Well you almost never have both simultaneously. I recently had a ramshorn invasion in one of my tanks and the algae was completely wiped out in a matter of days. Never seen my tank this clear of algae in my life....I've decided that (as much as I use to despite snails) I'd rather have the latter.
Well aren't you the lucky one :tongue:. I've had, *cough*, both before. I don't mind the snails. When they get to numerous I quite enjoy crushing their little bodies against the glass as do my fish.
ehehe common, algae is the worst thing in a planted tank. When I newly set up my tank I had a snail bloom, every morning before the lights turned on I squash like 10s everyday. After a few months their number went to normal. Overall though, snails are beneficial arent they? Id have snails all over my plants than algae any day.
I have few issues with algae, I have many issues with snails, I would love to have every one killed in every tank, without killing the shrimp and plants.
I can net out the amano shrimp, the RCS/Fires, I can net a few out and kill the rest without much concern, have not found anything that can do this, kill the snails, but not the plants.
Some loaches perhaps.
Zebra loaches I might resort to.
My point EXACTLY. The two problems (almost) never co-exist....snails consume algae. And as prolific as snails can be at least they're tangible and finite, not to mention you can ultimately clear them via a piece of vegetable or a hungry puffer.
In the end I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side.
My pea puffer would be in heaven if I had a snail infestation, and my otos would explode if I had an algae bloom. I personally rather the snails because its nice seeing my pea puffer go after them.
Now you have me thinking i need snails - I have always had alge issues to a greater or lesser degree. currently its BBA so whats the best alge eating snail do we think?
I can't call my experiences with either infestations as such as my tank is still quite new. However, I have both in smaller numbers and just transferred some from my 45l to my 180 l to see if they will help with the algae.
I'd rather have snails as I'm getting DP's soon
I couldn't crush them though. They are as much a part of my little ecosystem as anything else.
I have tons of snails, and an algae problem. I almost always have both But I'm just getting into caring extensively about plants.
The snails do a good job of eating dead plants, so I like that about them. Plus they'll eat excess food, and eat algae, all while producing plant foods. Overall a major benefit if you ask me. I've never seen them chomp away at healthy plants.
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