Need a good critter...

[TaknByD]

I am interested in getting something that will eat any of the krill or whatnot that is at the bottom of my tank that I would normally have to pull out. I was wondering if anyone knew of anything that was reef safe that would help out this situation? Thanks...

[Europhyllia]

I consider them reef safe but others do not:
Clibanarius tricolor - the Caribbean blue-leg hermits (NOT the big ole electric blues from the Pacific!)

[TaknByD]

I consider them reef safe but others do not:
Clibanarius tricolor - the Caribbean blue-leg hermits (NOT the big ole electric blues from the Pacific!)

I actually have a couple of these guys in my tank somehow... I think they came from one my recently purchased corals... Do they sell these guys in bulk somewhere in particular? Because I noticed one of them chowing down on a little piece of krill last night.

[Mike]

You might be over feeding. What kind of clean up crew do you have? Fish wise do you have a top? Some sort of goby- diamond/ sleeper gobies would work, but they are jumpers. Or maybe a cucumber or fun invert.

[TaknByD]

Well maybe I shouldn't say "bulk".... How many is a good amount for a 55g tank? :D

[TaknByD]

As of right now all I really have is a star blenny. The wife and I want to get a diamond goby... I would think a starfish would be cool but I don't know if my 2.5" porcupine puffer mess with it...

[Europhyllia]

ReefCleaners has the blueleg hermits for 40 cents or so. I think you just missed a group order (so did I but I got some coming directly to me tomorrow. lol)

[ErikH]

Buy a ton of blue legs, my rule of thumb is to buy some clean up crew every time I visit the fishy store.

[Reefer4ever]

I know for a fact that if a starfish falls with its "foot" facing upward, and you don't flip him over, he is dead. I had a longhorn cowfish with a chocolate chip starfish. I watched him flip upside down a few times, and actually let the star be bait to see if I needed to get rid of the starfish, and the cow didn't do anything. Then one day I found, I came from school to find a fat cow, and NO starfish! Totally gone! But this was a 5-6" cow. Just a warning...

[TaknByD]

Very good info... How many blue legs should I get? Like $20 worth?

[Europhyllia]

depends on what size you get. I think I started with 40 in my 215g tank.

[jroescher]

Nassarius snails. Eats anything that lands on the floor. I've seen them even climb the rocks occasionally to get at something. I also have a large brittle star that competes with the snails to get at food.

[LuckySingh]

it really depends how old is ur tank....if its fairly new i would start off with blue legged hermitts untill it keep's getting mature than start adding nasarius snails...i wouldnt attempt star fish unless my tank is about a year old and it depends how much u feed ur tank aswell on daily basis.....

[TaknByD]

Thanks everyone on the input, I think I'll be looking for some Blue Legs tomorrow... And I think the two that I have already found in my tank came from you, Lucky... :D

[LuckySingh]

:rofl:see man dnt tell me know u didnt get a deal>>

[TaknByD]

LoL, Yeah, they are all great pieces. Thanks... The Clam is doing good, and the open brain is looking nice and open... The GSP has yet to open up but I'm sure tomorrow it will open up. :D

[cbianco]

I like my nasarius snails, brittle star and (random) hermits. They seem to do a good job with keeping the tank clean. However, I agree with an earlier comment that you may be overfeeding your tank. It sounds as if too much food is hitting the bottom of your tank. JMO.

Christopher :)

[TaknByD]

I know it sounds like I'm over feeding but I'm truly not. I have just noticed that my puffer will sometimes spit out his food and then loses track of it as if falls to the floor, where it will stay until I pick it out... I guess I'm just wanting something that will eat it so I don't have to keep putting my hands in the tank.

[Europhyllia]

I think scavengers are a perfectly natural part of a reef. Feed on!

[LuckySingh]

i woudnt put my hands in my tank to remove uneaten food every day...add sme tank janitors and let them take care of that...thats the nature of the reef tank...the less u touch it the better its gne be..

[Regric25]

I agree with just about everyone here lol. I would add nassarious snails. They are pretty good at cleaning the sandbed. They are great scavangers. Every time I feed my tank they all come out of the sandbed like little zombies and look for food. I personally dont like hermits because as they grow they will compete for larger shells. You also have to provide larger shells for them as they grow. If you want a fish I would recommend getting a wrasse or something like that. I have learned that sand sifting gobies like diamond gobies sift sand and eat pretty much all day but miss out on feedings because they are bottom dwellers. I love sand sifting gobies and they DO move a lot of sand. They just require a little more attention to make sure they get to eat. Good luck to ya!