Decomposers?

zephspacer · 09-21-2011, 09:19 AM

Well seeing that my 55 is a planted tank what is a good decomposer's that can break down the fish waste, and no im not talking about bacteria. I am thinking maybe snails.

But if it is snails what snail or what every can survive with africans? If they reproduce thats great and all but if they start to overun the tank what will eat them?

Thanks

NeonShark666 · 09-21-2011, 05:38 PM

Snails don't eat Fish Wastes unless it contans undigested food particles. The only organism that eats fish wastes (Eurea, Ammonia, Nitrites) is Bacteria. You can also remove the wastes through mechanical filtration.

holly12 · 09-21-2011, 07:47 PM

Agreed. There isn't any thing that is going to eat fish waste... you need to clean it out via filtration, water changes and gravel vacuums. I have a planted tank and I still vacuum the gravel. Just go very lightly over where the roots of plants would be. If your tank is completely covered, just over the vac' lightly over the leaves and in between plants to suck up the fish poop.

Pigeonfish · 09-21-2011, 08:35 PM

Plants already do most of the "decomposing"

If you want your tank to look clean just get some of the "pest" pond snails. Imo tanks with them look much "cleaner"

I wouldn't be surprised if your Cichlids eat pond snails as a snack, so overpopulation shouldn't be a problem.

snail · 09-22-2011, 03:27 AM

Snails will help pick up uneaten food. Your cichlids will probably eat snails they can fit in their mouths. I've seen people keep apple snails with their cichlids. MTS spend enough time buried they might be fine.

zephspacer · 09-22-2011, 10:05 AM

ok then what snails are good then? And if they do overpopulate what could i do to control it?
Thanks!

snail · 09-22-2011, 02:43 PM

Try large snails like apple snails/mystery snails. They need a male and female to breed and eggs are easy to breed.

Malaysian Trumpet Snails stay in the gravel during the day so you won't see much of them.

I don't you will have a problem with overpopulation because your cichlids will eat any baby snail they can get their mouths on.

09-21-2011, 09:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
zephspacer Zephspacer zephspacer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 173 Name: Jimmy Dombrowski My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Decomposers? Well seeing that my 55 is a planted tank what is a good decomposer's that can break down the fish waste, and no im not talking about bacteria. I am thinking maybe snails. But if it is snails what snail or what every can survive with africans? If they reproduce thats great and all but if they start to overun the tank what will eat them? Thanks

09-21-2011, 05:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
NeonShark666 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 806 Name: Jim Location: Salem, Oregon Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 78 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 247 Times in 237 Posts	Re: Decomposers? Snails don't eat Fish Wastes unless it contans undigested food particles. The only organism that eats fish wastes (Eurea, Ammonia, Nitrites) is Bacteria. You can also remove the wastes through mechanical filtration.

09-21-2011, 07:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Decomposers? Agreed. There isn't any thing that is going to eat fish waste... you need to clean it out via filtration, water changes and gravel vacuums. I have a planted tank and I still vacuum the gravel. Just go very lightly over where the roots of plants would be. If your tank is completely covered, just over the vac' lightly over the leaves and in between plants to suck up the fish poop. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

09-21-2011, 08:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pigeonfish Pigeonfish's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 834 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 107 Times Said "Thanks" 205 Times Was Thanked 373 Times in 345 Posts	Re: Decomposers? Plants already do most of the "decomposing" If you want your tank to look clean just get some of the "pest" pond snails. Imo tanks with them look much "cleaner" I wouldn't be surprised if your Cichlids eat pond snails as a snack, so overpopulation shouldn't be a problem. __________________ my dream aquarium...

09-22-2011, 03:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,639 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 361 Times Was Thanked 633 Times in 590 Posts	Re: Decomposers? Snails will help pick up uneaten food. Your cichlids will probably eat snails they can fit in their mouths. I've seen people keep apple snails with their cichlids. MTS spend enough time buried they might be fine.

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09-22-2011, 10:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
zephspacer Zephspacer zephspacer's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 173 Name: Jimmy Dombrowski My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Decomposers? ok then what snails are good then? And if they do overpopulate what could i do to control it? Thanks!

09-22-2011, 02:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,639 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 361 Times Was Thanked 633 Times in 590 Posts	Re: Decomposers? Try large snails like apple snails/mystery snails. They need a male and female to breed and eggs are easy to breed. Malaysian Trumpet Snails stay in the gravel during the day so you won't see much of them. I don't you will have a problem with overpopulation because your cichlids will eat any baby snail they can get their mouths on.

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