I have just set up a 90 gallon tank that contains 150 lbs. live rock with live sand also that has been in there for about a month now. There is beginning to be an algae buildup and I am ready to add some algae eaters. Any suggestions about what works best? I was considering just buying one of those packs from LiveAquaria that contains Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs, a choice between Turbo Snails or Margarita Snails, another choice between Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crabs or Dwarf Zebra Crabs, and a couple of Abalones. Does this look like a good way to go? Just wondering, as I am new to this hobby. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Algae eating critters question?
- Thread starter Kevin Lloyd
- Start date
I would go light on ther hermit crabs, and heavy on the snails if possible. It has been my experience that hemits are not as good at consuming algae as their reputation would lead you to believe. Turbo and margarita snails are both good grazers.
I don't know specifically about Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crabs or Dwarf Zebra Crabs, but I do think that Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs (they are bright red with yellow eyestalks, not just plain old red hermits) are pretty good hermits, my experience with them is they were much less likely to flip snails over to eat them or fight amongst themselves as the blue leg hermits I had.
I don't know specifically about Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crabs or Dwarf Zebra Crabs, but I do think that Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs (they are bright red with yellow eyestalks, not just plain old red hermits) are pretty good hermits, my experience with them is they were much less likely to flip snails over to eat them or fight amongst themselves as the blue leg hermits I had.
i'd second the advice to go heavy on snails and lighter on hermits... in my 90, inch-for-inch the snails consume at least 5-10x as much algae as my dwarf black-and-white zebra hermits -- but the hermits are great at scavenging food and debris from the substrate. an assortment of snails is a good way to get specialized feeders to take care of different algae types.
i currently have trochus, strombus, nerite, astrea and a voracious algae-eating coral safe cowrie -- all of these do a great job IME with the exception of the nerites, which aren't doing much of anything for me. :roll:
that said, the dwarf zebra hermits i have are very peaceful, active and generally mind their own business... assuming there are plenty of empty shells, because someitmes they swap several times a day. when shells get scarce they do fight over real estate.
i currently have trochus, strombus, nerite, astrea and a voracious algae-eating coral safe cowrie -- all of these do a great job IME with the exception of the nerites, which aren't doing much of anything for me. :roll:
that said, the dwarf zebra hermits i have are very peaceful, active and generally mind their own business... assuming there are plenty of empty shells, because someitmes they swap several times a day. when shells get scarce they do fight over real estate.
I agree with krullulon, my turbos are awesome at eating algae, they work constantly. the ceriths and bumble bees lounge around most of the time. but, who can discount the beauty of the bumble bee snail..=P the nassarius snails are great at turning the sand around and keep algae from tank a foot hold on the sand.
I fourth the suggestions - light on crabs heavy on snails. In my experience true turbo snails don't hold up well. I have a mix of Certh, bumblebee, Astrea and Narrsisus. The bumblebee are for show the rest all seem to address a specific area. The crabs are cool - less than a dozen as they will fight and kill each other off and they really don't do a lot.
Critters are good but good water quality is key.
That being said I would suggest a mix of snails and only a few hermits. I have had the best luck with the dwarf red tip Hermit crabs and even though a few will disagree, emerald crabs are awesome too and the three I had were very peaceful.
That being said I would suggest a mix of snails and only a few hermits. I have had the best luck with the dwarf red tip Hermit crabs and even though a few will disagree, emerald crabs are awesome too and the three I had were very peaceful.
Turbos and astreas are good grazers and margaritas are okay. A conch would be good for keeping your sand clean(fighting conch, not a juvenile queen conch). Ceriths are slow and nassarius do not eat algae. They eat leftovers. Hermits are good for killing your sandbed fauna and the occasional snail for a new shell.
As Chris said prevention is best by having good water quality. However, all tanks have algae and it needs to be controlled. Snails are the best control for algae IMO.
As Chris said prevention is best by having good water quality. However, all tanks have algae and it needs to be controlled. Snails are the best control for algae IMO.
My turbos eat a ton of algae, but they are also bulldozers!
I have several small pieces of coral, including a small SPS that they just love to push off the rockwork. IMO go with smaller snails. Also I feel that hermit crabs get a bad rap. They are great to watch crawl arround and explore. If you like them, get a couple. Again, big hermit crabs tend to be more agressive, so stay smaller! They will do very little in the way of algae control though.
I have several small pieces of coral, including a small SPS that they just love to push off the rockwork. IMO go with smaller snails. Also I feel that hermit crabs get a bad rap. They are great to watch crawl arround and explore. If you like them, get a couple. Again, big hermit crabs tend to be more agressive, so stay smaller! They will do very little in the way of algae control though.
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