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Results for "detritus"

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Search results for "detritus"

Clean-Up Crew ARTICLE

Clean-Up Crew

A hardworking mix of snails, hermits, and more that tackle algae, detritus, and film before it becomes a problem.

Reefapedia 1 min read
Clean-Up Crew
Birdsnest Coral ARTICLE

Birdsnest Coral

A popular branching SPS coral that forms a dense “nest” structure. Best in stable tanks with moderate-to-high light and strong, turbulent flow. More forgiving...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Birdsnest Coral
Zoanthids (Zoanthus spp.) ARTICLE

Zoanthids (Zoanthus spp.)

Zoanthids are colorful, beginner-friendly polyp corals that grow into colonies with stable conditions, low–moderate light, and moderate flow, but they can close up from...

Reefapedia 1 min read
Zoanthids (Zoanthus spp.)
Ulva (Sea Lettuce) ARTICLE

Ulva (Sea Lettuce)

Ulva (Sea Lettuce) is a fast-growing macroalgae used primarily for nutrient export and food web support. It thrives with moderate–high light, moderate flow, and...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Ulva (Sea Lettuce)
Dragon’s Tongue (Halymenia) ARTICLE

Dragon’s Tongue (Halymenia)

Dragon’s Tongue (Halymenia) is a display-friendly macroalgae that offers light nutrient export without aggressive growth. It does best in stable systems with moderate–high light,...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Dragon’s Tongue (Halymenia)
Chaeto (Chaetomorpha) ARTICLE

Chaeto (Chaetomorpha)

Chaeto (Chaetomorpha) is a utility macroalgae used almost exclusively for nutrient export and pod habitat in refugiums. It needs strong, consistent light, good flow,...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Chaeto (Chaetomorpha)
Gorilla Crabs ARTICLE

Gorilla Crabs

Gorilla/xanthid crabs are common hitchhikers that can become predators in reef tanks, often causing mystery snail and hermit losses. Because many are nocturnal and...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Gorilla Crabs
Amphipods ARTICLE

Amphipods

Amphipods are beneficial micro-crustaceans that support reef stability by recycling waste and serving as natural live food for fish. They thrive in tanks with...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Amphipods
Copepods ARTICLE

Copepods

Copepods are foundational micro-crustaceans that support biodiversity and provide natural live food in reef tanks. They thrive in stable systems with structure, food, and...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Copepods
Gracilaria ARTICLE

Gracilaria

Gracilaria is a reef-friendly macroalgae that provides steady nutrient export, pod habitat, and natural food for herbivores without becoming invasive. It grows best with...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Gracilaria
Asterina Starfish ARTICLE

Asterina Starfish

Asterina starfish are common hitchhikers that usually act as harmless algae and biofilm grazers. In balanced tanks they stay in low numbers and do...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Asterina Starfish
Sand-Sifting Starfish ARTICLE

Sand-Sifting Starfish

Sand-sifting starfish clean sand by consuming the life within it, which makes them one of the most common slow-failure inverts in reef tanks. While...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Sand-Sifting Starfish
Serpent Star ARTICLE

Serpent Star

Serpent stars are hardy, reef-safe scavengers that live in rockwork and clean up leftover food before it becomes a nutrient issue. They’re mostly nocturnal...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Serpent Star
Brittle Star ARTICLE

Brittle Star

Brittle stars are reef-safe scavengers that live in rockwork and help clean up leftover food before it becomes a nutrient problem. They’re mostly hidden...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Brittle Star
Blue-Leg Hermit Crab ARTICLE

Blue-Leg Hermit Crab

Blue-leg hermits are active, hardy scavengers that help with algae and leftover food, but they’re more aggressive than scarlet hermits. Their biggest downside is...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Blue-Leg Hermit Crab
Scarlet Hermit Crab ARTICLE

Scarlet Hermit Crab

Scarlet hermit crabs are one of the most reef-friendly hermits available, known for grazing algae and biofilm without causing much trouble. They do best...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Scarlet Hermit Crab
Astraea Snail ARTICLE

Astraea Snail

Astraea snails are reef-safe algae grazers that clean film algae and biofilm from rock and glass. Their main downside is that many can’t flip...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Astraea Snail
Cerith Snail ARTICLE

Cerith Snail

Cerith snails are versatile, reef-safe grazers that work across rock, glass, and sandbed edges, making them one of the most useful cleanup crew snails...

Reefapedia 3 min read
Cerith Snail
Nassarius Snail ARTICLE

Nassarius Snail

Nassarius snails are sandbed scavengers that specialize in cleaning up leftover meaty food, not algae. They live buried in the sand and rely on...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Nassarius Snail
Trochus Snail ARTICLE

Trochus Snail

Trochus snails are reliable, reef-safe algae grazers that work on both glass and rock without needing constant attention. They’re especially valued for their ability...

Reefapedia 4 min read
Trochus Snail
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