Introduction to Reef Janitors

We will attempt to tell you the needed (and not needed) crtiteria for owning and maintaining a reef aqaurium. In this section we will tell you about the first livestock that should be placed in a fully cycled tank

What exactly are reef janitors? Well, whether you call them janitors, custodians, cleaners or what have you, the term reef janitors refers to a compilation of different kinds of crustaceans and invertebrates that act as nature’s little helpers by performing various cleaning tasks. Some are strictly algae eaters, others eat algae and consume detritus and debris off the ocean floor, while others are sand sifters and filter feeders. With the many tasks these little critters perform in nature, what better way to maintain a clean and tidy saltwater aquarium than to let them do the job for you.Tank janitors are considered a “must have” in reef tanks, and are by all means suitable for fish-only aquariums, but only as long as the janitors you choose are suitable for beginners (if you are just getting started in the hobby), and are compatible with the fishes and invertebrates (including corals) that you have or may be planning to keep in your particular type of system.

So, with such as vast array of crustacean and invertebrate species to choose from, how do you know which ones to get? To help answer this question, here are profiles we have compiled on some of the most common reef tank janitors that will help you better understand these animals, and which species within these groups may or may not be suitable choices.

Snails

Starfish

Shrimp

Hermit Crabs

Sea Urchins

Sea Urchins

Sea urchins are used as indicator organisms in public aquariums to determine if the system is functioning properly? Because these animals are so “picky” about water quality and cleanliness in an aquarium, they are the first to show signs of stress, seen when their spines are laying down or falling off.

Starfish

Starfish are divided into three classes; Asteroidea that contains Sea & Cushion Stars, Ophiuroidea that contains Brittle, Serpent & Basket Stars, and Crinoidea that contains Feather Stars & Sea Lilies in the Subclass Articulata.

Even though some starfish species do eat algae and most are scavengers that come out at night to feed on detritus and debris, here are some other important things about them that need to be considered before buying one.

Shrimp

Shrimp are not algae eaters, but natural scavengers. For this reason they make good tank cleaners.

They are best kept singly or as a mated pair. Some species will pick at other invertebrates and soft corals, and some larger species may attack fish, so be careful about which type you put in your tank.

Hermit Crabs

Did you know that hermit crabs are scavengers? Yep, most species will eat just about anything they can find. For this reason, they make ideal cleaners for a reef tank, as long as you choose a Reef Safe Hermit Crab.Properly chosen hermit crabs should have no negative impact on a reef system.

In fact, they should are solely beneficial. Small species that do not grow more than a couple of inches in size are most desirable, as they usually do not disturb other tank life, and they are able to get into tiny cracks and crevices where algae grows that larger hermits cannot access. They can also access spaces under rocks and corals where detritus or debris accumulates to remove it.

Snails

First of all, learn how to identify and stay away from all types of predatory shelled snails. These are stinging, venomous animals that either bore holes into their prey and rasp out their flesh, or kill their prey with venom, usually injected by means of a harpoon, and eat the prey whole. The largest and most obvious of the venomous species are all in the genus Conus, whose venom is not only lethal to other marine life, but exceptionally lethal to humans! Snails in the predatory category are not generally sold in fish stores, but sometimes they can ride in as hitchikers with live rock collected in the wild.Three of the most common marine snail species used for controlling algae in saltwater aquariums and reef tanks are the Astraea/Astrea, Turban/Turbo, and Trochus/Trocus, with many varieties found world wide.