Looking to boost biodiversity/microfauna in my tank...

LobsterOfJustice · 01/29/2008, 06:19 PM

Hey all,

I am trying to get a really healthy display and refugium going, and I would like to get a large variety of microfauna, etc.

I checked out www.ipsf.com, but the prices are a little steep... Any other places similar to this where I can get small breeding populations of snails, chitons, limpets, worms, etc?

Sk8r · 01/29/2008, 06:20 PM

look at inlandaquatics.com

LobsterOfJustice · 01/29/2008, 08:13 PM

Thanks.

Still a little pricey, but better. I will probably place an order with them next week (flora and fauna kits) unless I find something better.

Have you personally ordered from them?

mokeyz · 01/29/2008, 10:04 PM

If you buy some chaeto at your LFS or get some from someone you should have a good start for your refugium, you need not spend $20 for amphipods and another $20 for worms and another $20 for mini-stars, etc... they will populate rather rapidly. Put some live sand in there as well from an established tank, and some live rock rubble. Seriously, in a couple of months you will be amazed at all the creatures you will have and it just gets better from there.

LobsterOfJustice · 01/29/2008, 10:17 PM

I just picked up some cheato from a local reefer over the weekend actually. Thats got me covered for gammarus shrimp, mini stars, copepods, etc. But in a move over the summer I killed off a lot of my LR. I used to have limpets, chitons, some ugly black slug things, more stomatella, etc. I've never had much in the way of sandbed fauna like sphaghetti worms. I've also never had live mysid either. I'm also looking for what I believe are called peppermint snails (small smooth shells, reproduce in the tank).

dzeadow · 01/29/2008, 10:43 PM

i just bought some stuff from www.azaquaculture.com but on ebay, all kinds of snails, mini brittles, spaghetti worm, 4 or 5 different kinds of macro aglae that contained pods.. was pretty impressed, check 'em out. I had them ship via 3-5 day shipping up to Montana from AZ, and everything arrived alive.

01/29/2008, 06:19 PM	#1
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Looking to boost biodiversity/microfauna in my tank... Hey all, I am trying to get a really healthy display and refugium going, and I would like to get a large variety of microfauna, etc. I checked out www.ipsf.com, but the prices are a little steep... Any other places similar to this where I can get small breeding populations of snails, chitons, limpets, worms, etc? __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/29/2008, 06:20 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	look at inlandaquatics.com __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/29/2008, 08:13 PM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Thanks. Still a little pricey, but better. I will probably place an order with them next week (flora and fauna kits) unless I find something better. Have you personally ordered from them? __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/29/2008, 10:17 PM	#5
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I just picked up some cheato from a local reefer over the weekend actually. Thats got me covered for gammarus shrimp, mini stars, copepods, etc. But in a move over the summer I killed off a lot of my LR. I used to have limpets, chitons, some ugly black slug things, more stomatella, etc. I've never had much in the way of sandbed fauna like sphaghetti worms. I've also never had live mysid either. I'm also looking for what I believe are called peppermint snails (small smooth shells, reproduce in the tank). __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/29/2008, 10:43 PM	#6
dzeadow Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 2,589	i just bought some stuff from www.azaquaculture.com but on ebay, all kinds of snails, mini brittles, spaghetti worm, 4 or 5 different kinds of macro aglae that contained pods.. was pretty impressed, check 'em out. I had them ship via 3-5 day shipping up to Montana from AZ, and everything arrived alive. __________________ - Danny Current Tank Info: Dual 50 Breeder system, 30g custom sump/fuge, MSX200, Tank1-6x24T5 retro, Tank2-4x39T5 retro

01/29/2008, 10:04 PM	#4
mokeyz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	If you buy some chaeto at your LFS or get some from someone you should have a good start for your refugium, you need not spend $20 for amphipods and another $20 for worms and another $20 for mini-stars, etc... they will populate rather rapidly. Put some live sand in there as well from an established tank, and some live rock rubble. Seriously, in a couple of months you will be amazed at all the creatures you will have and it just gets better from there.