Hello all,
Looking for some guidance regarding my plan to restart my tank due to an infestation of vermetid snails.
I've read mixed reviews as to whether or not to tear down, some say to deal with it, some say i'll never be 100% free from it, some say tear down is the only way.
I have looked up basically every YouTube video, forum and fb groups and came to the conclusion that it might be the best approach to just restart my tank.
This will give me an opportunity to redo my aquascape
Running a Fluval Flex 32G with the following fish:
2 Clowns
1 Cleaner shrimp
1 tuxedo urchin
2 hermits
2xnessarius snails, 9xbumblebee snails, few astrea snails.
NO corals yet (looking to start building up to it in the coming months once I am vermetid free)
Equipment I have on hand:
15lbs of new reef saver dryrock
2 Brute trash cans (1 for RODI, 1 for mixed)
multiple heaters
extra pumps
20G breeder
extra powerheads
My goals:
- Be vermetid free
- Keep as much of my livestock as possible without re-introducing vermetid into the system
- Complete the process in the fastest time possible
Here is my current proposed plan, hoping the fine members from this forum can help educate me on gaps or better alternatives
Transfer to spare tank:
1. Fill 20G breeder with the DT water
2. Move existing live rock into the 20G breeder
3. Move fish, inverts into 20G breeder
4. I'll need to buy a hang-on filter during this reboot period
Cleaning existing tank:
1. Drain remaining water
2. Remove substrate
3. Fill the tank with tap water mixed with a few gallons of vinegar
4. Run the system for a week
5. Scrub off backwall (Contains mix of coralline algae and vermetid)
6. Completely dry off system (week)
Transfer back to DT:
1. Cycle DT with new (rinsed) dry rock
2. Move livestock back in
This is where I can use some help to determine the best steps..
What is the best way to re-cycle the tank? I'm thinking of a few options here..
A. Use the spare tank water (Afraid of re-introducing vermetid eggs back into DT)
B. A chemical solution (which?)
C. Good ol' fashion cycle with my dry rock (Possibly longest but safest)
Questions:
1. Is my cleaning of the existing tank sufficient to rid all vermetids from my system?
2. Should I get rid of all my snails or keep the ones that don't appear to have any vermetid growing on them? (I can visibly see the shells infested with vermetids)
- The bumblebee snails are new and the nessarius don't appear to have any vermetids growing on them.
3. What else am I overlooking? My fear is not knowing what I don't know.
Thank you for reading my long post, really appreciate the guidance!
Looking for some guidance regarding my plan to restart my tank due to an infestation of vermetid snails.
I've read mixed reviews as to whether or not to tear down, some say to deal with it, some say i'll never be 100% free from it, some say tear down is the only way.
I have looked up basically every YouTube video, forum and fb groups and came to the conclusion that it might be the best approach to just restart my tank.
This will give me an opportunity to redo my aquascape
Running a Fluval Flex 32G with the following fish:
2 Clowns
1 Cleaner shrimp
1 tuxedo urchin
2 hermits
2xnessarius snails, 9xbumblebee snails, few astrea snails.
NO corals yet (looking to start building up to it in the coming months once I am vermetid free)
Equipment I have on hand:
15lbs of new reef saver dryrock
2 Brute trash cans (1 for RODI, 1 for mixed)
multiple heaters
extra pumps
20G breeder
extra powerheads
My goals:
- Be vermetid free
- Keep as much of my livestock as possible without re-introducing vermetid into the system
- Complete the process in the fastest time possible
Here is my current proposed plan, hoping the fine members from this forum can help educate me on gaps or better alternatives
Transfer to spare tank:
1. Fill 20G breeder with the DT water
2. Move existing live rock into the 20G breeder
3. Move fish, inverts into 20G breeder
4. I'll need to buy a hang-on filter during this reboot period
Cleaning existing tank:
1. Drain remaining water
2. Remove substrate
3. Fill the tank with tap water mixed with a few gallons of vinegar
4. Run the system for a week
5. Scrub off backwall (Contains mix of coralline algae and vermetid)
6. Completely dry off system (week)
Transfer back to DT:
1. Cycle DT with new (rinsed) dry rock
2. Move livestock back in
This is where I can use some help to determine the best steps..
What is the best way to re-cycle the tank? I'm thinking of a few options here..
A. Use the spare tank water (Afraid of re-introducing vermetid eggs back into DT)
B. A chemical solution (which?)
C. Good ol' fashion cycle with my dry rock (Possibly longest but safest)
Questions:
1. Is my cleaning of the existing tank sufficient to rid all vermetids from my system?
2. Should I get rid of all my snails or keep the ones that don't appear to have any vermetid growing on them? (I can visibly see the shells infested with vermetids)
- The bumblebee snails are new and the nessarius don't appear to have any vermetids growing on them.
3. What else am I overlooking? My fear is not knowing what I don't know.
Thank you for reading my long post, really appreciate the guidance!