Detrivore kit from Inland Aquatics

[MitchM]

Has anybody tried this detrivore kit from Inland Aquatics?

http://www.inlandaquatics.com/prod/prod_detrit.html

I'm considering a trip down across the border to pick one up.
They will ship to Canada, but with border delays cannot guarantee live delivery.

Thanks,
Mitch

[gobytron]

shouldn't you just be able to have all of that in some good quality live rock?

[MitchM]

Some of the animals that live in a DSB do not live in/on live rock.
I am looking to as as much diversity to my dsb as possible.

[gobytron]

like which ones?

I'm sure i have all of these present in my system without having paid anyone beyond the price of good quality, fresh live rock.

[MitchM]

As I understand it, there are hundreds of sediment dwelling worms that are very grain-size specific with regards to their preferred environment. One example is Rhepoxynius abronius. Although this amphipod is limited to the west coast of North America, I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be similar type organisms living in the more tropical type areas that our corals come from.
If these type of organisms live only in specific size sand sediment, I can't see them existing at all in live rock, no matter the quality.

Even though live rock can appear to make a dsb "live", I think that there is room for improvement with regards to diversity.

Mitch

[naesco]

Originally Posted by MitchM

As I understand it, there are hundreds of sediment dwelling worms that are very grain-size specific with regards to their preferred environment. One example is Rhepoxynius abronius. Although this amphipod is limited to the west coast of North America, I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be similar type organisms living in the more tropical type areas that our corals come from.
If these type of organisms live only in specific size sand sediment, I can't see them existing at all in live rock, no matter the quality.

Even though live rock can appear to make a dsb "live", I think that there is room for improvement with regards to diversity.

Mitch

I think you are dead on Mitch.
That is why when a reefer wants to seed his tank it is a good idea to borrow some sand from an existing system.

[Myka]

I also think you are bang on here (see bolded), but the critters listed in the link you provided are not the critters you are referring to as sand-dwelling critters for your DSB. I like your thought process, but you're not finding what you're looking for in the link you provided.

Originally Posted by MitchM

As I understand it, there are hundreds of sediment dwelling worms that are very grain-size specific with regards to their preferred environment. One example is Rhepoxynius abronius. Although this amphipod is limited to the west coast of North America, I don't see any reason why there wouldn't be similar type organisms living in the more tropical type areas that our corals come from.
If these type of organisms live only in specific size sand sediment, I can't see them existing at all in live rock, no matter the quality.

Even though live rock can appear to make a dsb "live", I think that there is room for improvement with regards to diversity.

Mitch