Getting Rid of Vermitid Snails

[Brew12]

There's actually no dosing recommendations at all. Basically shake well, pour in enough to make your tank milky. The skimmer will suck it out and it binds to anything floating in your water and gets skimmed out.

I made mine in a gatorade bottle, and dosed approximately 2-3 gatorade lids worth... lol

I CAN say, dose often.. Dose every 2-3 days to starve out Vermatids

No negative impact on corals or clams? Spot feeding to get through it?

 

[Rakie]

Sounds good!

You'll have to use a bit more than I did but a pound of the stuff should last awhile regardless!

 

[Rakie]

No negative impact on corals or clams? Spot feeding to get through it?

No issues at all, just broadcast as the vermatids throw out nets when the water is dirty.

 

[Dancingmad]

@Rakie

The snow is interesting, but from what I read in the other thread and this is the snow gets removed via skimming and mechanical filtration. What if there are dead spots in the DT or sump and it settles? Still won't affect CA/MG/ALK? Will it break down eventually? I'm not asserting it would - just asking my ignorant question!

 

[Rakie]

Flow is critical for this to work, and for vermatids to eat. It would settle and may break down, but I hadn't notice it augmenting any parameters.

 

[Shigshwa]

Sometimes, a Melanurus Wrasse (or others of the same genus) will pick them off of the rocks, so long as they are the small kinds with the little protruding tubes. My tank is Halichoeres dominiant, and I can see them eat the vermitids every now and then. You can hear a little snap as they break the shell from the rock. I only have a few left in the unreachable crevices of my rockwork.

 

[drtrash]

Thanks for tip, read about use of snow for treatment but was not sure what was in it

 

[Brew12]

@Rakie

The snow is interesting, but from what I read in the other thread and this is the snow gets removed via skimming and mechanical filtration. What if there are dead spots in the DT or sump and it settles? Still won't affect CA/MG/ALK? Will it break down eventually? I'm not asserting it would - just asking my ignorant question!

It shouldn't break down. CaCO3 is basically limestone. Another thing it is the main component of is coral skeleton. As long as you don't have conditions in your tank that would dissolve rock or coral it should stay inert.

 

[KJ]

There is a product, used in organic agriculture to control slugs and snails, that could be efficient to control vermetid: Ferric phosphate.

The trademark of the product is Ferramol® Organic, but for the purpose of experimentation I believe that the use of saturated GFO may be attempted by the aquarist. Ideally, the saturated GFO should be dry and ground by dosing the product on the display when the vermetid are with their nets extended to ensure they can ingest it, and then wait for the results.

There is no defined dose to use for this purpose. Caution is required.

The mechanism of action is explained here: The potential for slug control with ferric phosphate

It seems to be safe for animals except slugs and snails.

 

[Brew12]

As an FYI, I ordered some CaCO3 yesterday to give it a try. Expect to see a write up on how effective it was on my Vermitids around 5 weeks from now. ;Bookworm;Writing

 

[Tft12]

DIY KZ Coral Snow will kill them -- guaranteed. Just gotta keep at it. Worked for me.

Thread Link ---> DIY KZ Coral Snow (with >97% purity)

Thanks for posting this. I'm going to give it a try. My corals are constantly growing over vermetids these days and it bugs me a little.

 

[Aaron-A2]

@Rakie @Brew12

I received my CaCO3 today, mixed up a batch of 5 tablespoons to 230ml RODI water, and dosed 1ml/25g water.

Updates to follow!

 

[Dancingmad]

As an FYI, I ordered some CaCO3 yesterday to give it a try. Expect to see a write up on how effective it was on my Vermitids around 5 weeks from now.

Drop a Link here please - if of course @Byronyk doesn't mind (OP Blessing!). Thanks for answering my ignorant question earlier!

Also thanks @Byronyk for your recent follow up + Pics!

I don't even have these jokers(vermitids) anymore. They eventually just went away. I'm in my first struggle w/ Aiptasia and tiny valonian (bubble agea). I managed to go ~10 years in the hobby without ever seeing either one in any of my tanks. I blame some tainted chaeto for bringing these jerks in(If I ever start a reefing rock band it'll be named 'Tainted Chaeto"). Frustrating, but I will eventually win!!!!!111one

 

[Brew12]

@Rakie @Brew12

I received my CaCO3 today, mixed up a batch of 5 tablespoons to 230ml RODI water, and dosed 1ml/25g water.

Updates to follow!

Fantastic! Mine doesn't get here until Thursday. Looks like you have a larger size variety than mine. Lets see if we can prove this is effective!

 

[Aaron-A2]

Fantastic! Mine doesn't get here until Thursday. Looks like you have a larger size variety than mine. Lets see if we can prove this is effective!

I'm hoping it works. While I can pinch them with tongs now, eventually when my sps grows out it will be hard to kill them and avoid accidentally fragging the colonies lol.

 

[Aaron-A2]

Drop a Link here please - if of course @Byronyk doesn't mind (OP Blessing!). Thanks for answering my ignorant question earlier!

Also thanks @Byronyk for your recent follow up + Pics!

I don't even have these jokers(vermitids) anymore. They eventually just went away. I'm in my first struggle w/ Aiptasia and tiny valonian (bubble agea). I managed to go ~10 years in the hobby without ever seeing either one in any of my tanks. I blame some tainted chaeto for bringing these jerks in(If I ever start a reefing rock band it'll be named 'Tainted Chaeto"). Frustrating, but I will eventually win!!!!!111one

The more information on this subject the better. Feel free to drop a link!

I'll eventually make a full video on my channel discussion this topic.

 

[Aaron-A2]

As a minor update, I tested alk this morning (hanna checker, not usual as I usually test in the late afternoon) and my normal 8.0 was reading 7.7. This isn't a huge fluctuation, but I'm curious if using this CaCO3 solution has the ability to reduce alk/calc?

 

[Reeferdood]

Tagging along, this could be a remarkable find if it really starves them out...

 

[Brew12]

As a minor update, I tested alk this morning (hanna checker, not usual as I usually test in the late afternoon) and my normal 8.0 was reading 7.7. This isn't a huge fluctuation, but I'm curious if using this CaCO3 solution has the ability to reduce alk/calc?

Not at the pH of a reef tank.

 

[Brew12]

As a minor update, I tested alk this morning (hanna checker, not usual as I usually test in the late afternoon) and my normal 8.0 was reading 7.7. This isn't a huge fluctuation, but I'm curious if using this CaCO3 solution has the ability to reduce alk/calc?

I was thinking about this a bit more. I believe that doing this could cause an increase in alk/calc if you run a calcium reactor. Something for those who use them to keep in mind.