Stupid Question..

[blb]

I hope this is the right place for this. I have a stupid question. I have ram snails and pond snails in other tanks so am always feeding them to my f8's. The f8's are fat and happy. First, I have been supplementing with bloodworms twice a week. Is that enough? They don't really need it but I thought a little variety would be nice.

Ok, now the second and stupid question. I have a python for water changes. Now with all the snails I put in there I have a ton of shells on the bottom of the tank. When I use the python it only get a couple then clogs. Does anyone know of a better way? I am kinda lazy but take great care of my fish. btw I have 23 tanks now and am building a fish room.

Thanks! Beth

[Nick]

Use a larger tube and suck the snail shells away from a bit above the substrate siphoning into a bucket. They should lift MUCH more easily than rocks and thus be removed. I take it you only use the python for water leaving the tank, not refilling it? You have to premix the marine mix with the water for a F8 tank, or the water change may shock your fish or more likely the biofilter. Bloodworms and snails are a good combination diet, Shakespeare gets a combo of earthworms and snails.

[RTR]

I have gravel that is a significant percentage crushed shells, from years of puffers feeding over it. I ignore it - it layers atop the gravel when vacuuming, but the smallish pieces do not get sucked up into the python. Larger chunks of snail shells do clog the venturi device, it is a PITA. As suggested above, I manually siphon those out to a bucket.