crabs with no snails?

[treesprite]

Since for some reason I have had such a difficult time with snails, I am thinking of getting out of my ban on hermits (well, I have 2), and getting a bunch of them to keep things picked.

 

Any thoughts on this?

 

Thanks for the input.

[swimmatte]

With the exception of when they pick at my fungias and scolys, I think these guys do a great job in my tank.  I much prefer a bunch of hermits over a few emeralds like I've had in the past.  I keep both snails and hermits with success, but I feed heavy, which is probably why that works.

[treesprite]

I would only get hermits. I will absolutely never knowingly put a mithrax (emerald) crab in my tank again. Plus there would be no algae for them to eat, and the lack of algae is the reason my snails always die (the snails that get through the plumbing to the refugium do not die, and nassarius snails which do not need algae do not die, so I'm convinced that it's the lack of algae, not a water chemistry issue).

 

I do have concern about crabs killing the nassarius snails. But given that they eat the same thing as the crabs, the only purpose that would be served by having the nassarius would be to keep the sand turned (they live buried in the sand except when looking for food, like at tank feeding time).

 

But that does make me want to ask a different question. What would be good for turning sand if crabs kill the nassarius snails? My sandbed is only 1" or less in some spots.

Edited September 28, 2013 by treesprite

[TheyCallMeMr.703]

But that does make me want to ask a different question. What would be good for turning sand if crabs kill the nassarius snails? My sandbed is only 1" or less in some spots.

A Goby. ;-)

Edited September 30, 2013 by TheyCallMeMr.703

[treesprite]

Can't put anymore fish in my tank.

[AlanM]

Sea cucumber?

[treesprite]

Too big. But don't they just go over the sand, not dig or burrow in it?

[smallreef]

Sand sifting starfish?but if you do not have alot of sand they can deplete the micro fauna very quickly....

Edited September 30, 2013 by smallreef

[AlanM]

Too big. But don't they just go over the sand, not dig or burrow in it?

I think they do just do the top quarter inch, yes.

 

Do you really need it all stirred down to the bottom of your 1 inch of sand? If so, maybe the easiest is to stick a plastic dowel in there once in a while and stir things up.

[treesprite]

For some reason the sand gets packed on the surface, even so shallow. It may be that the sand is too fine; it's not sugar fine sand, but pretty small (can't remember the brand or grade). I need to see some real samples of various types of sand wet, to find one I think would be better for my tank's needs. Where could I go for this?

 

I have a dragonet, so I don't want anything that will strip out my pods.

[BowieReefer84]

For some reason the sand gets packed on the surface, even so shallow. It may be that the sand is too fine; it's not sugar fine sand, but pretty small (can't remember the brand or grade). I need to see some real samples of various types of sand wet, to find one I think would be better for my tank's needs. Where could I go for this?

 

I have a dragonet, so I don't want anything that will strip out my pods.

This is good sand:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7326

[treesprite]

This is good sand:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7326

Thanks. Was loooking there. Is that sand pink or is it just the way the photography makes it look?

[BowieReefer84]

It's not pink.  It's beige/whiteish.  Just how the photo looks.  I had used that sand in my old tank, and it worked well.  Just rinse it really good, as it does have a lot of dust. 

[treesprite]

Maybe it's the computer or my light or something, because it looks a little pink to me in the webpage picture.

[BowieReefer84]

No pink.  I had that exact sand in my old tank.  Trust me.

[Sugar Magnolia]

This is good sand:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7326

That's what I used in my tank, along with some finer grade sand. Every 6 months or so I use a gravel vac on it to syphon off the junk.

[treesprite]

I put 10 hermits in the tank. I had one already and there may actually have been a second one, so I have 11 or 12 of them now in my 75g tank.