snail selection?

[niloc16]

i currently have a 55gallon that i have been battling with hair algae and bubble algae. i've tested everything with no luck in finding problem. i upgraded prizm skimmer to remora aqua c, and man what a difference in skimming but anyway, diatoms have definitely slowed with addition of new skimmer and its only been a week but to me it seems that the hair algae definitely slowed down. my question is herbivores, i have 12 astraea and 2 trochus snails currently, from research i've decided on getting some cerith, bumble bee, and nassarius snails to clean detritus and algae. i was wanting your input good or bad or experience with these snails to know if they will do the job. i dont have anything right now to clean detritus, and i'm really hesitant to get hermit crabs because i dont want the killing the snails i have, i tried a sea hare but it died a week after having it for no apparent reason.

[shotzee]

I once bought some bumblebee snails because I thought they looked interesting and would serve to clean detritus in the tank. What a waste of money. Not only did I never really see them much, they did nothing at all. Nassarius snails on the other hand are awesome snails. They are so cool when they pop out of the sandbed when you feed your fish.

[naesco]

If your tests are accurate and show no phosphate or nitrates it is because your algae are consuming them.
Stop the nitrate and phosphate introduction (food and dead stuff) and your algae will decline. Maybe less light for a while will help.

Snails
-----bumblebee snails are predatory and should not be placed in any reef aquarium (who gave you the info that they eat algae?)
-----astraea eat algae but fall on their shell backs and cannot right themselves and die and pollute the tank
-----trochus are excellent algae eaters
-----nerita are probably OK
-----ceriths add one to your tank
-----cowries get a few ring (money) cowries
-----nassarius are scavengers. They eat meat not detritus.
-----margarita are cool water snails; not for our tanks

You need to acclimate snails for hours otherwise they die for no apparent reason.

All the above courtesy Ron Smimek: A pocket guide to Marine Invertebrates: a must have for thirty bucks.

[shotzee]

C'mon, I have a bunch of astreas and I have never seen one die because it couldn't right itself. They do sometimes struggle, but I love them. They are great snails.

[Willow]

Originally Posted by shotzee

C'mon, I have a bunch of astreas and I have never seen one die because it couldn't right itself. They do sometimes struggle, but I love them. They are great snails.

my hermits set traps for them and pick them out when they are on their backs.

[shotzee]

Hahaha, those damn hermits.