What Inverts....

[SnowflakeEel]

just wondering, which inverts are the most highly recomended?

in short what do you have that is in no way dangerous to a reef or small fish?

 

[-Nemo-]

I strongly recommend an emerald crab, he comes in handy with that icky bubble algae which will be sure to get you at least once.
And of course snails. I only have a turbo (a very large one at that), Who does an excellent job cleaning the glass, powerhead and heater
Hermits (at least mine) seem to be more for pure amusement rather than work though mine could just be lazy.
Also, shrimp either peppermint and/or cleaner do a good job the live rock as well as other things.

I like the classics

 

[SnowflakeEel]

i'll think on the emerald crab
do you know of any others who would eat the bubble algae?

Arent the peppermint shrimp suppose to eat ick?

i have to say I like the Turbo
thanks nemo.

 

[SkiFletch]

Only thing I know that eats bubble algae is an emerald crab. Peppermint shrimp eat aiptasia anemones and also scavenge. They do not clean parasites. Skunk cleaners and blood/fire shrimp do that

IMO, the backbone of a good cleanup crew is built with Cerith and Nassarius snails. Additions of Turbo, Trochus, margarita, and Astrea help with variety.

 

[AK77]

I've also be toying with the idea of getting a conch. They don't climb and will spend their entire time eating crap off the substrate.

A good diverse range of compatible clean up crew is the key. As Ski says, Peppermint shrimps will eat aiptasia. Fire shrimps and cleaners will clean fish and scavenge also. Some snails will stick to cleaning glass and rocks. Others will burrow through the sand. Hermit crabs will eat algae from rocks and fish poop too.

 

[SnowflakeEel]

thanks everyone

 

[bitfishy]

I got a cowrie, and watched him chomp a cowrie sized trough through a bunch of hair algae in less than 10 mins! I like him because he always sticks to the rocks, whereas most of my snails favour the easier terrain of the glass.

 

[hubbard_shark]

wow i didnt know cowrys ate hair algae? is there a certain kind? b/c my tank is goin through a hair alage problem now, and im lookin to get rid of it as quickly as possible. i know that lawnmower blennies, cerith snails, and lettuce nudibranchs r good, anything else? (tryin to not spam this too much)

and recommendations: i love emerald crabs, mine r always busy and always out. cleaner shrimp r good, and i like the nassarius snailsas well.

 

[rictheredneck]

wow i didnt know cowrys ate hair algae? is there a certain kind? b/c my tank is goin through a hair alage problem now, and im lookin to get rid of it as quickly as possible. i know that lawnmower blennies, cerith snails, and lettuce nudibranchs r good, anything else? (tryin to not spam this too much)

and recommendations: i love emerald crabs, mine r always busy and always out. cleaner shrimp r good, and i like the nassarius snailsas well.

sea hares are the best hair algae eaters ive found constant eating!

 

[hubbard_shark]

yea that i knew, just didnt think a sea hare would work in a 37gl tank

 

[SkiFletch]

There are really only 3 things to consider when purchasing a sea hare

All powerhead inlets must be covered with foam, plastic strainers will kill them
The tank must have algae for it to eat, or be supplimented with algae sheets
Coral frags and rock formations need to be secured cause they will "bulldoze" the tank

 

[rictheredneck]

yea that i knew, just didnt think a sea hare would work in a 37gl tank

sea hare annihilated hair algae in my 50 UK gallon 240 l tank, took him a few weeks like.

 

[n3ont3tra]

If they die, would it hurt the tank any more than a fish dieing would?

 

[AndyS]

I believe certain Sea Hares are capeable of Nuking a tank, they also release a dye into the water when stressed or hasseled by fish/humans and this must be removed quickly to save problems.

Id love to keep one in my invert only tank, but i havent got the balls

Also quick note, a lot of cowries arent reef safe and will munch on soft corals.

 

[SkiFletch]

Myth and myth

Sea hare ink is not toxic at all, and even the worst skimmer on the planet can remove it in an hour or less. The only problem with the ink is that it blots out light, but as long as you can either water change or skim, you're fine.

And my first sea hare died when it fell victim to an emergency powerhead that I added when we had a power outage. It was dead in the tank for I think 2 days before I was able to do anything about it. It did not spike my biologics, and didnt release any toxins to "nuke" the tank.