Sea Cucumber or Lettuce Sea Slugs???

[saltman123]

I am ordering online from a shop that sells Sea Cucumbers and Lettuce Sea Slugs. Are these suitable for a 12 gallon nano? Or are they way too big and will knock stuff all around?

Should I consider one or not in a small tank?

[saltman123]

Anyone have any input?

[Dudester]

In general I wouldn't consider a sea cucumber for a tank of that size. They feed on detritus in the sandbed and they can grow quite large. I think it would starve eventually in your tank. If you have an established tank with "dirty" sand that you would like to clean without siphoning, you could consider a cucumber for a short period of time, but be prepared to trade it with a friend after a while. If your tank is new then definitely don't add a cucumber. As for your concern about them knocking things over, they are pretty gently so that wouldn't be the problem.

[seapug]

They do two different things. Cucumbers are filter feeders or sand sifters and Sea slugs munch algae. Both are tricky in a small tank. Cucumbers tend to waste away and Sea Slugs usually end up getting sucked into overflows or powerhead intakes.

[Toddrtrex]

The only cucumber that I've ever had was a tiger tail
( http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=712 ) had it in my 58 for about 2 years, not sure what happened to it. Wouldn't suggest one for a nano, and I've never had good luck with Lettuce slugs --- too much flow in my tank.

So I would avoid both of those for your tank.

[saltman123]

My tank is small and doesn't have much that they could be sucked into, but it seems like they aren't the smartest thing for my tank. The tank is 14+ months old and can definitely use some more sand cleaning. The top is nice and clean, but from the side of the glass I can see its has plenty of color and growth under there. I have about 4 Nassarius snails, 1 bumble bee snail, 1 asterina left, and a few cerith's. Anything else recommended or just more snails?

[Toddrtrex]

A picture would be nice.

Is the color and the growth you are seeing right on the glass or the sand ? I know in my tanks that just below the sandbed line that coralline algae will grow.

[saltman123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11254848#post11254848 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
A picture would be nice.

Is the color and the growth you are seeing right on the glass or the sand ? I know in my tanks that just below the sandbed line that coralline algae will grow.

The color is a little green, and a little red. Doesn't seem to be that purplish/red coralline looks like though. I do see the nass and cerith snails mixing the sand all the time, but maybe just not up front?

I'll try to get a pic soon.