Clean up crew questions

[jeffmuse]

I am in the process of re-booting my tank and wanted to get the club's opinions on clean up crews. Specifically I would like to hear from people on what mix of crabs/ snails to go with and when to add them to a new tank. Here are some questions that I have:

1) How do you select what kind of crabs, snails, star fish to put in your tank? Do you guys like to buy a set number of inverts up front, or do you select based on the types of problems/ algae you have in your tank?

2) What is an appropriate number of inverts to have in your systems? When I look this up online, I see wildly different views on the amount of clean up crew to keep. Is there a per gallon estimate on the number of inverts to keep?

3) In a new system, when do you guys like to add the inverts? Do you wait till problem algae appears or after you add fish?

Everyone feel free to chime in, I am interested in hearing your feedback.

 

[sn4k33y3z]

following

 

[brandonmason]

Ime, I waited for cycle and started with clean up crew first such as snails and hermits, I then would start dosing some pods in which many things will feed on. Its also a good idea to start low with what you buy as you don't want them to starve before there is a lot going on. Also with hermits... they don't grow shells so its a good idea to put some empty shells in so they might deter from killing the snails for their shells. Snails are fine for the sand until your established enough for a star. I only put a emerald crab in once I had a more than appeasing amount of algae.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 4

 

[ralph atl]

I always get what won't hurt fish and corals....

And will help clean up......and move sand....


I have sugar fine sand....

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+502+712&pcatid=712">http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+502+712&pcatid=712</a>

Tiger cucumber...don't have large crabs that will harass it

[IMG]http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+1763&pcatid=1763">http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+1763&pcatid=1763</a>

Super Tongan Nassarius Snail
These guys are awesome....live for years....if you have a great system.....keep sand clean...

[IMG]http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+1133&pcatid=1133">http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+526+1133&pcatid=1133</a>

Nassarius Snail

Little guys for sand

Margarita Snails
Mexican Turbo Snails
Banded Trochus Snail


Dwarf hermits....that stay small.....very small


Insure you get the correct species.....

 

[rk4435]

I'm a big believer in dwarf hermits now that I discovered the larger ones killing my snails.

 

[willie1983]

rk4435;899771 wrote: I'm a big believer in dwarf hermits now that I discovered the larger ones killing my snails.

I've read as for inverts I crab/snail per gallon ....reefs2go.com hope this helps .....good luck on the build

 

[nhannon8]

I have a 75 gallon standard tank. I ordered a 30 breeder snail only clean up crew from ReefCleaners. Even with all the large Florida Ceriths dying I have snails all over the tank. I think 1 per gallon is overkill. I also have a few large hermit crabs that hitchhiked in and those are slowly going to the refugium when I see them messing with the few pieces of coral or the snails I have. IMO stay away from hermits, unless they are the micro.

 

[jeffmuse]

rk4435;899771 wrote: I'm a big believer in dwarf hermits now that I discovered the larger ones killing my snails.

For my new build I am going to go all dwarf hermits or blue legged hermits when it comes to crabs... last time around I had red legged crabs and they consistently killed my snails when they where hungry/ needed shells.

I am going for a more peaceful tank this time around and I think that going with ALL small crabs is a must

 

[sewer urchin]

Jeff, hope it's ok if i hijack for a moment... it's kinda on topic though.

Are there any clean up critters that will (or readily) reproduce in the reef tank that people recommend? I know with the blue legged hermits I've got to replace them about once a year, same for a lot of my snails.
I've been reading about mysid (opossum) shrimp. Anybody have any something that they swear by?

 

[fishdude]

I've had bubble bee snails reproduce but would not recommend them. I add snails when I add fish (1 snail for every 2 gallons), and and add hermits once I see algae. For both the smaller the better, IMO. A lot of good info out there on what types of cuc for what type of algae but I think it's good to have a good mix of non aggressive cleaners.

 

[lifeisbeachy850]

You should checkout reefcleaners.org. I just ordered a CUC from them for a new nano tank. The prices are great. If you do a snail only crew, there is no shipping. He has pre-built packs for about every tank size. However, he sends about 2x what he advertises.

 

[glxtrix]

Tiger Sand Conch are awesome! Besides that I try to stay away from hermits, they always seem to feast on my snails. That being said, whatever is left over from whenever i bought them is what I have left....mostly red legs, which "seem" to leave snails alone...they like to sit on my montis and get a sun tan I get all other kinds of snails in a variety pack so there can be a good mixture of grazers.

 

[donnadtinsley]

Fishdude;899897 wrote: I've had bubble bee snails reproduce but would not recommend them. I add snails when I add fish (1 snail for every 2 gallons), and and add hermits once I see algae. For both the smaller the better, IMO. A lot of good info out there on what types of cuc for what type of algae but I think it's good to have a good mix of non aggressive cleaners.

Why don't you recommend bumble bees? I only have one and hardly ever see him. I wanted to buy more but before I do I thought I'd ask.

 

[fishdude]

They eat more good stuff then bad. Check out this site.

 

[donnadtinsley]

Fishdude;900227 wrote: They eat more good stuff then bad. Check out this site. http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=66">http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=66</a>[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much. I'm still learning all this stuff. Appreciate the help.

 

[shanepike]

This is an interesting topic because, as my CUC has gradually died of old age, I haven't replaced them and I haven't seen any</em> difference in my tank. I literally used to have over 100 ceriths that would start climbing the glass as darkness set in. Now I have maybe one or two. I have a 4 or 5 nassarius as well. All this in a 90g tank where I used to have a ton of CUC.

I have been wondering for weeks whether we overstock our CUCs, and whether we should instead just buy to address specific problems.