Clean Up Crew

[Lars]

What, in your experiences, have you found to be the best critters for a reef clean up crew.

 

[metalac]

Yeah I'm just about to put in a bunch, so it would be good to know. Also what are good amounts? I was looking around and most stores have cleanup crew packages that include over 50 critters for a 55gallon setup. This sounds a bit much, doesn't it?

 

[Lars]

I think that is about the recommended quantity (1/gal). I've got a 125 and that gets a bit pricey. I was going to add slowly, maybe 20 every couple of weeks. However, I have heard that certain hermits are good and certain one are bad, some snails are good and some are bad. So I just wanted an experience point of view.

 

[ChrisRD]

If you do a search I think you'll find a lot of discussion on this. Myself, I'm not a big fan of hermits. I like a variety of snails.

Whatever you decide, please don't listen to the crazy recommendations for 1 snail/gallon, etc. WAY overkill.

I think I have about a dozen Trochus snails in my 180.

 

[metalac]

any specifics? seems that turbo snails and blue/red legged crabs are all the rage, but I'm not sure.

 

[WRASSER]

cucumbers are suppose to be good too

 

[extremepb319]

I have a 30 gallon currently with 2 nassarius snails, 3 scarlet reefs, and used to have a big turbo snail (funny story). I would say the turbo helped the most of them.

 

[Anonymous]

Turbo snails are great algae eaters. I have hermit crabs but they end up dying since they compete for each other's shell. I still have some left, but I could use a bit more variety of snails. I'm thinking of a couple bumble bees, and something else.

I also have an urchin, and that is the best. It will eat anything and take it right down to the rock. They do eat coraline algae and knock over corals though. Mine's in the sump most of the time, and once in awhile I'm put him in the display.

I've had a lettuce nudibranch. It's good but it does leave a slug trail all over. Mine ended up through the powerhead

IMO The amount of cleanup crew really depends on your nutrient control, and 1 snail per gallon is too much.

 

[Anonymous]

Whatever you decide, please don't listen to the crazy recommendations for 1 snail/gallon, etc. WAY overkill.

I think I have about a dozen Trochus snails in my 180.

+1

I don't know why some people recommend so many. Crazy indeed.

 

[metalac]

Whatever you decide, please don't listen to the crazy recommendations for 1 snail/gallon, etc. WAY overkill.

I think I have about a dozen Trochus snails in my 180.

+1

I don't know why some people recommend so many. Crazy indeed.

well I got some snails today . And what are probably the smallest hermit crabs in the world (1/2 inch). I got me 8 snails. The guy at LFS said i should probably look for 18-24 snails for my 55 gallon, but I think that's still an overkill. I'll see how these 8 guys do, and if I still have tons of algae, then I'd get a few more.

 

[ChrisRD]

You'll find a balance over time - every tank is different. The more aggressive you are about nutrient control, the less cleanup animals you need IME.