Additional inverts

[ken123]

Want to increase my cleaning crew. Tank is almost 2 months old. Here is what I have now...

18 Hawaiian Strombus Grazers (IPSF.com) They laid eggs on the tank sides already!
4 Hawaiian Trocus Grazers (IPSF.com)
18 MicroHermits (IPSF.com)
9 Nerite Grazers (IPSF.com)
2 Black Turbos (LFS)
4 Astrea (LFS)
Have lots of amphipods crawling in the LR

Was thinking of adding...
Cerith or Nassarius snails - Should I add both?
2-3 serpent or brittle Stars
Some more Astrea? These are great!
Anything else I should add?

What do you think?

[Bluemorningwind]

Conch. Small brittle stars. Maybe an urchin. How about a lawn-mower blenny?


All the best with it.

[Blown 346]

Urchins I would be careful with, they can become a pain since they can knock over rockwork, eat fish and corraline algae. If you decide to try them make sure the rockwork is really stabile and they are feed well.

[Blown 346]

Cerith and Nasarius snails would be great additions, as well as the Astrea snails. Depending on how big the tank is, would determine on how many brittle/serpant stars to get

[ken123]

90 gal tank.
I was figuring no more than 4 stars. Do they multiply at all? Maybe 2?

[Blown 346]

I would probably only start with 1 of either the Brittle or Serpant stars. They can and due get big, I would try 1 out at first and see how well it does at cleaning, going with more than that might starve the other one.

[ken123]

Only 1 huh? Was thinking of 2 of these stars (http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=355&parent_category=4&category_search=63&root_parent_id=4). Think 2 would be to much?

[Sackwack]

I vote for a conch. Mine takes care of anything in the sand extremely well. Looks like an elephant with a shell lol. Get one for sure.

[romunov]

Conches need 100g+ tanks with a lot of sand area. I would skip it.

[ken123]

Much of a difference between Cerith or Nassarius snails? They both thrive in the sandbed.

[Bluemorningwind]

Originally posted by romunov
Conches need 100g+ tanks with a lot of sand area. I would skip it.

There is no way that's true. Reefers here in Japan keep them very happily in nanos.

[Bluemorningwind]

Don't worry too much about the big brittle stars, although, one would be good. Try to get the small brittle stars. They are fantastic cleaners

People often post about urchins causing problems. I have never had trouble with urchins. Pound-for-pound, hermits and snails move more rocks and corals than urchins. Some urchins can get pretty big, though. You may need to trade a big one for a smaller one, at some point. But, the amount of algae that a spiny urchin can consume is staggering. You won't see hair algae in your tank. True, they can nibble coralline, but a small urchin will not strip your tank. The pros out way the cons in my book. I've never seen a spiny catch a fish.

The key to a successful tank is to try things and come to a good balance for your system. Don't let fear steer your choices. However, bear in mind the possibilities.

All the best with it.