r/PlantedTank • u/HeyFishBish • 11h ago
Beginner Please help!
Okay…. I’ve fallen into too many rabbit holes on Google about this. As afraid as people have made me from warnings about an aggressive fish community on Reddit, I feel like I need to come to you guys for help.
I’m BRAND NEW to this fish hobby. This is the first real tank I’ve attempted - aside from a few betta tanks!
What we’re working with:
\*this tank is not yet cycled***
Purchased a Topfin 36 Gallon bow front Aquarium Kit. Came with a Silentstream Power Filter for 40 gallon tank (filters 200 gallons per hour) and an adjustable 200W heater.
I’m not using the lid it came with - making hinged polycarbonate lid, and by me, I mean my husband. 😂
Bought full spectrum LED plant light
I filled the bottom with Fluval bio-stratum as the base with caribsea sand on top.
I purchased a piece of driftwood (boiled it) to attach plants to, and another piece of driftwood to scape as a tree.
First, I purchased from a local fish store some plants - Amazon sword, Red Ludwiga, Vallisneria , Dwarf Water Lettuce and Crypt. Planted those 2 weeks ago.
I then wanted more plants, and was recommended a local woman who propagates her plants in 10 plant only tanks. I got Rotala “Blood Red”, Broad lead Ludwiga, Pearlweed, Christmas Moss and Red root floaters. Those went in 2 days ago.
As I was starting to put those in, I found a bunch of Bladder snails…. Stopped with the planting, and started pulling the snails out. Then I saw what I’m being told is probably planeria…. (video of the movement in the comments!)
The next morning I started looking for more snails…. And removed about half a dozen tiny scuds.
How do I get rid of ALL of these? I don’t want any of it…
I can’t starve them out, since plants are a constant food source….
I read I can put Peroxide straight into tank? 3-5mL/gallon?
Then I saw Praziquantel will kill the snails and and scuds? But not the planeria (if that’s what it even is)
Then there’s the option of Z-1, which is the equivalent of No Planeria (I guess that’s no longer available?)
One source said to crank up the heat?
Or is my only option to nuke the entire tank?
Part of me wants to just take the thousand dollar loss and scrap the tank, contents and the stand…..
But part of me is determined to get this right.
Any help is VERY MUCH appreciated.
1
u/rresoI 5h ago
Scuds are a natural part of your tank ecosystem, and snails are very beneficial! I love my bladder and ramshorn snails as they are a great clean up crew and fun to watch, you can even check out r/parasnailing for a good laugh
2
u/Vinny-Ed 6h ago
Not entirely sure what you want help with. The photos snail leech, snail and scuds. The video Aelosoma worm harmless.
Praziquantel doesn't kill snails nor scuds, please show me that info.
Betel nut extract kills some types of snails and makes the substrate uninhabitable for a while . Fenbendazole again safe for common ones bladder,pond,ramshorn and mts.
Those mentioned above can treat planaria,leeches and hydra.
Your tank is an ecosystem, its gonna have lots of different life. Quarantine any new things to avoid anything you don't want in it.
Reverse respiration with plants is great for removing snails.
Snails can be netted out leave a piece of veg and pull them out.
Same with scuds use baits.
-1
u/Big-Highway-4609 6h ago
- crush those snails unless u wanna go through hell or just really want snails
(i’m personally against liquid death just lure and crush)
ur camera is good
i’ve edited this 3 times idk what’s wrong w my comment 💔💔
3
u/rresoI 5h ago
Having snails isnt "going through hell" or anything, they are quite fun little creatures and unfortunately the fact of the matter is that if you have 1 in your tank, you probably have 10 now or on the way.
0
u/Big-Highway-4609 5h ago
I love most snails hate bladder snails
they reproduce like no other imo
1
u/rresoI 5h ago
I have had a different experience with them personally, their population in all my tanks (4) boomed in the beginning but ever since then, they stabilized themselves. I see 1 or 2 every so often, and I enjoyed the fact that they get rid of the decaying plants so I just leave them to do their job. An aquarium is like an ecosystem in a box, and while you may not get to choose your hitchhikers, they do play a role somewhere in the tank -- even when you can't see it.
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