Hermits or no hermits in sps tank

[marino420td]

My tank has been up about a month now and I still need more of a clean up crew. Some green hair algae is beginning to grow on my rocks.

I have avoided all hermits to this point because I did not want them crawling all over my sps when I get the tank stocked. I recently spoke with an online vendor who highly suggested blue leg hermits to help keep the tank algae free.

What are your opinions of hermits in an sps tank? Should I or shouldn't I?

 

[bboats]

I have hermits, but I think they are more for scenery then anything else. Im not sure they do all that much for my algae situation. I dont really see any downsides, maybe they eat some of your snails or knock over some stuff but thats about it!

 

[RichConley]

IME, hermits eat a lot more of the tough algaes than snails do. (Bryopsis, valonia,etc). The snails mostly just eat the film stuff.

(mexican turbos excluded)

 

[clkwrk]

I wish hermits would eat byropsis ..... I have found crabs to be evil most times eating my snails. I no longer have any besides acro crabs.

JMO

 

[Sk8r]

I have dwarf bluelegs [they look black, to me] and scarlets: no hermit in a reef should grow beyond half an inch. They're good little cleaners. Their tiny feet seem to do no damage to the montiporas---they will walk across them. My far and away best algae cleaner is a 4 inch hairy colored striped urchin, red and white. I was shocked when I saw him arrive via mail: I'd expected a 2-incher. But I put him in, figuring he could at least get the caulerpa that hitchhiked in. His ability to manuver around the sps is a constant amazement. I had to putty one tippy rock, but outside of that he's been in there for 3-4 weeks now and cleans rock like a bandit. He's a keeper.

 

[bboats]

I have never really looked into an urchin but that one sounds like it does a good job. Its safe in a reef tank? Are their any downsides? What is the name? Thanks

 

[Laakmann]

urchins eat coraline algea also, only downside I can think of

 

[bboats]

cool thanks, ill have to look into one of these guys.

 

[johnski]

urchins eat coraline algea also

for me thats an upside, i want my corals to use the calcium , not the coralline

 

[DannyUFKC]

I had a black urchin that I caught eating my hammer coral. Took a huge bite out of it and it was not able to recover. They got some powerful teeth. I have a red and white one now and so far it has behaved. I don't think they will harm SPS though, not 100% sure.

 

[bosborn1]

I once had a large Tux urchin. I was battling some algae so I picked one up. That thing was a beast. But once the bad algae was gone he turned his sites to coralline. In my 180 ONE tux picked in clean of coralline in a month. After the coralling was gone on the glass he moved to the rocks. I was resetting my Small colonies and frags of SPS everyday. I finally got rid of him. Within a month the entire back of my tank turned bright purple. IME they aren't the best thing for a reef.

I too have Hermits in my reef. I used to have lots of astera but the crabs systematically killed them all. Only the nassarrius are quick enough to get away. The hermits don't seem to be interested in the Stomatella....Must be that theirs no shell to rob.

Scott

 

[marino420td]

So from the responses here, I take it the hermits do not bother the sps at all. That was my main concern. I don't mind losing a snail here or there. I just don't want my sps colonies under undue stress because of the hermits.

 

[Orochimaru]

I got rid of all my critter because the keep knocking over newly mounted frags. Otherwise, I would love to have every criters out there. I believe they do do a good job of keeping the tank clean.

 

[RichConley]

IME, hermits dont bother my snails. It seems if I slow down my feedings, I start having hermits running around in snail shells.


No, hermits will not bother SPS in any sort of way.

 

[bboats]

Yeah i think they eat snails that are sick or othewise unhealthy and weak. They must be eating something cuase they stay alive in my tank!

 

[shelburn61]

Emerald crabs do a really good job IME

BTW you have a bengal tiger?

 

[bboats]

[/IMG]

No they are a mix between a japanese bengal cat and your regular house cat, but they look like bengals. They act completely different too from a normal cat. Very Very smart. He knows how to open doors so to keep him in the house all the doors have to be locked or he will open one and run out! Not sure if the pick will work or not.

http://www.calcatta.com/

 

[ezcompany]

i used to have hermits in my tank. but i didn't like it trampling over my blastos. it hasn't bothered the sps though.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8036893#post8036893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bboats

[/IMG]

No they are a mix between a japanese bengal cat and your regular house cat, but they look like bengals. They act completely different too from a normal cat. Very Very smart. He knows how to open doors so to keep him in the house all the doors have to be locked or he will open one and run out! Not sure if the pick will work or not.

http://www.calcatta.com/

Bengals are gorgeous. Like Bboats said, theyre a cross between a Asian Leopard Cat and domestic cats. They're almost like dogs in attitude. Kind of rambunctious too.

Very cool animals...not exactly cheap though. I'd love to have one, but its going ot be a few years.

 

[bboats]

No not cheap but they are worth the extra money. They have great personalities. The only downside is having to keep it inside all the time.

sorry not trying to hyjack the thread!