Do inverts add to your bio load?

I never thought of it until just recently-Do shrimp,crabs,hermits, snails add to your bio load I just assumed not since they are scavangers its a washout. I hope they don't since I have alot of inverts.

 

of course.

 

Yup. Just remember, if it poops it creates a bio-load.

 

Technically, yes they do. However, they barely affect it at all, so you don't really need to count them as apart of your stock when stocking the tank with fish.

And you were right in assuming that since they are scavengers, they are pretty much a washout. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but they sure come close to taking in more than they put out. The affect on your bioload is so small it shouldn't be considered an affect at all.

You should have no trouble with alot of inverts. Personally, we have roughly 10-15 hermits, 30 or so various snails ranging from tiny ceriths to bigger margarita snails and florida ceriths, a tiger pistol shrimp, a skunk cleaner shrimp, and 3 peppermint shrimp, a harlequin serpent star, and a brittle star in a fully stocked 46 gallon. In the 46, we have a coral beauty angel, a molly miller blenny, a yellow watchman goby, a six line wrasse, and two o. clownfish.

If inverts affected our bioload in any significant way, their purpose of being a part of a clean up crew would be contradictory. Why would you want something that made the place even messier, when you wanted them to clean it? Inverts are gooood.

 

yeah poops but its also scavanges any left over waste/food so does it even out and how does a shrimp or crab waste compare to a fish