Pete Giwojna
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Re:CLEAN UP CREW! - 2005/10/28 11:58
Dear Shorty:
Okay, if you are looking for sanitation engineers that won't pose any risk to your seahorse fry or copepods but will help you control that hair algae problem, then I would suggest the primary component of your cleanup crew should be comprised of a variety of snails. The snail assortment may include trocha snails, Astrea, Nerites and Cerith snails, etc., and especially Nassarius snails. You'll want to have a total of 1-2 such janitors per gallon for algae control and to efficiently cleanup after your seahorses.
Nassarius snails are terrific detritivores and amazingly active for snails. They'll bury themselves until they detect the scent of something edible, and then erupt from the sand and charge out to clean it up. They are carnivores that clean up meaty leftovers but they won't bother your copepods at all. They are scavengers that home in on the order of dead and decaying material.
The Lettuce Nudibranch (Elysia crispata, formerly known as Tridachia crispata, and still usually sold under that name) is another showy, totally innocuous invertebrate that's a perfect choice for a dwarf seahorse companion. It is green with lavender spots and is covered with extravagant frills and ruffles that look like flower petals on an exotic orchid, but in fact they are the ruffled flaps of tissue (parapodia) that outline each side of the back of this two inch sea slug that lives in the waters of the Caribbean and Florida Keys. It's an algae eater and is one of the few nudibranchs that do well in the aquarium. However, it feeds on macroalgae such as Caulerpa sertularioides so it won't help you with your hair algae problem at all. Unless you're 29-gallon tank is very heavily planted with Caulerpa, I would only keep one Lettuce Nudibranch (you don't want to waste away and starve once it's consumed all of the macroalgae that it feeds on).
The Blue linkia is one starfish that is safe to keep with seahorses. However, it is delicate and somewhat difficult to keep. It does best in a stable, well-established aquarium with pristine water quality and must be very carefully acclimated to a new tank (drip application over many hours works best). It would not do well in an aquarium that's battling a hair algae problem, indicating heavy nutrient loading and marginal water quality.
When it comes to newborn seahorse fry, peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) and decorative cleaner shrimp in general should be avoided. Given the chance, all cleaner shrimp will opportunistically predate newborn seahorses.
If you're having a tough time with hair algae, Shorty, you'll need to watch the nitrate and phosphate levels in your aquarium closely and try to cut down on the nutrient loading in your tank as much as possible. Don't broadcast feed, scattering Mysis throughout the tank. Instead, target feed your seahorses or use a feeding station. Don't overfeed, cleanup leftovers promptly, and observe fast days religiously.
How are the nitrate levels in your aquarium right now? If they're running high, I'd be happy to offer you some suggestions for reducing them in keeping them down.
Best of luck with your seahorse setup, Shorty!
Happy Trails!
Pete Giwojna
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