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For general clean up of your captive reef, The Marine
Scene has put together several Reef Janitor Packages to help combat
algae and detritus build up. All of the critters chosen have in our
experience proven themselves to be reef-safe, effective additions to
a janitor crew.
Reef Janitor Critters:
Margarita Snails – Small dark pearl-shelled snail,
often covered in coralline algae, that are very efficient cleaners
for the aquarium glass.
Turbo Snails – A large, thick top-shelled snail
that is a good grazer on filamentous and fleshy algae. Can grow quite
large and “bulldozer” rocks and corals that are not fastened
down, so take care adding to smaller aquariums.
Blue Leg Hermits – Our smallest hermit, the Blue-Leg
is the meat and potatoes of any good Janitor Package. They are voracious
eaters and can eat more algae for their size than you would believe!
Sally Lightfoot Crabs – The “soft-shelled”,
or spider-like appearance of these crabs makes them look fierce, but
they are a peaceful algae eater that specializes in nuisance hair
algae.
Serpent / Brittle Stars – Although they will hide
in and under the rockwork of the reef most of the time, these starfish
are one of the best detritovores used in a reef tank. Long, thin legs
will reach out from their hiding place and snag any leftover foods
or wastes before they can become a problem in the tank.
Mithrax Crabs – These crabs have the typical “hard-shelled)
look, and are omnivores that will clean up both algae and leftover
food and waste in the aquariums. These crabs are also known for their
taste in Valonia, or bubble algae.
Burgundy Hermit Crabs – Medium sized hermits from
the Sea of Cortez, these dark brown hermits are most often found in
old Cerith snail shells. They are efficient scavengers that are also
known for their ability to eat Red-Slime Algae.
Available Packages:
10 Gallon Reef Janitor Package:
- 10 Margarita Snails
- 10 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
- 1 Serpent / Brittle Stars
- 1 Mithrax Crabs
30 Gallon Reef Janitor Package:
- 10 Margarita Snails
- 3 Turbo Snails
- 10 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
- 1 Sally Lightfoot Crabs
- 2 Serpent / Brittle Stars
- 2 Mithrax Crabs
50 Gallon Reef Janitor Package:
- 20 Margarita Snails
- 10 Turbo Snails
- 20 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
- 2 Sally Lightfoot Crabs
- 2 Serpent / Brittle Stars
- 2 Mithrax Crabs
100 Gallon Reef Janitor Package:
- 40 Margarita Snails
- 20 Turbo Snails
- 30 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
- 4 Sally Lightfoot Crabs
- 4 Serpent / Brittle Stars
- 4 Mithrax Crabs
- 10 Burgundy Hermit Crabs
If you have a fine grain or sugar sand substrate, these
clean up packages will keep the substrate free of detritus, and turned
over regularly to prevent clumping and compacting.
Sand Sifting Critters:
Cortez Cerith Snails - The only snail we have which
cleans aquarium glass below the sand. This cone shaped snail will
clean those hard to get places, where no other snail can reach.
Nassarius Snails - These small snails spend most of
their time sliding along the glass bottom of your tank, faithfully
turning over the sand as they go.
White Sand Star - A light cream-colored starfish that
sinks vertically into the sand during the day, and feeds on detritus
at night.
Oceania Nassarius Snails - Just like the little Atlantic species, but much, much larger!
Fighting Conch – They don’t really fight,
but these snails are excellent herbivores. They clean and aerate the
substrate as they move through it searching for food.
Available Packages:
10 Gallon Sand Sifting Package:
- 3 Cerith Snails
- 5 Nassarius Snails
- 1 Fighting Conch
30 Gallon Sand Sifting Package:
- 5 Cerith Snails
- 15 Nassarius Snails
- 1 Fighting Conch
- 6 Oceania Nassarius Snails
50 Gallon Sand Sifting Package:
- 10 Cerith Snails
- 20 Nassarius Snails
- 1 White Sand Star
- 1 Fighting Conch
- 6 Oceania Nassarius Snails
100 Gallon Sand Sifting Package:
- 20 Cerith Snails
- 50 Nassarius Snails
- 2 White Sand Stars
- 2 Fighting Conchs
- 12 Oceania Nassarius Snails
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