Invert Package

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by mirosh, Feb 18, 2005.

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  1. mirosh

    mirosh Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2004
    Messages:
    242
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Hello All,

    Just wanted to get some opinions here.

    Right now I have a 37 gallon (see signature below) and have been getting a lot of algae lately (green hair and brownish purple on the tank walls and powerheads). Are there any kind of inverts (snail types and others) that are good at getting the algae? I had gotten a package of inverts from saltwaterfish.com before with a bunch of Nass's, Turbo's, and Hermits...but I had some problems with Nitrates (fluctuations that were too large and too many) and therefore, most of my inverts died...the Nitrates and most everything else seems to be under control finally (Ammonia, Nitrite at 0ppm and Nitrate at 2-5ppm).

    I was looking at http://www.etropicals.com, which is drs. foster and smith, where you can Build your own reef cleaner package...do you have any suggestions?

    I would also like something that would be good at mixing up the sandbed...was thinking a few mini brittles would do the trick.

    Thanks,
    Mike
     
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  3. mirosh

    mirosh Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2004
    Messages:
    242
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA
    I guess no input...
     
  4. Save_the_Reef

    Save_the_Reef Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2004
    Messages:
    76
    Location:
    Downriver, Michigan
    Get some turbo or astrea snails for the glass and such.  Some Nassarius snails will stir your sand bed.  Get 1 or 2 emerald crabs...they like hair algae.  Some hermits-make for good boxing matches if they are blue legged.  You can get a shrimp.

    Maybe
    16-turbo or astrea snails
    10-nassarrius
    10 to 15-hermits(blue legged are aggressive and will eat astrea snails)
    2-emerald crabs

    But don't take my word for it...I am the resident noob.
     
  5. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2000
    Messages:
    13,466
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
  6. Gresham

    Gresham Great Blue Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2002
    Messages:
    2,825
    Location:
    SF/Monterey Bay Area, CA
    I'd stear clear of astrea's and turbo's. Both have a harder time righting themselves if the fall on their backs
    I prefer:
    Trochus, nerites, cerith and abalones (most nerites are tidal, so finding the right ones is a crap shoot) for the glass
    Nassarius and queen conches for the sand bed (mini brittles are cool, so them too ;) )
    Zebra hermits and scarlets for the crab department
    Most brittles EXCEPT the green (yellow or red as well-they ate fish or what ever they feel like) serpeant stars from SE Asia and the deep water red serpeant from the atlantic (too delicate)
    Small sea hares for hair algea (they'll die if you don't have any)

    FWIW, I didn't check out the link you provided, so many items probably aren't on there.