Cleaning Crew For a 20G Reef..

[32Bit_Fish]

Hi guys,

I am preparing a shopping list for cleaning crew. Someone suggested that turbo snails would grow to 2"+ and they will knock down rocks in the tank.
I piled up my rock high in the tank and maybe large size snails are suitable for my tank.

I have 27 lb of Fiji rocks and live sand bed (1.5"-2" thick).
Would you guys give me a list of snails?
There is no algae in my tank at this point, so I'm not sure when is the best time to bring some snails home..

I would also like to have mixed types of snails and which MR vendor sell them?

Thanks

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

10 turbo snails, 15 hermits, 15-20 nassarius snails, a cleaner shrimp and 2 emerald crabs, sand sifting starfish.

 

[32Bit_Fish]

wow, that is a lot of animals in a 20g..:lol2:

BTW, is it possible for snails n shrimps or all inverterbrates carry diseases parasites?

Thanks

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Why people call them cleaner shrimp? Are they really clean the tank better than any other shrimps?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

DUde you need to open a book or 2 there are a few I can recommend

The simple guide to Mini Reef Aquariums

and

The Simple guide to marine aquariums by Jeffrey Kurtz.

Also:
A pocket Expert Guide to Marine Fishes By Scott W Michael


And

A Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek Ph.D.

They are called cleaner shrimp because they clean parasites off of fish and also eat left over food in the tank.

 

[32Bit_Fish]

I prefer ask questions here cuz you guys are better than those books. :smile:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

OK I'm done.

 

[nanoreefer22]

At least read about some of the fundamentals then come ask questions.

The time when you should have asked a question was before you threw 6-7 shrimp into your tank . I'm almost 100% Dean or someone else has linked you to some reading. Use it, please.
-Kris

 

[32Bit_Fish]

Yes sir. A trip to the book store today.. I bought a book on Coral..

 

[basiab]

I think he meant you should read about the basics of salt water tanks. Then you can get into corals or fish.

 

[qckwzrd]

10 turbo snails, 15 hermits, 15-20 nassarius snails, a cleaner shrimp and 2 emerald crabs, sand sifting starfish.

A Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek Ph.D.
If I'm not mistake recommends 1 blue/red leg hermit per ten gallons. I would either do hermits or snails not the both of them in a 20 gallon. I'm pretty sure the hermits will kill most of the snails, thats alot. In my 20 gallon reef I have about 5 turbos, 5 nassarius snails and two small emerald crabs for cleaning. Tanks been running for about 4 months now with no problems. Get the books Chief recommend tho...good luck

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

qkwizard

Such is life, Hermit crabs kill snails for their shells, it happens in the wild and it also happens in our tanks, I was suggesting the book as a ref on marine inverts. I have plenty of Blue leg and scarlet hermits and when they need a new home they all take out snails, survival of the fittest.

 

[WaterPlant]

A Pocket Expert Guide to Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek Ph.D.
If I'm not mistake recommends 1 blue/red leg hermit per ten gallons. I would either do hermits or snails not the both of them in a 20 gallon. I'm pretty sure the hermits will kill most of the snails, thats alot. In my 20 gallon reef I have about 5 turbos, 5 nassarius snails and two small emerald crabs for cleaning. Tanks been running for about 4 months now with no problems. Get the books Chief recommend tho...good luck

hermits kill snails. one is too many to me for a 20 gallon. your snails would not last long with 15 hermits.

 

[qckwzrd]

hermits eat snails...fact. another fact is the larger the tank and fewer hermits the less likely it will happen. Stick wit either snails or hermits in the 20 don't do both and if you choose two, don't do that many.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

hermits eat snails...fact. another fact is the larger the tank and fewer hermits the less likely it will happen. Stick wit either snails or hermits in the 20 don't do both and if you choose two, don't do that many.

I 2nd his opinion or you will be just wasting money. Just do one or the other but not both unless you are crazy like me who love to keep some strange crabs even though I know they eat my SPS and anemone.

As a reminder don't keep clowns and groupers together, or you will be wasting money too. The speed of hermits taking out snails are just slightly slower but not much.

qckwzrd,

Does your bird quark, speak or sing?

Mine quark and dance but does not speak.

 

[qckwzrd]

Wingo my bird says my daughters name and other words. He makes all kinds of sounds. I had some finches and he would make the sounds they made. He's a trip, gotta get him a larger cage tho.

GO WITH SNAILS!!