do shrimp/inverts add to bio load?

Cozen89 · 04/10/2007, 01:18 AM

I have a 50 gallon tank, plan on about 5 fish. But do shrimp/crabs add more to the bio load? Do those have to be highly restricted in numbers as well? I was thinking 1 cleaner, 1 fire, 1 peppermint, and 1 pistol. On top of these I have an emerald and 2 hermits. Not to mention 5 snails or so.

burdman_22 · 04/10/2007, 01:43 AM

simple answer to your question is yes, anything that poops, adds to the bioload

Cozen89 · 04/10/2007, 04:00 AM

that's what I woulda figured but the LFS said shrimp don't add to it nearly as much as a fish. Just wondering because since i'm limited in fish, I'd like to fill my tank up a bit more with some shrimp etc

kau_cinta_ku · 04/10/2007, 04:53 AM

your LFS is right, they do add to the bioload but not nearly as much as fish, you should be fine with those inverts that you suggested.

what type of fish you planning?

Cozen89 · 04/10/2007, 03:22 PM

In my tank so far, I have:

1 chromis
1 oc clown
1 tangaroa goby (thought it was a diamond)
1 cleaner shrimp
1 emerald crab
1 pistol shrimp (i think it's still alive)
5 nassarius snails
2 blue leg hermits

I hope to add:

2 of these 3 ( not sure which 2 I want or can get my hands on yet, or if my tank could handle 3 more fish)

flame angel or a coral beauty
splendid psuedo chromis
mccoskers flasher wrasse or carpenters flasher wrasse

I need to add some more snails for a clean up crew. Probably some snails to eat the algae from my glass.

I have a 50 gallon breeder style tank 36x18x18 with a 4 gallon hang over back refugium with LR rubble and chaeto. about 40-50 lbs of LR in the main tank and a 2.5 inch live sand bed.

04/10/2007, 01:18 AM	#1
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	do shrimp/inverts add to bio load? I have a 50 gallon tank, plan on about 5 fish. But do shrimp/crabs add more to the bio load? Do those have to be highly restricted in numbers as well? I was thinking 1 cleaner, 1 fire, 1 peppermint, and 1 pistol. On top of these I have an emerald and 2 hermits. Not to mention 5 snails or so.

04/10/2007, 01:43 AM	#2
burdman_22 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Beale AFB, CA Posts: 98	simple answer to your question is yes, anything that poops, adds to the bioload

04/10/2007, 04:00 AM	#3
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	that's what I woulda figured but the LFS said shrimp don't add to it nearly as much as a fish. Just wondering because since i'm limited in fish, I'd like to fill my tank up a bit more with some shrimp etc

04/10/2007, 04:53 AM	#4
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	your LFS is right, they do add to the bioload but not nearly as much as fish, you should be fine with those inverts that you suggested. what type of fish you planning?

04/10/2007, 03:22 PM	#5
Cozen89 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,411	In my tank so far, I have: 1 chromis 1 oc clown 1 tangaroa goby (thought it was a diamond) 1 cleaner shrimp 1 emerald crab 1 pistol shrimp (i think it's still alive) 5 nassarius snails 2 blue leg hermits I hope to add: 2 of these 3 ( not sure which 2 I want or can get my hands on yet, or if my tank could handle 3 more fish) flame angel or a coral beauty splendid psuedo chromis mccoskers flasher wrasse or carpenters flasher wrasse I need to add some more snails for a clean up crew. Probably some snails to eat the algae from my glass. I have a 50 gallon breeder style tank 36x18x18 with a 4 gallon hang over back refugium with LR rubble and chaeto. about 40-50 lbs of LR in the main tank and a 2.5 inch live sand bed.