Discussion - What....

[Reefscape]

.....role do you feel the invertebrates play in the grand scheme of marine keeping?

All reef tanks have them, but, do you feel they are absolutly neccesary?

Do you buy invertebrates based on dealing with a specific task or role in the tank? or do you buy them because they are something thats just active in the tank and looks pretty?

The reefs ( as a land mass ) are in decline, the fish we keep are in decline....but....what are your thoughts about a decline of invertebrates? Is there one? if not, why not?

 

[micstarz]

The role of invertebrates in my tank?

I have three (four) mantis shrimps, and they are the light of my life

I also have brine shrimp, hermit crabs, shore shrimp and snails...their role are as feeders.

 

[FLESHY]

My inverts are essential. They maintain nusience algae... they break down detritus... and clean out places I cant see within my mass of rockwork. I think that having enough/balanced proportions of certain inverts is essential to true reef success. Not to mention their interactions offer hours of diversion. Who doesnt love watching hermit crabs try on new shells... ect.

 

[BigLinc]

My inverts are essential. They maintain nusience algae... they break down detritus... and clean out places I cant see within my mass of rockwork. I think that having enough/balanced proportions of certain inverts is essential to true reef success. Not to mention their interactions offer hours of diversion. Who doesnt love watching hermit crabs try on new shells... ect.

well said, a good combo of iverts is a must to be sucessful with a reef imo

 

[BIGgourami]

i'll put it this way.. i've never had a tank with more fish or corals, than motile inverts

 

[danzx23]

i feel hermit crabs and snails just make keeping a reef clean and healthy alot easyer for you ..neccesary no but i highly recomend .. in my tank i have bout twice as meany corals as inverts but probly twices as meany inverts then i have fish