Pizzafan Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 Hi- I got some hornwort hoping it might naturally help with reducing my staghorn algae (not really privy to trying a bunch of chemicals, etc to get rid of it). These things shed a ton of needles though - I’m wondering if snails will go after the fallen leaves? I won’t worry to keep up too quickly with the cleanup if they or other critters would munch on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndlersBoi Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 On 7/3/2021 at 3:16 PM, Pizzafan said: Hi- I got some hornwort hoping it might naturally help with reducing my staghorn algae (not really privy to trying a bunch of chemicals, etc to get rid of it). These things shed a ton of needles though - I’m wondering if snails will go after the fallen leaves? I won’t worry to keep up too quickly with the cleanup if they or other critters would munch on it. Snails will eat pretty much any dying leaf/plant matter. Amano shrimp do even better in my opinion with eating staghorn algae (really any algae) as well as decaying plant matter. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 All I can offer: I've noticed that the new, bright green stems don't shed much. Sections of hornwort that are 12 or more inches from the tip, especially if they're no longer bright green, are likely to make a huge mess. It helps to regularly discard of the older sections. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Hi, from my experience not really, although my tank could be an anomaly. I got some from my LFS that had small about 5/8th's of an inch long needles, and an online supplier with needles that are a bit larger and that feel a bit more tender (might just be me though) than the LFS hornwort. Neither's needles have gotten eaten by the large population of bladder snails, or a few tiny ramshorns. Both have been there since March, with pretty much no reduction in size, or bite marks. Hope this helps! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizzafan Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 On 7/3/2021 at 9:01 PM, CalmedByFish said: All I can offer: I've noticed that the new, bright green stems don't shed much. Sections of hornwort that are 12 or more inches from the tip, especially if they're no longer bright green, are likely to make a huge mess. It helps to regularly discard of the older sections. Great advice here - mine are pretty long that I bought. May trim them down considerably 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonske Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 My pond, bladder, trapdoor, and tiny ramshorn snails never ate hornwort needles. The snails lived happily in the floating bunch of hornwort, but the shed needles stayed around forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 BTW, the needles do vacuum up very easily if you want to siphon the substrate. I realize that for a lot of us, siphoning takes place every 3-4 nevers, but... 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 My bladder mystery and nerite won’t touch it. I shake real hard in a bucket. If there is even a touch of green on an empty stem I float it and it comes back bushier after it adjusts to my water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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