Algae Cleaner Packs
- Thread starter DodgeRT
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
roka64
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2006
- Messages
- 13,858
IMO, those "starter packs" are too large for a new tank that they have each one rated for. You may want to look at a smaller package, since there might not be enough for them to eat in a new tank. I think it is best to start off small and add to them as I go along. I would look at the clean up crew packs and see if your LFS has a similar variety, just get fewer of them. I like to acclimate my inverts for at least 2 hours.
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
First off, if it's cold down there, I'd delay until warmer weather for shipping inverts especially.
Most importantly, those "packs" are intended to be the full compliment of cleaners for a very mature tank. Otherwise, lots of those critters will starve.
Tell us a bit about your tank set up. qty of rocks, type of substrate, age of the tank, other inhabitants. Any inverts in there now? How many?
How's your nitrate readings?
Check articles on acclimation procedures. Can't just drop those in the tank.
Most importantly, those "packs" are intended to be the full compliment of cleaners for a very mature tank. Otherwise, lots of those critters will starve.
Tell us a bit about your tank set up. qty of rocks, type of substrate, age of the tank, other inhabitants. Any inverts in there now? How many?
How's your nitrate readings?
Check articles on acclimation procedures. Can't just drop those in the tank.
roka64
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2006
- Messages
- 13,858
The articles haven't been migrated over to the new servers just yet, but should be soon....
I agree, definitely not for a new tank. I guess I should have stated that this is not a new tank. I bought it already setup from a friend of mine, but he sold all the livestock before I purchased it. There is definitely plenty of algae in there for them to eat but not out of control but I do need to get a crew in there soon. I checked with my LFS but they are way over priced on that type of stuff and carry a very limited stock.
The tank (live rock and sand) is about 4 years old and well established. I have had it in my house for around 3 months now with only a clown fish and anemone in it, both are doing great so there is little bio load on the system as I am a firm believer in adding things very slowly to acclimate. All readings are fine.
roka64
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2006
- Messages
- 13,858
Ok, cool. What size is your tank?
The cleaners are OK but try these tips to get rid of algea in the tank.
http://www.fantasyreef.com/database/index.php?p=getitem&db_id=11&item_id=5
http://www.fantasyreef.com/database/index.php?p=getitem&db_id=11&item_id=5
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
Keep in mind that since your'e not feeding much (with only a clown and anenome), you won't need a large crew. How much rock in there BTW.
I'd say get 20 or so snails:nassarius-5, mexican turbos-8, astrea-8, maybe and 25 or so hermits. Red legs are nice IMO.
Might consider a brittle or serpent star also. Stay away from the green brittle. Big and mean. If the nitrates are consistently in order, might try 3 cleaner shrimp also. I tend to prefer the blood red. They ALWAYS outlive the skunk cleaners.
This time of year, I'd be afraid of mail order and consider that smaller quantity from your lfs unitl the weather warms.
I'd say get 20 or so snails:nassarius-5, mexican turbos-8, astrea-8, maybe and 25 or so hermits. Red legs are nice IMO.
Might consider a brittle or serpent star also. Stay away from the green brittle. Big and mean. If the nitrates are consistently in order, might try 3 cleaner shrimp also. I tend to prefer the blood red. They ALWAYS outlive the skunk cleaners.
This time of year, I'd be afraid of mail order and consider that smaller quantity from your lfs unitl the weather warms.
That's not a bad idea, I could probably get buy with what you suggested until the weather warms up and still support the lfs!
cmor1701d
Aquarium Advice Addict
I'll disagree with Ray on the hermits, and the snail population. I would add about 20 nassarius, 3-5 turbo grazers and some cerith a/o astrea for now. Increase the nassarius and cerith when you need more.
Snails need to be drip acclimated for a long time or you can try Dr. Ron Shimek's trick of self acclimation:
Astrea Snail-most common of all saltwater tank snails. They are excellent algae eaters and will forage all over the rock, sand, and glass. These guys fall very easily, can not right themselves, and die.
