Are These Diatoms?

[saulsilver1]

My tanks is just about a month old and I was wondering if these are diatoms in the picture or if it's another type of algae as I've looked at pictures and I can not tell.

It's growing on the base rock, sand and there is some brown algae growing on the glass as well as the power head.

 

[JokerWx13]

most likely, it usually disappears in a month or so but if you can't wait that long, there are a lot of fish, shrimp or snails that eat it

 

[Jlsardina]

Looks like it to me. It usually goes away in time. Nassarius snails will clean up the sand bed and they are good for a CUC.

 

[Greenturtle]

I have 10 nassarius snails, and since then my sanded has been spotless.

 

[saulsilver1]

Hey thanks guys. I went to my lfs and bought some snails for my cuc. I bought one turbo snail and two nassarius snails.

I have a twenty gallon long, how many snails should I shoot for in a good cuc?

 

[EriksFish315]

You don't need many for that small of a tank 10 at the most should be enough.

 

[Greenturtle]

Hey thanks guys. I went to my lfs and bought some snails for my cuc. I bought one turbo snail and two nassarius snails.

I have a twenty gallon long, how many snails should I shoot for in a good cuc?

I would recommend 5-10. If you get Onyx Nassarius snails, which eat algae too, you can get more than 10.

 

[saulsilver1]

Ok, cool. I'll probably pick a few more up then tomorrow or Tuesday.

The other two Nassarius snails that I picked up yesterday haven't done anything but bury themselves in the sand.

One has been moving in the sand, but just around a sea shell, the big white one in the last picture in the op.

The other just buried himself right away and then buried himself further over night.

 

[EriksFish315]

I would wait on getting more or else they will starve if there is nothing to eat.

 

[JokerWx13]

I would wait on getting more or else they will starve if there is nothing to eat.

+1 the diatoms will disappear with time and then you'll have to feed the snails yourself instead of letting them starve with no algae left

 

[Jlsardina]

+1. If there is no food they will die. And nassarius bury themselves in the sand. It's what they do. They clean it

 

[saulsilver1]

+1. If there is no food they will die. And nassarius bury themselves in the sand. It's what they do. They clean it

I'm sure they do, but I've read accounts of some Nassarius snails coming out when feeding time arrives. That's why I was asking.

And I'll wait to get any more Nassarius snails, if I even choose to get more, and certainly they eat more then diatoms correct?

In peoples experience, what's the best snail for eating algae? I enjoy my turbo snail but his poop looks like there is a mice in my tank leaving droppings for me.

Is snail poop harmless? I've read some threads were people suggest siphoning it out, and others say that snail poop is relatively harmless and has essentially no nutrients that leach out of it at all.

Thanks for the help guys, I'm learning a lot!

 

[Mrc8858]

Turbo snails by far eat the most algae imo but pound for pound I am a big fan of the nassarius

 

[EriksFish315]

Turbos eat the algae quickest IMO but do leave **** piles