Wanted: Bottom Feeder

[akire]

I have a 37gal FO tank, no live rock, that has been running for 3+ months now and seems fairly stable. I currently have a Blue Sapphire Damsel, a Beau Gregory Damsel, a Zebra Hermit Crab and a male Lyretail Anthias. Yes, I am aware the tank is too small for the anthias but I have a larger one in the works and it was too good a deal to pass up. I'm looking for some suggestions for bottom feeder type critters, other than the hermit I already have. Something to eat the extra food product, and not my fish. I'm open to fish or invertebrate suggestions.

 

[btldreef]

What kind of substrate do you have? (sand, crushed coral, bare bottom, etc)

 

[snakeblitz33]

Nassarious snails are good. They will eat leftover animal based food products. Cerith snails also do a pretty good job. Both are sand dwelling.
Right now, may I suggest adding some base rock at the very least?

 

[akire]

I have fine grain white sand as the substrate.
I've seen both Nassarious snails and Bumblebee snails at my LFS, and I'll keep an eye out for the Ceriths. I've also seen Astrea snails but since the tank is in my basement, there's practically no algae growth so I'm assuming they'd starve.
I have silk plants and lots of ornaments with holes for the shy fish but I really hate the look of live rock. I've found that if I monitor the levels that I can keep the tank stable without it. I don't plan to add any type of sand sifting creatures nor algae eaters since I don't have any biological life to support them.

 

[btldreef]

I'd go with a few Nassarius snails, and possibly a little cleaner shrimp (peppermint, skunk or fire).