Clean up crew and load on tank

[disman_ca]

Hey there (first post). I have a 30G reef tank with a blenny and recently added a matched tomato clown and bubble tip anemone (tank 2+ months old). I have 5 small snails and I do want to add more for algae control. So here is the question.

How much load does the CUC put on the tank? I was thinking to add a brittle star fish to clean up my substrate but I don't want to add to many things to clean the tank as I want to add more soft coral and maybe another colourful fish.

I've added some pictures for refernce

 

[thominil]

Your CUC adds very little to the bio-load, however, with such a young tank, adding to many may lead them to starvation. A brittle star will most likely die in that small of a system with very little food to offer. What type of lights do you have?

 

[Tomchong22]

A brittle starfish does not really do that much cleaning of your substrate. You are better off getting a sand sifting starfish. You can look at some green emerald crabs. They do a good job.

 

[Sarcothelia]

That's a really shallow sand bed...I'd avoid sand sifters, they'd have a hard time going under the substrate it seems.

 

[disman_ca]

Your CUC adds very little to the bio-load, however, with such a young tank, adding to many may lead them to starvation. A brittle star will most likely die in that small of a system with very little food to offer. What type of lights do you have?

T5 2 lights, Roseate and 6000K lamps

 

[disman_ca]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not keen on the emerald crabs as I've ready mixed experiences with them eating other things. Ideally I have my I set on a starfish of some sort so maybe I should consider adding more substrate? Ideally I want to add more more to the crew but only if nessecarry. I'll be adding mostly soft corals like frog spawn and other typs of anemones and maybe 1 other colourful fish.

 

[thominil]

Stay away from sifting and brittle stars, they usually end up starving in aquaria. If you add more substrate, I do encourage you to grab some nassarius snails. They burrow under the sand and come up when they sense food, also a good way to keep your sand stirred up. Is this just a two bulb T5 fixture? If so, stay away from anemones, and I would say that you should take your BTA back.

 

[disman_ca]

Is this just a two bulb T5 fixture? If so, stay away from anemones, and I would say that you should take your BTA back.

Yes it is a 2 bulb fixture. May I ask why you suggest to return the BTA?

 

[carey]

Yes it is a 2 bulb fixture. May I ask why you suggest to return the BTA?

You don't have enough light for the nem.

At least a 4 bulb should be used to keep it alive. You might also want to replace the bulbs you do have to get better light. I'd suggest a 10k or 12k bulb with and actinic.

Good luck

 

[disman_ca]

Thanks I'll check my bulbs again to make sure (I just read the box). The guy at the LPS did ask me what I planned to have in the tank when I bought the light. It also doesn't hurt to add my light anyway.

 

[disman_ca]

I checked at my shop and the light is actually 10,000K.