Cecil, The alum (aluminum sulfate) precipitate may smother the snails. The aluminum may also play a role as a toxic substance as it goes through ionic changes in the aerobic and anaerobic chemistry of the sediments. Some species of snails may be more affected by alum than others. It probably depends. It is also in the realm of possibility that someone confused the affects of a copper sulfate treatment with that of an alum treatment. Copper sulfate is pretty hard on snails and the food they eat.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/10/08 04:19 PM.
