Live Sand Activators

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raoul

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Jan 7, 2004
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My 30 gallon has just been through a long cycle, and I'm interested in establishing a good population of pods and detritivores. Has anyone tried the Mix and match deal from IPSF? Take a look and let me know if this sounds worthwhile...and if so, which selections would you recommend for a new tank?

IPSF Mix and Match Special

thanks
 
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It's not a bad deal, but depends on your conditions.

The amphipods, strombus snails, bristle worms and tang heaven were very good.

The nerites had all left the tank within a few moths. The ulva ('pod mat) took over my fuge and I replaced it with chaetomorpha.

The microhermits disappeared, probably eaten by somebody.

My peppermint shrimp ate my sandbed clams, so I can't tell you whether they were a good idea.

My corals liked the coral heaven.

I didn't get my anthelia from IPSF, but I love the stuff. Grows fast, easy to prune, and doesn't nettle its neighbors.

If you don't have a refugium, I'd avoid caulerpa. Has a habit of overrunning tanks.

That's what I remember. It was a few years ago.
 
Dave, thanks for the info. Did you put these items into the tank after you already had other inhabitants in there, or first thing? I have some crummy live rock in my tank from the LFS, but nothing else so far. I thought this would be a quick way to get some pods and other small detritivores in the tank.

Does anyone have any other favorite sources for starting pods and other creepy crawlies?
 
I put them into an established tank. A tank without fish or shrimp would be even better to give them a chance to get started.

Inland Aquatics has a good detritivore package as well. Although you get different stuff, the price is pretty comparable.
 
Raoul,
I just recently did the package from IPSF. Its been 2 weeks for my package, I did the tang heaven which went into a second tank and is doing very well,
I picked up the
Sandbed Clams
Tang Heaven Green
Tang Heaven Yellow (not doing so well)
Tang Heaven Red
Long Feather Caulerpa
6 Nerite Grazers
6 Adult Strombus Grazers (captive-bred)
Tang Heaven Gold
Live Sand Activator

I also got the extra spaghetti worms and mini stars (and I do mean they are very tiny.)

All my critters went into my tank and see to be doing well, I do not see the mini stars because they were extremely tiny, 1/4 inch big. But I see puffs of sand from the sand bed letting me know the clams are doing fine. But everything is very tiny, so be warned. I would do this in an empty fully cycled tank and then slowly add your fish. I already had fish in my tank so things are still coming out. And it only has been one week.


jim
 
I use IPSF in every tank I set up for Customers. Never been a problem with them in all these years. I use the Live sand activator as one of my choices each time.

I also use Inland Aquatics for diversity from Indo-Pacific Sea Farms. On ocassions I use GRAFF grunge also for deversity. In large tanks I may use all three to start a good detrivore mix.

Ray
 
OK, I really think this is my last question on this topic. What do you feed, and in what quantities, assuming there are a dozen micro hermits, sand bed clams, snails, and the other typical kit contents?
 
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