New Hermits are Sh**ting Everywhere!

[SideCar_Falcon619]

I got 3 Red Tip Hermits from my LFS today

 

My first LS in the tank.

 

They are VERY hard workers!

Have been eating for like 8 hours straight.

 

But I can't help but notice there is Hermit Sh** everywhere!!!

 

These hermits aren't going to turn my tank into a dump are they?!?

 

The guy at the LFS said my water was ready for some LS and he said I should start with crabs, so I got 3 of these guys.

 

I'm hoping i didn't get bad advice....

 

input?

[nano_MC_reef]

LFS do give out some total bullsh**t sometimes but in your case i think your good. plus hermit crabs eat ALOT so they will naturally crap all over the place so there really isn't anything to be worried about.

[natalia_la_loca]

Hermits, fish, they shit where they live. It's the way of the world.

[ReefWeeds]

All livestock - hermits, fish, snails - will turn your tank into a dump. Just gotta make sure the water circulation is good to keep it suspended in the water column so it gets filtered out. Everything poops as far as I know

Hermits, fish, they shit where they live. It's the way of the world.

Lol what she said!

And welcome to NR!

[SideCar_Falcon619]

All livestock - hermits, fish, snails - will turn your tank into a dump. Just gotta make sure the water circulation is good to keep it suspended in the water column so it gets filtered out. Everything poops as far as I know

 

Lol what she said!

And welcome to NR!

 

Well that brings up a good question...

 

There's a lot of waste sitting at the base of the LR they seem to like.... Could that mean a circulation issue?

 

I was already planning on investing in a powerhead next week

[Sunstar]

Should see the piles I get from peanut worms... holy mother of primus.

[fishhands]

My astrea snails leave the worst in my tank. They look like incense ashes.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

My astrea snails leave the worst in my tank. They look like incense ashes.

 

That's exactly what they look like! lol

[Nano sapiens]

Suck the poop out regularly and you've got yourself instant phosphate export (along with other nasties)

[SideCar_Falcon619]

Suck the poop out regularly and you've got yourself instant phosphate export (along with other nasties)

So I should be sucking the crab waste out regularly? With a turkey baster I'm guessing? I don't have any of the fancy equipment like a vacuum yet.

[Sunstar]

I use a hard tube attached to airline to get into crevices for poop vac

[Nano sapiens]

So I should be sucking the crab waste out regularly? With a turkey baster I'm guessing? I don't have any of the fancy equipment like a vacuum yet.

 

Whatever you have handy.

[nano_MC_reef]

does anybody else guess that this thread is going to get funny after awhile?

[ReefWeeds]

 

Well that brings up a good question...

 

There's a lot of waste sitting at the base of the LR they seem to like.... Could that mean a circulation issue?

 

I was already planning on investing in a powerhead next week

 

They'll eat detritus - that's a good thing. What size tank do you have? You will most likely need supplemental flow.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

 

They'll eat detritus - that's a good thing. What size tank do you have? You will most likely need supplemental flow.

 

Its a 14g biocube.

I'm def. going to add a powerhead if that's what you mean?

[Clown79]

Its part of the ecosystem.

 

Once you add nassarius snails, they will help with the detritus in the sandbed.

 

You definitely want a powerhead for water movement, it helps oxygenation of the water, helps move food to corals, helps keep things circulating to the filter system.

 

I highly recommend vacuuming the sandbed at every water change. It needs light vacuuming unless you have a deep sand bed. Anything under 3" should be vacuumed.

[NanoReefer27]

Use a turkey baster on all the liverock before your water changes. It takes some time and detailed work but it is worth it. It is incredible how much crap comes off of the liverock. Then just vacuum your water when you do a water change. It makes a huge difference.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

Use a turkey baster on all the liverock before your water changes. It takes some time and detailed work but it is worth it. It is incredible how much crap comes off of the liverock. Then just vacuum your water when you do a water change. It makes a huge difference.

 

I played with a turkey baster today a little...

 

Is it more so just using the water to blow debris off the rocks or should I be sucking stuff off the rocks? lol

I know super newb question

[nickkohrn]

I played with a turkey baster today a little...

 

Is it more so just using the water to blow debris off the rocks or should I be sucking stuff off the rocks? lol

I know super newb question

 

There is nothing wrong with "newb" questions. That's what this site and this amazingly helpful community is for. We all had to start somewhere, and we all continue to learn.

 

I have always found it easier to blow the detritus off of the rocks and then perform my water change while it is suspended in the water column. By doing it this way, you are able to suction out water as well as a lot of the crap floating around.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

There is nothing wrong with "newb" questions. That's what this site and this amazingly helpful community is for. We all had to start somewhere, and we all continue to learn.

 

I have always found it easier to blow the detritus off of the rocks and then perform my water change while it is suspended in the water column. By doing it this way, you are able to suction out water as well as a lot of the crap floating around.

 

Thanks that's great advice!

do you replace the water with regular filtered water?

[ReeferBrian]

I know that anytime you take out water weather it's just a routine water change or what have you,you replace the siphoned out water with water you mix with your salt.if your topping off for evaporation you top with rodi water without adding your reef salt

[SideCar_Falcon619]

I know that anytime you take out water weather it's just a routine water change or what have you,you replace the siphoned out water with water you mix with your salt.if your topping off for evaporation you top with rodi water without adding your reef salt

 

Ok.

I just topped off cause my water level was below Min. which is a mix of evaporation and me f'ing around in the tank and getting water everywhere.

I just used regular filtered water from the store that the LFS guy said would be ok.

[Sunstar]

its marginally better than not filtering, b ut RODI takes out everything,a nd you add everything that the reef needs when you mix it with salt. basically blank canvas for your mixing needs.Once you go RODI, you don't go back.

[SideCar_Falcon619]

its marginally better than not filtering, b ut RODI takes out everything,a nd you add everything that the reef needs when you mix it with salt. basically blank canvas for your mixing needs.Once you go RODI, you don't go back.

 

Crap... Won't do that again...

[ReeferBrian]

Another thing I would suggest is check your salinity both before you top off or before you do any water changes,it really helps in keeping your salinity in check,if you throw it off by not checking you can stress your inhabitants which is never good,lol trust me when I was brand new I stressed out a few of mine,lol being on this forum is great for gathering info,and read or watch youtube vids getting info is our best tool in having successful aquariums!