When to add a conch

[DEE’S reef]

When can I add a conch and when can I add a clam? But the more important question I want answered is when can I add a conch to my tank and what exactly do conch’s do in your tank what’s there purpose.

 

[Subsea]

Depends on maturity of tank. Yours is not mature if this is the 80G you started in November. Would you better describe your sandbed and what you expect the conch to do for your system.

This is what they eat:
strombus alatus diet
Inhabits seagrass beds, shallow reefs, sand and rubble (Ref. 106835). Feeds on diatoms
and other epiphytic algae.

I have a Florida Fighting conch is my 120G five years mature system wirh 2” of aroggonite substrate with a reverse flow UG filter.

Check out some other snails that may be more appropriate for a newer system.

https://reeftopia.com/collections/marine-snails

 

[DEE’S reef]

So I have like 2inch of Fiji pink and slightly coarse sand

 

[Subsea]

So I have like 2inch of Fiji pink and slightly coarse sand

Pictures help.

This is what substrate cross section looks like.
I have a conch in each tank. The 75G on the right is 25 years mature.

 

[vlangel]

I have a fighting conch also in my 75g that I transferred in Sept from an almost 10 year old 56g. The conch cleaned up my sandbed of diatoms in about 5 days. Now I am worried about it having enough to eat so I will be dropping kelp pellets in for it.

 

[Reeferbadness]

i have 2 conchs (not sure which kind) in my tank - they have been doing there thing for 4 1/2 years - outlived almost all other inverts. Not sure exactly what they do but my guess is that it's good for the sand bed :)

 

[DEE’S reef]

The sand is higher in the back

 

[DEE’S reef]

So I got a fighting conch Saturday and today and yesterday he’s been buried is that normal

 

[vlangel]

So I got a fighting conch Saturday and today and yesterday he’s been buried is that normal

Yes, they often will stay buried several days before moving about. I think its probably a normal acclimation period.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I have 4 conchs in my tank for nearly 2 years. Great, funny looking creatures that clean and stir the sand for me.

They are the reason I didnt get a Halloween crab.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So Sunday and Monday he was pretty active now he’s buried himself so I hope he’s just resting or something

 

[BZOFIQ]

So Sunday and Monday he was pretty active now he’s buried himself so I hope he’s just resting or something

They do that only to emerge again when ready to feed.