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Clean Up
Crew...
(because you can never have
enough house cleaners!)
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One of the most enjoyable aspects of owning a
saltwater aquarium, is all the cool &
interesting invertebrates you can add.
A well-designed system will
contain a host of cleaners to help maintain
optimal
conditions for your tank inhabitants and to
maintain the aesthetic quality.
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Crabs
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General guideline for stocking is
1-2 hermit crabs per gallon of water
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These are omnivorous inverts and
will scour the rocks for nuisance algae, detritus, and
leftover foods; therefore maintaining the health of the
system and keeping it clean.
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Emerald Crabs: 1 emerald crab
should be used for every 20-30 gallons. Emerald (mithrax)
crabs specialize in eating Valonia algae
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Sally Lightfoot and Arrow Crabs can
be used to control Bristleworms. They also provide an
interesting and unique look. One per aquarium is all
that is necessary
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Snails
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Snails are an excellent addition to
control unwanted algae growth on the glass.
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1 Snail per gallon is recommended
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Astrea, Trochus, and Margarita snails
can be mixed to add variety in size, shape, and color
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Sand Sifters: Cerith, Nassarius, and
Nerite snails will help eliminate detritus, diatoms, and
cyanobacteria from the sand bed, as well as keeping it
from compacting. 1 for every 3 gallons is useful.
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Starfish
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Aside from the beauty they bring to
an aquarium, starfish can be effective detrivors. A
serpent or brittle star should be used in every tank to
keep the rock clean
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Sandshifting stars are another
effective means of maintaining the sand bed
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1 for every 50 gallons is
sufficient.
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Even decorative starfish, such as
Linkia or Fromia spp can help reduce algae and excess
food in an aquarium.
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Shrimp
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Peppermint shrimp are an effective
controllers of Aptasia and Mojave anemones. They will
also keep rock clean of detritus. 1 for every 20
gallons is recommended
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Skunk, Coral Banded, & Fire Cleaner
Shrimp are an excellent addition for natural
parasitic control on fish. 3 or 4 in an aquarium
will help prevent infections by setting up a
cleaning station for your fish. Please note that Coral
Banded Shrimp are good cleaners for large fish only, for
they will prey on small fish.
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Nudibranchs
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Various sea slugs can
be used to effectively control unwanted algae growth.
Sea Hares and Lettuce Nudibranchs are
excellent at removing hair algae and are one of the most
unique invertebrates you can own. Sea Hare�s are
best keep in 50 Gal & up
Visit here to view some of the
invertebrates in stock today! |
Steps to
increase your success...
Aquarium Illusions strives to educate
our customers with success increasing techniques. We care
about the fish entrusted to us and we care about our
customers.
Take care to add Invertebrates that
are right for your type of system. Tank mate & reef
compatibility are essential in keeping invertebrates. Also
add livestock according to the maturity level of your
system.
Please ask for our assistance in
creating a personalized stocking plan for your system. |