Detrivore kit experience?

[Makaiveli]

Anyone have experience with purchasing detrivore kits (bristle worms/pods/etc.)?

Please share the info.

pwease

[mogurnda]

I got a kit from IPSF a few years ago, their 9 for $99 special. A couple of species of macroalgae (ulva and gracilaria), amphipods, sandbed clams, nerite snails, strombus snails, bristleworms wondermud and a few other things.

Here's my experience.
IPSF seems like a good company. Gerald seems a bit harried, and forgot one item (drygoods), but sent it out the next week.
The amphipods, worms and strombus snails have been multiplying and doing great. The ulva took over the fuge and shaded out the gracilaria. Ultimately, I found chaetomorpha grew more consistently and was a better home for the pods.

The nerites seemed to like being out of the tank more than being in it, so I lost them after a few months. The fuge had a toxic meltdown (bad choice of substrate), so I can't say whether the wondermud/LS activator worked in the long term. I had to remove the clams when I cleaned out the fuge, and my peppermint shrimp promptly dug them up and ate them in the main tank.

The fuge now has sand seeded from the main tank.

So, after a few years, I have 3 of the items (worms, 'pods, strombus) doing really well, and everything else is gone.

[Makaiveli]

Patty at Coral Beauty was saying how Bristle worms can get BIG. One of her customers had about a 18" bristle eating peppermint shrimp!

Whoa.

thanks mogurnda.