Keeping tank clean with a trigger

kuatto · #1 07-18-2006, 05:51 AM

When I had triggers,I had the same problem.Might try very large snails,they seemed to outlast the smaller ones with triggers.My triggers pulled apart any urchins I tried.

Raf · #2 07-18-2006, 06:04 AM

I tried some blue-leggeed hermits with my triggers...they lasted 1 day.

DanG · #3 07-18-2006, 02:08 PM

Even the long spine black urchins?

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #4 07-18-2006, 03:12 PM

Inverts = Trigger snacks, even long spined Urchins.

targa81 · #5 07-18-2006, 04:31 PM

My experience is similar to EmilyB. I have blue leg hermits with my Picasso, they hide during the day and have for the most part survived. Triggy will occasionally find a snack but I have only lost a couple crabs in the last 6 months. I used to have a large clown trigger though that inverts would never have survived, didn't even try.

Johnny Reefer · #6 07-18-2006, 06:14 PM

IMO, ….
….get the tank drilled if it’s not already.
-Run a sump with a skimmer over-rated for a 77g. Say a Euroreef CS6-1 or CS6-2 ,or an ASM G-2.
-Go with about 100lbs of Live Rock.
-Crabs, crabs, crabs….of the hitchhiker variety. Check with your LFS when they get LR shipments in. Usually some show their beady little eyes on arrival of the LR and can be had then. Crabs hide during the day and come out at night. Triggers hide during the night and come out by day. Perfect.
(Not sure about Blue-legged hermits. The ones I have in my Reeftank are always cruisin’ around by day….so maybe they can sense danger when it’s present, and hide by day if a Trigger is around. Don’t know).
-Good water circulation to help keep crud suspended in the water column.
-Water changes. At least 10% weekly.
-Understock for a lower bio-load.

Some other things to consider….
-Go Bare Bottom. Personally, I don’t like it but it certainly does allow for the option of vacuuming crud out.
-Utilize a de-nitrator such as Kent’s Nitrate Sponge.
-Run a refugium.

Maybe more ideas than what you’re looking for but it’d all help, IMO.

HTH and cheers

,

Twisted-1 · #7 07-18-2006, 06:20 PM

I had the same thing with my picasso and hermit crabs. The crabs hid during the day to come out at night. I actually thought that all my crabs became snacks but to my suprise I found almost all of them running around one night. I would try to add them during the night so the Trigger doesn't see them enter the tank like a snack. I had blue legs and afew scarlets in with mine.