INVERT-ONLY tank?

[reef_research]

Tanks with non-coral/fish as the main focus;
Has anyone attempted this?
For propogation purposes, what should the ideal setup?

for species most likely:
snails
sea cucumbers
shrimp
crabs (including hermits)
all pods

how many species have been documented as successful spawners?

in reality, what is the likelyhood of being able to create a tank housing one or more of these specimens successfuly?

also, again, personal experience is valued, as well as photos/logs.

Thanks!

Thomas.

 

[reef_research]

also possibly clams? anyone? these threads get buried FAST!

 

[reef_research]

??

 

[graveyardworm]

how many species have been documented as successful spawners?

This is a huge question, there are lots, and more are being added to the list.

Many require specialized systems in order to rear the young successfully, due to a planktonic stage where specific foods and environment are required.

Many pods are successful breeders in aquaria without anything special except perhaps food.

Most crab and shrimp larvae have an extended planktonic stage and dont survive. However some shrimp like mysids do breed successfully.

There are quite a few species of snails which do breed successfully. These might include columbellids, collinista, certain species of turbo, trochus, cerith.

Cuke reproduction in aquaria is generally through fission where the cuke splits to create two and so on, but cukes do have certain requirements for long term survival.

There are also some species of microbrittlestar which breed quite well.

There are also breeding efforts underway for certain species of slugs which eat specific things that som reefers find offensive in their tanks.

The list could go on.

I currently have columbellid snails, collinista snails, bristleworms, asterina seastars, and tons of other little pods breeding. Plus I'm working on getting a breeding population of micro stars going, and just found that I also have some desireable forams reproducing. Granted most of these are ordinary things breeding in most aquarists tanks, but it kinda cool anyway.