Diatom eaters

[Justin Boucher]

Hello all,
I'm waiting for my Nitrites to settle down as my LR cycles. It's been over
a week even though it feels more like a month!!
I'm getting the standard brown diatomic algae growing practically all over
the place now (No lights are currently running yet) and I was hoping to get
some diatomic algae eaters as a natural controling agent. Which I'll add
once the tank finishes cycling. I just want to be prepared and ready to go.

I've heard that the Astrea Tectum and A. Caelata snails are good choices.
Long lived and hearty compared to the typical Turbo or Nerita snails. Is
this true or does anyone have any other opinions? The Certhium Litteratum
snail was also suggested from literature, but I don't know what to look for
in regards to a common name. Can anyone point me in the right direction or
have any more information on this snail?

As for the other algaes that are sure to appear, I intend to add the
appropriate natural consumers as the algae grows. So far, it's diatomic
algae.

Thank you,
Justin
240 FOWLR
PS: I am open to starfish eventually. Any forseen conflicts with the snail
algae cleaning crew and starfish?

[Dinky]

"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
...
| PS: I am open to starfish eventually. Any forseen conflicts with
the snail
| algae cleaning crew and starfish?
|
|

Just don't get a Chocolate Chip Star. I've discovered that thier
dietary requirements are very hard to meet. (they seem to require
something found only in sponges, which is a hard foodstuff to
provide. Frozen Angel fish food has trace amounts, but doesn't seem
to be enough) These things are not picky as to what they'll go after.
Mine has eaten a Blue Tux urchin, every clam on my LR it could find,
3 margarita snails, and a camel shrimp that it caught unawares.

[Justin Boucher]

Thanks for the info.
I was thinking about the fancy serpent stars and brittle stars. Perhaps a
linka or two as well.

Justin

"Dinky" > wrote in message
nk.net...
>
>
> "Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
> ...
> | PS: I am open to starfish eventually. Any forseen conflicts with
> the snail
> | algae cleaning crew and starfish?
> |
> |
>
> Just don't get a Chocolate Chip Star. I've discovered that thier
> dietary requirements are very hard to meet. (they seem to require
> something found only in sponges, which is a hard foodstuff to
> provide. Frozen Angel fish food has trace amounts, but doesn't seem
> to be enough) These things are not picky as to what they'll go after.
> Mine has eaten a Blue Tux urchin, every clam on my LR it could find,
> 3 margarita snails, and a camel shrimp that it caught unawares.
>
>

[GamePlayer No. 1058]

I have a green brittle star, and he doesnt appear to eat any algae, but
rather likes meaty substances. I hand feed him every 2 days or so with
either a big piece of krill, or a silverside cut in two with a feeder stick
(read broom stick straw). Most of his time now adays is spent in one cave
or another, but he does come out at night. My chocolate chip star spends
most of his time behind the rockwork and only ocassionaly comes out. I
tried to feed it krill when he was at the top of the tank, but he wanted
nothing to do with it. If he ever comes to the surface again, Im going to
pull him out and take him back to the LFS.

Just get plenty of smaller snails. I had about 6 margarita snails in my 20
gallon tank along with a couple puffers who made short order meals of the
snails. The puffers were given to a friend and I restocked the tank with 5
very large snails. Im sorry that I did this, because they poop a LOT! I
also just broke down my nano tank and put it's inhabitants into this tank,
which is about 2 margarita snails, 1 scarlet hermit, 5 or 6 "algae" snails
(thats how they are listed at my LFS), a red footed moon snail and my
clownfish. Overnight the tanks walls were incredibly clean of algae,
whereas with the 5 jumbo snails, they would just sit most of the time and
dont seem to want to constantly graze (so I guess in this case, smaller is
better).

I dont know the name of the snails that sift through the sandbed, but if you
can find them get them. My snails dont seem to want to walk across the
sandbed, so it can get a green tint to it until I do a cleaning of it with
the gravel vac.

If you get the green brittle star, then feed him, else he could turn totally
agressive and start looking at your smaller fish as meals.


"Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for the info.
> I was thinking about the fancy serpent stars and brittle stars. Perhaps a
> linka or two as well.
>
> Justin
>
> "Dinky" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
> >
> >
> > "Justin Boucher" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > | PS: I am open to starfish eventually. Any forseen conflicts with
> > the snail
> > | algae cleaning crew and starfish?
> > |
> > |
> >
> > Just don't get a Chocolate Chip Star. I've discovered that thier
> > dietary requirements are very hard to meet. (they seem to require
> > something found only in sponges, which is a hard foodstuff to
> > provide. Frozen Angel fish food has trace amounts, but doesn't seem
> > to be enough) These things are not picky as to what they'll go after.
> > Mine has eaten a Blue Tux urchin, every clam on my LR it could find,
> > 3 margarita snails, and a camel shrimp that it caught unawares.
> >
> >
>
>