snails on sticks

I've finished soaking all the sticks I collected, and peeled the bark off. Most are half-floating in the top of my 45gal, a few have begun to sink. The snails are enjoying wood surfaces.It has tinted the water somewhat, enough that I can't do reliable tests for nitrate or ammonia- I did notice one of my kuhlis appeared to have reddish gills and tummy the other day. But they all look very active and hearty. Debating if I should tie a few small rocks to the ends of some sticks to hurry the waterlogging process, or just wait for them to gradually sink and then rearrange them. Already tank is looking more natural as a few are angling down to the bottom and I like how the light plays over them.