Calcium and Snails/Plants

heavensabvus1

Junior Poster
Apr 7, 2005
23
0
1
I have a 65g tank ... with a snail problem, meaning that I can't seem to keep Malaysian Trumpet snails going for very long. Their shells slowly turn white and disintigrate. What's puzzling is that the pond snail shells seem to be ok. I do have some assorted EI/Co2 issues with the plants, but I am working on those. What I want to figure out is what is bothering the snails, which no doubt affects the plants as well.

My tap water has 0 kh so I add baking soda and bring it up to 8. My ph is 7.0, meaning I have co2 of 25. I use the EI and change 50% water weekly. I add the following to my tank:

Prime
Baking soda
Potassium nitrate to 10ppm
Potassium phosphate
Flourish potassium (a little extra which keeps my crypts from getting holes)
Flourish fertilizer

0 ammonia
0 nitrate
0 copper
25ppm co2
kh 8
ph 7.0

I want to make sure I have good snail life before adding shrimps.
Is calcium the problem here? If so, how do I add it and how much for a 65g? Does it affect ph/kh? I thought if my kh was 8 I had no problems. If there's something I need to add, I shop on Greg Watson's website, so telling me what to get would be appreciated. Thanks!
 

Grafalski

Prolific Poster
Feb 24, 2006
52
0
6
Re: Calcium and Snails/Plants

Get a GH test kit and check the water hardness (Gh= CA+Mg). If it`s low get Gh Booster from Greg Watson or CaCl2 and MgSo4+&H2O.
My Gh is low (2-3) and I used to have magnesium and calcium deficiency. I started adding 1/4 tspn of Mg and 1/2 tspn of Cacl2 by water change for 29 gallon tank. I used fertilator to calculate dosage: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/fertilator.php)
 

heavensabvus1

Junior Poster
Apr 7, 2005
23
0
1
Re: Calcium and Snails/Plants

Thanks, I'll test the gh and order the booster from Greg Watson. I appreciate your answer!