Snails in a low-nutrient ZEO system.

[javajaws]

Is it me or are snails overrated (and overused?) in a high-flow, low nutrient, BB, ZEO SPS system?

I see people recommending hundreds of snails for new systems...but what's the right number (and type) for a tank (say for 100g) set up this way?

What's the minimum number you could get away with?

Are more snails causing more problems?

[invincible569]

I have never used snails and things look great in my tank. I was never a fan of snails since they knock things over. The only thing that comes close to a snail in my tank are the conch's and they do wonders!

[Adam]

in my 75, all i have is 5 astreas(or so) and a aquacultured queen conch.

[CosmoKramer]

I have 4 out of 5 mexican turbos i got 2 years ago.I don't have the heart to get rid of them,they're huge now but don't do much.Every once in awhile i saw them munch on some hair alge but very rarely.One recently cloged up my overflow U tube and almost caused a flood.It was half in and half out.I had to use a wodden dowel to knock it out of the tube.I have a queen conch that scurrys along in the little sand i do have and it seems to do a great job cleaning the sand and keeping the bottom clean

[losmandy]

I have 4 out of 5 mexican turbos i got 2 years ago.I don't have the heart to get rid of them,they're huge now but don't do much.Every once in awhile i saw them munch on some hair alge but very rarely.One recently cloged up my overflow U tube and almost caused a flood.It was half in and half out.I had to use a wodden dowel to knock it out of the tube.I have a queen conch that scurrys along in the little sand i do have and it seems to do a great job cleaning the sand and keeping the bottom clean

For the same reason, for my dunso I had a strainer installed with 10mm holes. The piping is 30mm so nothing will choke up the pipes.