vermetid snails infestation

[bshake]

Hello everyone
So I have a 125 gallon aqueon reef ready tank running currently falow while my fish are in QT due to a ich outbreak. I have about another 30 days to go before they go back in started March 13th. So I have until mid to the end of May before putting the fish back in. As the title states I’m having a crazy vermetid snails outbreak… rockwork completely covered, corals, and now inside and on the overflow towers. I know manual removal is typically recommended since there’s no real natural predators but with the amount I have it’s not possible. I was thinking to take out all the corals, inverts and clam front the tank transfer them to a large plastic tub for a few days and citric acid the whole tank To melt alway the vermetid snails. I’d also prob have to do the same with the aqua scape, really go in and clean the coral skeletons.

Question is how dumb of an idea is that? Would there be any negative effect on the actual tank? Like silicon or seams? Or equipment?

 

[Red_Beard]

That would crash everything you've got going in your tank and you would be starting from ground zero again. I doubt you would get them to dissolve in just citric acid either. You would be best served using a butter knife and spending some time popping them off manually, and getting a bunch of bumblebee snails. You could also look into the DIY coral snow method for starving them out, I know that doesn't get rid of the tubes, but it will cut them way back in number.
As someone who has been there, I can say that it does get better. I tried everything to get rid of them initially, eventually, they ceased being a plague and are just part of the tank. They are still there, but not in sufficient numbers to bother coral or anything anymore.

 

[Mebbid]

It took months to get there, it'll take months to get out of there.

If you want to completely restart your tank, then you can. But you'll need a place to store the fish for a month or more that's cycled so you can clean and recycle the tank. Likely have to heavily prune your corals to get them out of the corals as well.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I agree its a slog to get through, but if you keep at it, it does get better. What I did was buy a bunch of bumble bee snails, then go around ice picking the tubes. The snails can't get the worm inside the tubes so you have to break the tubes. I agree it does get better once you knock the population back

 

[bshake]

That would crash everything you've got going in your tank and you would be starting from ground zero again. I doubt you would get them to dissolve in just citric acid either. You would be best served using a butter knife and spending some time popping them off manually, and getting a bunch of bumblebee snails. You could also look into the DIY coral snow method for starving them out, I know that doesn't get rid of the tubes, but it will cut them way back in number.
As someone who has been there, I can say that it does get better. I tried everything to get rid of them initially, eventually, they ceased being a plague and are just part of the tank. They are still there, but not in sufficient numbers to bother coral or anything anymore.

I don’t think it’ll have to cycle over since ill be removing the sand bed and all the rubble and media in the sump? lol there’s things growing in the tank that i have to clue what they are. I use citric acid to desolve them off the wave makers so it should be the same for the tank

 

[bshake]

I agree its a slog to get through, but if you keep at it, it does get better. What I did was buy a bunch of bumble bee snails, then go around ice picking the tubes. The snails can't get the worm inside the tubes so you have to break the tubes. I agree it does get better once you knock the population back

I was thinking about bumble bee snails but the problem i know they can go after other snails and they can even go after clams. So that’s why I haven’t went that route yet. Do you know they tell go after my clam and other snails?

 

[bshake]

It took months to get there, it'll take months to get out of there.

If you want to completely restart your tank, then you can. But you'll need a place to store the fish for a month or more that's cycled so you can clean and recycle the tank. Likely have to heavily prune your corals to get them out of the corals as well.

I guess they really love that live Phyto lol that’s all the coral food I add to the tank. Maybe Reefroids once a month or so but mostly the Phyto

 

[Paul B]

I have millions of them. They are normal and natural and I see them as free livestock.

The last time I removed my 5' 45 year old skimmer it was literally filled with them and I had to use a broomstick to remove them.

But I wouldn't try to remove them if they were not impeding the flow.

I realize many people don't like them, but if you keep a tank long enough, you will find they are impossible to completely eliminate.

 

[bshake]

I have millions of them. They are normal and natural and I see them as free livestock.

The last time I removed my 5' 45 year old skimmer it was literally filled with them and I had to use a broomstick to remove them.

But I wouldn't try to remove them if they were not impeding the flow.

I realize many people don't like them, but if you keep a tank long enough, you will find they are impossible to completely eliminate.

So basically live with them and try to feed less plankton based foods? They’re just so annoying to look at.

 

[Damage12]

Since your tank is fallow and you have another 30 days to go, just “cook” your rock. Scrape off or break as many as you see on the rock. Put all your rock in a brute garbage can with saltwater and a powerhead and cover the brute so it is dark. I would do this for 30-60 days. Your Vermetid infestation will be gone and you won’t kill your bacteria. I’ve done this and it works. It was recommended to me by a well known coral guy here.

