Snails in my canister filter--is this OK?

[gvildawg]

I just got through cleaning my canister filter today, and it was full of tiny pond snails and eggs (as usual). I usually try to pick out as many of them as possible and dump them back into the tank. My loaches love to eat 'em and I figured any cleaning they do before they inevitably get eaten is a bonus.
Is having snails in my filter going to cause me any problems? I just had a nitrite spike that I could not find a source for and I was wondering if this could be a cause. I'm assuming it wouldn't be unless they all died and started to decompose, but I thought I'd see if anyone else has an informed opinion.

 

[J double R]

the only possible problem i could see with it is if one grew large enough, and got into the impeller, that it could potentially not get smashed and stall the impeller. other than that, i don't see a problem with it, and only remove the larger ones from my filters.

 

[gvildawg]

I clean my filter out every 3-4 weeks, so it would have to be the fastest growing snail of all time to reach that size, I think.

 

[Aries]

I have had many many snails in my Rena Xp2. However, they were very small and the media blocked almost all of them.

While there may not been enough to stop most canisters, I am not sure about any damage a strong shell might do to the impeller before it is crushed or passes. But most impellers are "cheap" enough to replace, I would think.

I would do weekly inspections about the population in your canister along with your water change (this is what I did). Then I would determine why there are so many snails(assuming you are not trying to breed them for food or something) and then correct it.

Good Luck

Aries

 

[davexstumpe]

I would do weekly inspections about the population in your canister along with your water change (this is what I did).
Aries

weekly inspections would be a pain with a canister filter.

as long as everything is working fine, i'd say your monthy cleaning is perfect

 

[247Plants]

If they truly are just pond snails, their shells are really fragile and I wouldnt worry about it. Every once in a while one will pass through a powerhead and it just gets minced up for the fish to eat, and its a cheap powerhead too!