cleanup crew in a FOWLR

[jelwyoming]

What are you using in your FOWLR for a cleanup crew with fish like a Harlequin Tusk and lionfish? Is there anything that works well. Right now, I have just a brittle sea star and a pencil urchin. I need some others to keep it picked up? What will the Tusk not eat?

 

[jelwyoming]

tusk and inverts?

tusk and inverts?

What kind of motile invertibrates is anyone keeping with a Tusk fish?

 

[Fly 75]

Not trying to hijack but I have the same question. It just seams like an exspensive treat to the fish. ???? I was also thinking about the brittle sea star along with some huge hermits

 

[jelwyoming]

I did have some of the long spin urchins for a bit. They work great, but kocked alot over. I wonder if the larger snails work or if the tusk can bust them up too? Cowries?

 

[Absint Reefer]

the lg hairy hermits or any of them that are bigger than a quarter seem to be able to hold their own. Also the lg mexican turbo snails work well. I keep a purple lobster, lg tubo snails, varous urchins and plenty of serpent stars to keep the clean in my more aggressive tank.

 

[jelwyoming]

Absint Reefer,
Thanks, that helps allot. That is about the same as what I had planned to use, but wanted to be sure they would work before I just made them an expensive dinner for the FOWLR.

 

[Growurown]

I have a large hermit crab like this one
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...ategory=4&category_search=63&root_parent_id=4

I bought him several years ago in ATL and he is very nice, and AGGRESSIVE as can be. NO other crabs his size will survive (I know I tried) but the smaller ones he wont pick off "as bad"

Also the TOUGH seastars
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...ategory=4&category_search=63&root_parent_id=4
But the crabs, along with some aggresive starfish like this have worked well for me, the brittle stars, linkia stars, and ALL snails will end up as food in an Aggressive tank - My personals expieriences here

 

[jelwyoming]

Growurown, I am not sure if either of those would be safe with the lionfish...attacking the lion! Actually, I had such a crab and he's done well. The star is just what I was looking for, however, I want something that won't eat soft corals. Is there another that might not bother them?
You say that the brittle stars are lunch too, but not the serpent stars?

 

[Growurown]

Would not think the serpents would survive either, I have never owned a lionfish, but those other stars are pretty tough, I believe they will fine.

They WILL eat corals though so they probably wont solve your issue's

 

[matthewscars]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11878425#post11878425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Growurown
I have a large hermit crab like this one
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...ategory=4&category_search=63&root_parent_id=4

Also the TOUGH seastars
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...ategory=4&category_search=63&root_parent_id=4
But the crabs, along with some aggresive starfish like this have worked well for me, the brittle stars, linkia stars, and ALL snails will end up as food in an Aggressive tank - My personals expieriences here

A team of Long spine urchins and red generals is amazing. I had one of each in a 55 and never had any huge algue blooms or anything. The Starfish tried to eat the urchin a few times, but he couldn't get past the 3 inch spikes.

I also had a team of electric blue and scarlet hermit crabs. They just all killed each other till there was 1 or 2 left (even with tons of empty shells around.

Anyone know how pencil urchins stack up against red generals? (off topic)

 

[Absint Reefer]

I have 15 of them and all they do is drill into the live rock and just hang out in one spot