CUC

[Poseidon]

i need to desperately add to my clean up crew

it currently consists of maybe 5 nassaius snails,
and maybe 5 hermits...
it used to be alot more...
i added 6 turbos about a month ago but they are the most annoying snails in the world, every day i almost have to flip at least half of them off their backs, 2 of them have died because i didnt get to them in time (where behind a rock or something, i found when re-aquascaping)

my question is what would be a good hermit/snail(s) to add and how many?

 

[unibob]

I think all snails have there purpose, I have quit buying hermits as they would just pick off my snails slowly when they were laying on there backs.

 

[Poseidon]

they do that??? hmm, i have one huge hermit crab... hes probally the culprit... lol

but what snail is cost effective? like get the most bang for your buck, turbos do very well when there the right way up but its a giant pain to keep flipping them, anyone have BLACK mexican turbos?? i heard the are 5$ a piece but are indestructable

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

I had 2 Mexican turbos. .. But the smaller ones. Beat em up and crawl inside and have the big turbo shell as there new upgrade home

 

[unibob]

Some snails can flip back over, forget which ones but I definitely always try to keep some in tank incase others get eaten.

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

Are urchins not  algae eaters ?  I still have 2. That have been alive  for year and half

 

[Poseidon]

i had urchins but they ate all the coraline algae as well... which i am partial too... if only i could find something that eats red slime XD

 

[Victoss]

Banded trochus snails are one of my favourites. They can right themselves when flipped over and feed on algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms. Their pretty quick and are good at eating film algae. Also on occasion (when I start a new tank) they breed and I end up with tons of them (like in my nano right now). Usually you can find them for $3 each or so.

 

[Poseidon]

thanks alot victoss i will look them up

 

[Salty Cracker]

i had urchins but they ate all the coraline algae as well... which i am partial too... if only i could find something that eats red slime XD

RO/DI water and GFO eats slime really well.  Just sayin.

 

[Poseidon]

i gots rodi... weres a good place to get gfo? i have an empty reactor just itching to get going..

 

[Salty Cracker]

I run BRS stuff
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-media-additives/gfo.html

I started with the hi-cap to get my phosphate levels down (they were .75!!) but have recently switched to regular granular, on a one month change schedule.  No slime, no hair, and phosphates read 0.00 at all times.

Avoid anything white if you don't go with the bulk stuff, it leaches stuff back into the tank if you forget about it and leave it in too long.

I had good luck with ROWAphos too, but the bulk stuff is cheaper, especially if you are ordering other things at the same time.... I've been using it for a year and anyone that's seen my tank can attest it works wonders.

 

[spyd]

You can also buy some from reefwater.net if you don't want to pay a pile for shipping costs. They are located in Guelph.

As for your empty shells, I would assume the hermit is the culprit. They are mean little creatures. I would get rid of them to be honest, but, that's just my opinion. There really is no benefit to having them in your tank as they are scavengers and eat what they feel like eating.

I like the mix of Nassarius snails for cleaning the sand bed, Trochus snails and Mexican Turbos to clean the rock, and Cerith snails to clean higher areas of the tank and rock.

 

[unibob]

Not sure if you have any plans coming up that you would be in Toronto but there's snails on sale at nafb.

From another forum:

Astrea Snail - Lithopoma spp  $1. each

Cerith Snail - Cerithium spp  $1. each

Margarita Snail - Tegula faciata  $1. each

West Indian Star Snail - Lithopona tectum  $1. each

Nassrius Snails  $1. each

Blue legged Hermits med - Clibanarius tricolor  $1 each

Peppermint Shrimp - Lysmata wurdemanni

Emerald Crab - Mithrax sculptus

Porcelain Crab - Porcellana sayana

 

[Salty Cracker]

You can also buy some from reefwater.net if you don't want to pay a pile for shipping costs. They are located in Guelph.

Have you ordered from them yet?  The fist/last time I tried, they were out and backordered on EVERYTHING, like every item.  They also factor the shipping costs from the states into their bill.  (a 3.5lb tub of GFO is $99 from reefwater and $89 from BRS).  I ended up cancelling the order and going direct to BRS and it was -very- close to the same price even paying the shipping. 

I'd love to support reefwater, and maybe it was growing pains, but it was honestly easier to get everything direct (and BRSr customer service is just unbelievably good).  Of course, this is just my experience/opinion. 

 

[Darryl_V]

Mexican turbos are my fav.....they can right themselves no problem by the way.  You might be thinking of another snail.

Coral reef shop has the best price on turbos...10 for $25

 

[Poseidon]

Mexican turbos are my fav.....they can right themselves no problem by the way.  You might be thinking of another snail.

Coral reef shop has the best price on turbos...10 for $25

nah man i got 6 of these massive guys at big als in kitchner, mexican turbos... they do NOT flip themselves over....
ive done research on them and found lots of others who have the same experiance as me....

heres some examples
Re: Turbo snails?
No they were Mexican turbo. I've tried them on several occasions the biggest problem is they flip over and can't right themselves. Mine never really touched red algae they did eat some hair algae though. I beat my hair algae outbreak by running GFO, have you tried it? If not it was a life saver for me. Good luck
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/mobile-inverts/76892-turbo-snails.html


Re: In your experience, Can true mexican turbos self right themselves?
Nope, turbo snails cannot right them self after falling over.

Evolution done them no favours eh
http://www.thesaltybox.com/forum/help-advice/109936-your-experience-can-true-mexican-turbos-self-right-themselves.html


course i also found some that say they can? reefing is confusing.... soooo many conflicting results from all different kinds of people... :?

 

[Salty Cracker]

I've got 3, two huge sonofabitches and a small one, and they flip themselves over fine...I think if they lay on their back its because they're sick. 

 

[chuckm]

Tiger Trochus snails can right themselves, probably the best all around snail pound for pound you can buy, are long lived, warm water species, and, if you can find them and they are not usually cheap.  Mexican turbos are my number 2 choice and are great if you need your tank cleaned up In a hurry, the only caveat is that they do knock things around or over.  My carpet loves to eat mexican turbos :'(
Don't wate your money on astreas...
As for hermits i like the red leg mexican crtabs, as well as the electric blue leg hermits (elegans sp.) before they get too big.
Bubble tip brittle stars are great reef scavengers.

royal or tuxedo urchins (short spines purple/blue body) will leave most coralline algae alone and eat micro algae...

 

[pulpfiction1]

mine will flip themselves over as well,i don't think they eat red slime,find the problem and it will go away