Banded shrimp or hermit crab for first cleaners?

[Mavric]

After losing my first fish I've been letting my tank sit with just a couple of turbos to help keep things tidy while I let it all mature a bit. I'm now starting to get some green hair algae bloom, a diatom bloom (almost gone!), and copepods crawling all over my glass. I did order an intank media basket today as well as some purigen, chemi-pure blue nano, filter floss, and a magnetic algae scraper to help keep things as clear as possible.

My question is, without fish generating waste, would it be ok to maybe think about putting a hermit crab or a banded shrimp in to help keep things clean? Can they eat the same NLS sinking pellets I was giving my clown? Are they going to munch on my snails?

 

[ihavecrabs]

After losing my first fish I've been letting my tank sit with just a couple of turbos to help keep things tidy while I let it all mature a bit. I'm now starting to get some green hair algae bloom, a diatom bloom (almost gone!), and copepods crawling all over my glass. I did order an intank media basket today as well as some purigen, chemi-pure blue nano, filter floss, and a magnetic algae scraper to help keep things as clear as possible.

My question is, without fish generating waste, would it be ok to maybe think about putting a hermit crab or a banded shrimp in to help keep things clean? Can they eat the same NLS sinking pellets I was giving my clown? Are they going to munch on my snails?

Hermits will attempt to kill snails to eat them and/or steal their shells. I keep the smaller variety for CUC, but not many. I prefer Banded Trochus snails myself.

Banded shrimp or hermits would be fine to add. The banded shrimp won't do much to the algae growing. Hermits will assist, but not to a large degree. Snails are your best bet.

 

[cristata.reef]

Agreed with @ihavecrabs the banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) are carnivorous and will seek out dead animal matter and worms in your tank. Hermits did wonders in my tank with detritus buildup and cleaned some GHA but not a whole lot. Snails will likely be your best bet for algae removal. Seahares will definitely remove all of the algae but generate an inordinate amount of waste

 

[ihavecrabs]

Agreed with @ihavecrabs the banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) are carnivorous and will seek out dead animal matter and worms in your tank. Hermits did wonders in my tank with detritus buildup and cleaned some GHA but not a whole lot. Snails will likely be your best bet for algae removal. Seahares will definitely remove all of the algae but generate an inordinate amount of waste

Sea hares are fantastic at annihilating algae; however, the amount of waste they produce and the fact they can wipe out even the largest tanks of algae quickly and will require supplemental feeding are a few downsides. They also have the capability to release ink when handled inappropriately or beat up by aggressive fish.

I have one and the few times he has been picked on by a small (but aggressive) fish protecting its territory, it hasn't inked yet. I also have to feed him a nori sheet every other night.

 

[cracker]

I also have to feed him a nori sheet every other night.

Is this a whole sheet? Nori wrap size? Is so, wow.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Is this a whole sheet? Nori wrap size? Is so, wow.

It is a sheet about 2" x 8" and he devours it in about an hour.

I have to feed him at night or the tangs eat all of it

 

[cracker]

That is still a lot of algae !

 

[scott11106]

blue legs and snails, then later a blenny and maybe tang depending on tank size, that is the crew. everything else is for fun lol

i would not feed him the sheet, they tend to eat it but i feed mine half and then pellet food so when i am away they will eat from automated feeder