Bioload?

LaurieC · 09/12/2010, 09:18 AM

I added 2 perc. clowns yesterday and would like to add a handful of Cerith and Trochus snails, but I don't understand how the bioload is affected (if much?) by inverts like shrimp, snails, hermits, even fan worms? Is it ok to add inverts the next day or even the same day as fish or do I need to wait in between and how long? While asking about this--when considering the overall bioload in a tank I get the idea with fish, but again how to know how many inverts are too many on the bioload? Thanks so much!!

KeMo · 09/12/2010, 09:35 AM

I would say you could of just added the snails when you added the fish. I would go ahead and add a Clean up Crew (CUC) since you have fish now and you will be feeding the tank. As for how many to add. Well how big is your tank. I would go with something along the lines of say 1 snail for every 2 -4 gals. Hermits are your call. I use the red ones as they dont fight and just do their own thing. (All 5 of the blue ones i got killed eachother off.)Shrimps can be ok but depends on what kind just like anything else.

Michael · 09/12/2010, 09:50 AM

Hi-Laurie, how old is your tank, and how big is it (purely out of interest)?

also whats your long term plans for your aquarium?

LaurieC · 09/12/2010, 10:58 AM

HI! Sorry, 55G Fowler has been up for 2 months and through cycle. I have 55lbs live rock plus live sand. I'm running both a mechanical and biological canister filter, protein skimmer and UV. Plus two powerheads. There are 3 Chromis in there for past 2 weeks along with 6 turbo snails, 6 dwarf blue hermits, 6 nassarius snails. The 2 clown percs just came out of QT and seem to have adjusted very well to the DT tank--out in open swimming around. I noticed the current CUC isn't quite getting all of the diatom algea on the sides of aquarium. There's only a few small spots of diatom, but I think I could use more snails in this size tank anyhow and read Ceriths are good with diatom.

Down the road the wish list includes:
Skunk and Firered cleaner shrimp, Maybe a couple of peppermints
feather dusters
I'm not sure yet but other fish I am thinking of include tank raised: Kauldrens Cardinal, Yellow Assesor, Purple Dottyback
maybe a blue tuxedo urchin
maybe a neon goby

After all of my reading, I just don't understand how much of an impact the CUC and other inverts have on the bioload or do you just count adult fish size?

thegrun · 09/12/2010, 12:52 PM

Snails and shrimp add very little to the bio-load since much of their diet is savaged waste that would most likely rot and break down in the tank if they were not present.

09/12/2010, 09:18 AM	#1
LaurieC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York Posts: 57	Bioload? I added 2 perc. clowns yesterday and would like to add a handful of Cerith and Trochus snails, but I don't understand how the bioload is affected (if much?) by inverts like shrimp, snails, hermits, even fan worms? Is it ok to add inverts the next day or even the same day as fish or do I need to wait in between and how long? While asking about this--when considering the overall bioload in a tank I get the idea with fish, but again how to know how many inverts are too many on the bioload? Thanks so much!!

09/12/2010, 09:35 AM	#2
KeMo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 357	I would say you could of just added the snails when you added the fish. I would go ahead and add a Clean up Crew (CUC) since you have fish now and you will be feeding the tank. As for how many to add. Well how big is your tank. I would go with something along the lines of say 1 snail for every 2 -4 gals. Hermits are your call. I use the red ones as they dont fight and just do their own thing. (All 5 of the blue ones i got killed eachother off.)Shrimps can be ok but depends on what kind just like anything else. __________________ 39Gal Reef Tank. 40 Lbs Fiji LR , 25 Lbs Fiji LS DeltecMce600,MP10-es Specs-ph8.0-8.3,salinity1.024-6,calcium450,alkalinity,8.4-9.4,magnesium1400.Temp.77-78 Blue Mandarin,BTA,Mushroom,ToadStool,Torch,cuc Current Tank Info: 30 gal Reef

09/12/2010, 09:50 AM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	Hi-Laurie, how old is your tank, and how big is it (purely out of interest)? also whats your long term plans for your aquarium? __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

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09/12/2010, 10:58 AM	#4
LaurieC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New York Posts: 57	HI! Sorry, 55G Fowler has been up for 2 months and through cycle. I have 55lbs live rock plus live sand. I'm running both a mechanical and biological canister filter, protein skimmer and UV. Plus two powerheads. There are 3 Chromis in there for past 2 weeks along with 6 turbo snails, 6 dwarf blue hermits, 6 nassarius snails. The 2 clown percs just came out of QT and seem to have adjusted very well to the DT tank--out in open swimming around. I noticed the current CUC isn't quite getting all of the diatom algea on the sides of aquarium. There's only a few small spots of diatom, but I think I could use more snails in this size tank anyhow and read Ceriths are good with diatom. Down the road the wish list includes: Skunk and Firered cleaner shrimp, Maybe a couple of peppermints feather dusters I'm not sure yet but other fish I am thinking of include tank raised: Kauldrens Cardinal, Yellow Assesor, Purple Dottyback maybe a blue tuxedo urchin maybe a neon goby After all of my reading, I just don't understand how much of an impact the CUC and other inverts have on the bioload or do you just count adult fish size?

09/12/2010, 12:52 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Snails and shrimp add very little to the bio-load since much of their diet is savaged waste that would most likely rot and break down in the tank if they were not present.