1. In marine aquaria green algae doesn't speak positively to the health of the aquarium. Green algae grows in all sorts of nasty conditions (take a look at a wet ditch for example, you will see green algae). Best film algae eaters I have found are Ring Cowries or Astraea snails.
2. There are sand-stirring gobies and sand-sifting gobies. Most sand-sifting gobies will not accept prepared foods, so they need larger tanks to support their dietary needs. Most of these gobies are very messy, but there are a couple that are more restrained. Sand-stirring gobies will often accept prepared foods, but they don't actually clean the sand. They often make quite a mess too. In a small tank, I really suggest the best sand cleaner is you. Use a gravel vacuum when doing waterchanges. You could try adding a few Nassarius snails, although I don't find them to really do much. Nassarius would definitely fall prey to the hermits. Small conchs are great sand cleaners, but your tank is too small...their requirements are similar to those of sand-sifting gobies.
3. The Turbo snails will get way too big for your 10 gallon tank, I would suggest Astraea snails instead. Hermits are opportunistic and will attack and eat snails if they get hungry or bored or lazy, they will probably get the Turbos eventually. The Peppermint shrimp is the best shrimp choice for a small tank like yours, although I do worry that your tank might still be too small it to get enough food. I prefer to see them in 20 gallon tanks. I would suggest you replace the Turbos with Astraea, and remove the hermits. The hermits will compete with the shrimp for food.
__________________
~ Mindy
SPS fanatic.
|