Inverts &
Clean-Up Crew:
Sample Pictures
Below...
Note From Penny:
Cleanup critters are an absolutely
necessary part of a healthy reef system...BUT...I never advocate buying them
to "correct a problem". If your tank has just cycled it's normal to
have a bloom of algae and your cleanup crew should take care of it.
BUT...if your tank has the recommended number of each top 3 cleaners & you
struggle with nuisance algae, cyano etc. then I highly recommend looking for
the source of the problem, correct it & let your cleanup crew maintain
things from there. Check out my "Self
Help" section to help identify problems.
Below are reef safe cleaners with the top 3 being
the most helpful to our reef tanks.
Recommended per tank:
1 per gallon of tank
Example: 75g tank = 75 Astreas
This is a "rule of thumb", not an exact science. Add to your
population as you can until you reach
& maintain this
approximate number.
Of all cleaners, this is
a "Should Have" in any reef tank. |
# 1 Clean Up Crew!
Astrea snails are fantastic algae eaters being quite at home on your
rock or glass. They are slower yet more thorough cleaners allowing
coraline to take over where they've been. Other "turbo" type
snails aren't as thorough & can topple corals & rocks when larger. Only
downside to Astreas is that they can't right themselves when toppled
upside down. You must intervene...& they'll go on their merry way.
:0) |
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Recommended per tank:
1 per gallon of tank
Example: 75g tank = 75 Nassarius
This is a "rule of thumb", not an exact science. Add to your
population as you can until you reach
& maintain this approximate
number.
Of all cleaners, this is
a "Should Have" in any reef tank. |
# 2 Clean Up Crew!
Troublesome hermits crabs are not needed when
you employ these totally harmless guys! Fantastic scavengers! They
eat detritus, uneaten fish food & waste and burrow in the top 1 inch of
your substrate keeping it loose & clean. They will "Pop" out of the sand
when you feed! |
|
Recommended per tank:
1 per gallon
of tank
Example: 75g tank = 75
Cerith
This is a "rule of thumb", not an exact science. Add to your
population as you can until you reach & maintain this approximate
number. |
# 3 Clean Up Crew!
These snails spend most of their time
cleaning the top grains of your sand bed in search of uneaten food or
algae. They sleep in the top inch of your sand bed. This burrowing
action helps to keep the sand bed moving and supple (needed for gas
exchange). These are excellent for keeping the substrate clean of
uneaten food, decaying matter, algae.....even cyano! |
|
Recommended per tank:
Add as many as you like. |
Clean Up Crew!
These snails spend most of their time
cleaning the glass & rocks much like Astreas but they can right
themselves much better. Still go in & rescue them if totally
upside down though! ;c) |
|
Recommended per tank:
2 up to 3 Ft tank
3-4 up to 4 Ft tank
4-6 up to 6 Ft tank
Having more than one in a tank gives you a chance of having cucumber
babies! :c) |
Clean Up Crew!
Sand Sifting
Cucumbers are fantastic top sand cleaners (they do not bury).
They physically eat sand grains & produce clean sand waste. They will travel next to the
base of your rocks targeting areas where detritus collect. Don't
be alarmed if you don't see much of them as they prefer the nooks &
cranny areas of your rock work!
These are Non-Toxic!!
May come in different colors |
|
Recommended per tank:
1 /3 Ft - 2 /4 Ft - 3+ /6 Ft |
Clean Up Crew!
The only CRAB I sell! Great scavengers. Known to eat hair &
bubble
algae.
Completely reef safe.
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A must have for reefs with
fish. They clean Ick parasites off fish and are great scavenger as
well. Kept in multiples they will bear & release eggs creating a
feeding treat for tankmates! |
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A must have for reefs with fish. They clean Ick
parasites off fish and are great scavenger as well. Kept in
multiples they will bear & release eggs creating a feeding treat for
tankmates! |
|
Be careful!!
There is another species of shrimp that looks identical to this
one & I don't consider it reef safe! Be sure the one you get is a
true
Lysmata wurdemanni |
Lysmata wurdemanni
"The TRUE Peppermint"
A great scavenger and Aptasia eater (if not fed fish food). Kept in multiples, females will
release eggs creating a feeding treat for tankmates! |
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Approx. 2 inches
|
Tiger
Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus bellulus
Love to be paired with
Gobies such as the Watchmans, Yashia and more!
|
See "Gobies"
for more information! |
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Approx. 1.5 inches
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Red Candy Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus yaldwyni
Love to be paired with
Gobies such as the Watchmans, Yashia and more!
|
See "Gobies"
for more information! |
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Approx. 2 inches
Maine Tank Raised!!! |
Lettuce Nudibranch Completely reef safe.
Does best in established reef tanks. Feeds on diatom & hair algae.
Having more than one in a tank gives you a chance of having
babies! :c) |
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Red Feather Starfish Completely reef safe.
Does best in established reef tanks.
This stunning & rare animal is a beautiful addition to a reef tank! |
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Blue Linkia Starfish Completely reef safe.
Does best in established reef tanks.
Unlike other starfish
families the Linkia is known for staying out where we can see them!
Beautiful addition to a reef tank! |
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Burgandy Red Linkia Starfish Completely reef safe.
Does best in established reef tanks. |
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Orange Linkia Starfish
Completely reef safe.
Does best in established reef tanks. |
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Serpent Starfish
Great
scavenger & cleanup crew
Colors vary |
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ROSE Bubble Tip Anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor
WYSIWYG Approx
1" Foot
Shown Expanded to about 2.5" |
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Sample Picture
Each anemone is a unique animal. Expect some color variation.
Normally arrives mostly closed but will open upon acclimation to your
tank. Size is based on their "foot" dimension yet
the
body will
expand many times larger
depending on mood & tank conditions.
Feed once or twice a week with PE Mysis shrimp. Note: it is
common for these anemones to "deflate" when digesting a meal. |
Bubble Tip Anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor
All clownfish species are
known to go to this anemone! It is the only species I will sell
due to the high mortality rate of others. The BTA readily makes
babies of itself and is the least aggressive & most reef safe of all
species.
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WYSIWYG!
Neon Green
Bubble Tip Anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor
Approx
4" |
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Yellow Feather Duster
Heads are 1 - 2" |
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Giant
Hawaiin Feather Duster
Heads are 3 - 4"
Colors vary |
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