Snails for Clarity

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I've had a kidney pond in the patio for about 11 years now and the sun hits it every day for the long hot summers in Florida, so I get Algae, lots of it.
I added sand and limestone rocks, which worked for a while. Not real long though. I only have two long bubblers and a copper water fountain. Four 8" Goldfish, one smaller one. Three Lillies, two pot fulls of water plants. So the algae got really bad because it's not filtered at all. I tried all kinds of leftover aquarium filters and got frustrated. I just do a 1/4 water change (5 5-gallon buckets) about every two weeks, with conditioned water. I use hose water with a cap full of Aquasafe Plus in each 5-gallon bucket. Well, this year it got really bad, I couldn't change the water out for a month, so the algae took over! I consulted the internet and all I could find was Barley on top or use chemicals. No thanks! I consulted the internet for algae eaters and went to the local pet store to buy some, but the guy at the store was really knowledgeable and told me the Plecos really don't work well in a pond and the other Chinese algae eater and another die in the heat. Great! But then, he said have you tried any Snails? No! I had cone snails that I want to get rid of because they really carry a lot of diseases! He talked me into buying Nitrate Snails. I think that's what they are called. They love algae! They are like Pacman in there! I bought 4 and went back and got 4 more! My pond is so clear now! Yes, there is still algae, but that's okay cause the snails have to eat! They grow really big and they are orange, yellow and brown! So if you want them, you can find them! So I say Hail Snails! Eat my Algae! I still do the water changes and plan on making my copper fountain a filter somehow. Or go for the bucket filter.
 

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copper will harm plants and snails (fish, too), over time. Just so you know...most here use plants and lots of them to out compete the algae. They also shade the water column which will also curtail the algae.
 
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Hello! I'm also new to the Forum, and newly to Florida (gulf coast, W of Tampa), so I don't have Florida-tips (yet). I like your patio pond very much, and used to have a pond that size and used an in-pond filter with a built in pump that helped remove "particulate matter" and might help you. (I no longer have it; pond got bigger.) I am going to check out your Snail Solution. Welcome again.
 
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Well, she's not actually "adding" copper and is doing some water changes.

If there is still some concern, I guess she could do water copper tests.
 

addy1

water gardener / gold fish and shubunkins
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Welcome to the forum!

Plants are your best best to fight algae. Nice pond!
 
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Well, she's not actually "adding" copper and is doing some water changes.

If there is still some concern, I guess she could do water copper tests.
her copper fountain is, though, just by being in use.
 
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Never heard of those particular snails, only trapdoor snails.
I used to have lots of trapdoor snails, but they seemed to have disappeared. The fish probably ate them.
 
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Welcome to the forum!

As others said, copper is a no-no for inverts. I believe the snail is called a nerite snail. They're popular in the aquarium hobby for cleaning algae.
 

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