Cleaning Crew for new tank, Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I am about to get my cleaning crew for my newly cycled 60 gallon reef aquarium. I have been looking at the packages on a website. They suggest something like 60 hermits and 60 snails for a tank my size. This seems like an awful lot. Is one kind of snail/crab better than another? I am thinking about using the build my own package option. Any suggestions on the amounts? The Sally Lightfoot crab is available and I like the way it looks. Can you get more than one? After the cleaners, I will look for suggestions for livestock. I dont want to get the tank stocked and then see something that I really really want in there. Anything in particular that I need to hold out for? Right now I have 2 peppermint shrimp, a coral banded, a Y tang and a clown. Thanks for your help. Great site.

 

[Anonymous]

If you add 120 of anything it will likely all starve to death. Do you have any algea present in the tank? I'd go to LFS and get 10 - 20 assorted snails. If they don't have an assortment, then go to a place like premiumaquatics and pic and choose a nice assortment. If you go the internet route you could probably get more than 20 but I don't think I'd go more that 30-40. You'll need to buy more to help offset the shipping cost.

I really like trochus, margarittas, nassarius, mexican turbo's, and baha cerith. A fighting conch might be good too, though I never had one myself, many on this board swear by them.

HTH

Louey

 

[Reeffreak]

I agree with Louey, 120 snails and crabs would quickly run out of food.

As far as Hermits go I prefer the blue legs and the scarlets. They both seem to be very docile, do not become overly large and long lived. I think my large scarlet I have had for 3 years.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I don't like the blue's. They kill snails for their shells. Scarletts are the only crabs I would consider. I bought 15 over two years ago and most are still alive!

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

I like the blues, never had one kill a snail for the shell though.

They are rather entertaining, at one time I had a desktop tank with quite a few in it, I provided lots of larger shells for them, they would constantly try on new house's, never quite sure if it was the right fit...

 

[Bluetangclan]

I wodner who comes up with those packages, if they actually read what they are selling. I have a 55 gal, I dont want 55 of anything in it I find that about 8 of the bigger snails (margarita/turbo) and a couple little ones do the job adequitly. I recommend staying away from blue legged, everyone has their own experiances but I think they are 50/50 good/bad. Go with Zebra and scarlets, both are peaceful and the zebras are fun to watch, about 10 of each would work. Then grab a few emerald crabs, they are very good and a sally lightfoot, and there is your cleanup crew, not counting the sand sifters.

 

[Entacmaea]

check out www.etropicals.com 'built for you' package. really can't beat it.
you get to mix and match exactly what you want, and shipping is FREE.
I've ordered from them many times, great compny!

 

[beerbaron]

a couple tips from my experiences. dont get big snails like mexican turbos. they will knock things over that arent attached. also, im not a big fan of hermits. id get a few for the begginning, but in a few months id banish them to the sump and replace them with more snails. also, i am a huge fan of conchs, but id wait a little while to make sure they have enough food.
IMO
HTH
BB

 

[nisom88]

hey entacmaea,
i was wondering how large some of the inverts are from etropicals. i checked out their website and i like the pick-your-own idea with free shipping, but there is no size mentioned. i've seen some inverts from other online distributors that were microscopic. i don't know how happy i would be to pay 4.00 for a microscopic trochus snail!

 

[Carol Reef]

how many i need for a 6x2x2
snails
hermits and what type
brittle stars type and how many? what fish would eat the algy off the glass i like them yellow tangs? i also want a lionfish will he eat the cleaner crew, confused carol!

 

[Hal1]

I recently purchased from etropicals and was very happy. Pick your own package was key! I thought everything was a good size. I ordered turbo's, nassarius, astrea, cerith/baha, pep shrimp, emerald crab, conch, and tigertail cuke (I may have gotten the list wrong, so don't quote me on it). My tigertail cuke didn't make it 24 hours, but they gave me a full refund for it. 4 of 8 turbos were DOA, but again, full refund. All else survived.

Plus, I thought they were some of the cheapest prices on the 'net.

I'd buy from them again in a minute.

 

[Anonymous]

psssttt! Anyone want to know a good place to buy some cheap Nassarius snails? Check out http://www.floridapets.com/ I just ordered from them last week. Very cheap and they arrived in good shape. I think I spent $21 for 50 including shipping. Keep it quiet!!