In the meantime you can citric acid bath your tank and have time to rinse and get it ready for the rock when done cooking.

 

[Paul B]

So basically live with them and try to feed less plankton based foods? They’re just so annoying to look at.

I don't think it has anything to do with what you feed. They are filter feeders and will probably eat anything small.
They are all under my reverse undergravel filter, in the dark and I never fed any plankton based food.

 

[Red_Beard]

I don’t think it’ll have to cycle over since ill be removing the sand bed and all the rubble and media in the sump? lol there’s things growing in the tank that i have to clue what they are. I use citric acid to desolve them off the wave makers so it should be the same for the tank

If you cook the rock, it will have to re-cycle, probably will go through the uglies again too. And, if you do keep you rubble and sand, they will come back. I would be very surprised if there were not any in there already. Like Paul says, it is going to be next to impossible to keep them out 100% long term.

 

[bshake]

Since your tank is fallow and you have another 30 days to go, just “cook” your rock. Scrape off or break as many as you see on the rock. Put all your rock in a brute garbage can with saltwater and a powerhead and cover the brute so it is dark. I would do this for 30-60 days. Your Vermetid infestation will be gone and you won’t kill your bacteria. I’ve done this and it works. It was recommended to me by a well known coral guy here.

In the meantime you can citric acid bath your tank and have time to rinse and get it ready for the rock when done cooking.

My thought process is take out all the live rock and soak it in citric acid to dissolve them on the rock work. Remove all the sand and rubble rock in the sump
there should be enough bacteria in the sand bed and the media and rubble in the sump. Transfer the corals, sand and inverts in a holding bin for a day or even a week and just run citric acid through the tank to kill over what’s in the over flow. The over flow tower on the aqueon is double walled so that water is taken from bottom and skimmed through the top. So in between the 2 layers of plastic there’s definitely a bunch because I see them poking out. So after that’s done drain the tank and sump and rinse it with tap water. By that time the rocks should be clear and thank as well.

 

[bshake]

So basically live with them and try to feed less plankton based foods? They’re just so annoying to look at.

I don't think it has anything to do with what you feed. They are filter feeders and will probably eat anything small.
They are all under my reverse undergravel filter, in the dark and I never fed any plankton based food.

You know what’s funny I saw a tidal gardens video where he said they’ve showed up in fish QT tanks where it’s bare bottom with no corals and just pvc pipes for fish

 

[bshake]

I don’t think it’ll have to cycle over since ill be removing the sand bed and all the rubble and media in the sump? lol there’s things growing in the tank that i have to clue what they are. I use citric acid to desolve them off the wave makers so it should be the same for the tank

If you cook the rock, it will have to re-cycle, probably will go through the uglies again too. And, if you do keep you rubble and sand, they will come back. I would be very surprised if there were not any in there already. Like Paul says, it is going to be next to impossible to keep them out 100% long term.

If I keep the sand it won’t cycle over. I start all my QT tanks with a few cups full of sand from my display. The only thing is I’m scared they’ll be living in the sand bed because If they are definitely there’s no point of all this.

 

[Skippy The Meh]

I really dont think its worth cooking the rock or dosing citric acid. Bumblebee snails and just chipping the easy to get ones is fine. Your gunna have bigger problems if you do something to reser the rock.

 

[Red_Beard]

If I keep the sand it won’t cycle over. I start all my QT tanks with a few cups full of sand from my display. The only thing is I’m scared they’ll be living in the sand bed because If they are definitely there’s no point of all this.

:) they are. If you dont start and stay sterile, the will show back up

 

[Dom]

I feel the best approach is management. It is how I approach them in my tank; I accept that they are there and keep them under control.

I think my situation is unique.

I have a Saddleback Puffer that loves going around and crunching on all of the tubes.

I understand the tubes are primarily calcium, and so, believe the puffer was crunching on tubes to maintain its beak. And because the snails feed through the tube, they starve off.

 

[bshake]

I really dont think its worth cooking the rock or dosing citric acid. Bumblebee snails and just chipping the easy to get ones is fine. Your gunna have bigger problems if you do something to reser the rock.

Idk I’m just really annoyed they’re everywhere literally. If I had to guess it’s a few hundred in there if not thousands.

 

[bshake]

If I keep the sand it won’t cycle over. I start all my QT tanks with a few cups full of sand from my display. The only thing is I’m scared they’ll be living in the sand bed because If they are definitely there’s no point of all this.

:) they are. If you dont start and stay sterile, the will show back up

So maybe I’ll just do a few of the very heavily infested rocks and leave the rest