Banded Trochus Snail - Large snails that are excellent algae eaters although are very slow about it. These guys have a hard time picking themselves up if stranded in the middle of the sand. .
Bumblebee snails- Not very hardy. Marginal algae eaters, but more of a detritus grazer. They can prey on other snails and sand bed critters.
Cerith Snails (Cortez) - Good algae and detritus eaters that forage rock, glass, and sand. Some can pick themselves up and some cant.
Cerith Snails (White)- Good algae and detritus eaters that seem to stay in the sand more than the cortez, but can be found on the rock and glass. Once again, some can pick themselves up and others cant. Good sand bed snails to turn the sand bed.
Fighting Conch Snails All about the sand bed, they are great detritus eaters. They usually dont get flipped over, but if they do, they can kick around and turn themselves back upright.
Mexican Turbo Snails - super fast grazer that will knock out some algae in no time. They mostly stay on rocks and glass, but will work the top of the sandbed too.
Nassarius Snails (Nassarius vibex) - They mostly stay in the sand, but will sometimes make short trips up the glass. They are mainly detritus eaters and do an excellent job cleaning and turning the sand. I think these are also some of the most hardy snails out there. These guys can flip themselves upright very easily and quickly.
Nerite Snails - Mostly a rock and glass snail that are all about the algae. The dont move very fast but the areas they have been in are clean as a bell. These guys like to crawl outta the water some. I often find them in my overflows a/o sump. These are great snails, but also have trouble turning themselves back over.
Stomatella Snails - They are supposed to reproduce very well. No personal experience w/ them.
Strombus Snails (Strombus maculatus (sp?))these are excellent snails that reproduce very well. They seem to be mostly sandbed snails and will occasionally make there way up to about the rock work.
Snails need to be drip acclimated for a long time or you can try Dr. Ron Shimek's trick of self acclimation:
Astrea Snail-most common of all saltwater tank snails. They are excellent algae eaters and will forage all over the rock, sand, and glass. These guys fall very easily, can not right themselves, and die.
Banded Trochus Snail - Large snails that are excellent algae eaters although are very slow about it. These guys have a hard time picking themselves up if stranded in the middle of the sand. .
Bumblebee snails- Not very hardy. Marginal algae eaters, but more of a detritus grazer. They can prey on other snails and sand bed critters.
Cerith Snails (Cortez) - Good algae and detritus eaters that forage rock, glass, and sand. Some can pick themselves up and some cant.
Cerith Snails (White)- Good algae and detritus eaters that seem to stay in the sand more than the cortez, but can be found on the rock and glass. Once again, some can pick themselves up and others cant. Good sand bed snails to turn the sand bed.
Fighting Conch Snails All about the sand bed, they are great detritus eaters. They usually dont get flipped over, but if they do, they can kick around and turn themselves back upright.
Mexican Turbo Snails - super fast grazer that will knock out some algae in no time. They mostly stay on rocks and glass, but will work the top of the sandbed too.
Nassarius Snails (Nassarius vibex) - They mostly stay in the sand, but will sometimes make short trips up the glass. They are mainly detritus eaters and do an excellent job cleaning and turning the sand. I think these are also some of the most hardy snails out there. These guys can flip themselves upright very easily and quickly.
Nerite Snails - Mostly a rock and glass snail that are all about the algae. The dont move very fast but the areas they have been in are clean as a bell. These guys like to crawl outta the water some. I often find them in my overflows a/o sump. These are great snails, but also have trouble turning themselves back over.
Stomatella Snails - They are supposed to reproduce very well. No personal experience w/ them.
Strombus Snails (Strombus maculatus (sp?))these are excellent snails that reproduce very well. They seem to be mostly sandbed snails and will occasionally make there way up to about the rock work.
austinsdad
Aquarium Advice Addict
That's right. Some folks don't like hermits 'cause they kill snails. I just expect that as the hermits grow, and buy more snails.
usmcmarc
Aquarium Advice FINatic
You can try www.reefcleaners.org for some of the more exotic snail species. They will also set up packages for you based upon your preferences.
Similar threads
