a white styro cup?

Yeah sorry about that, it was taken at like 2am last night on my iphone when I was getting water I found them all, I'll snap a better photo tonight! woot! Thanks guys

 

[BeanMachine]

Yeah sorry about that, it was taken at like 2am last night on my iphone when I was getting water I found them all, I'll snap a better photo tonight! woot! Thanks guys

I was only kidding by the way. Sounds good. Yeah just grab one after the lights go out.

 

[ReeferChick85]

My bad, I meant Stomatella Snails. I have those guys and a bunch like you,maybe more lol! Nonetheless they are a great addition to have to your reef. Good hitchhikers!

 

[gumbii]

stomatella are huge... grow fast and don't stay small like those snails... if you don't like them, get some sort of wrasse... like a yellow wrasse or a 6 line...

 

[Clockwork John]

I had a limpet population explosion in my tank, and it's never looked better. Those little guys put my clean up crew to shame.

 

[james-lee]

LOL! Is that a cat I see sprawled out on top of a pillow in the first pic?

 

[zigginit]

i have Stomatella Snails as well but the babies im talking about ar 100% not Stomatella Snails. they have tiny little turbo shells. they even have the tiger stipping on the shells. not sure it they are turbo snails but they look the same.

 

[ReeferChick85]

i have Stomatella Snails as well but the babies im talking about ar 100% not Stomatella Snails. they have tiny little turbo shells. they even have the tiger stipping on the shells. not sure it they are turbo snails but they look the same.

I think those tiny snails you're talking about are Collonista Snails which are harmless algae grazers. They're very tiny.


Here's an article that I find helpful by Dr. Shimek

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

This site below is also very useful for helping ID things and has good information:

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/Hitchsnails.html

 

[zigginit]

I think those tiny snails you're talking about are Collonista Snails which are harmless algae grazers. They're very tiny.


Here's an article that I find helpful by Dr. Shimek

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

This site below is also very useful for helping ID things and has good information:

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/Hitchsnails.html

they do appear to be collonista snails, good find thanks.

 

[BeanMachine]

I just got a nice Marine Invert book by Shimek from Borders for a discount... they are closing some stores in OC. Lots of color photos and awesome descriptions like in the article.