Bare-bottom cleanup crew

MO Will · 05/28/2007, 12:51 PM

Any thoughts on a cleanup crew for bare-bottom tanks

I just switched to bare bottom and I am going to try to focus more on SPS

What cleanup crew would be best for this?

All of my hermit crabs are no in a hoding tank in the sump - not sure if I want to put them back in the display (although they are a hit with the kids)

Thanks for the advice

Will

minimalist · 05/28/2007, 01:23 PM

Astreas and Ceriths.

frederickk · 05/29/2007, 04:21 AM

I concur Astreas and Ceriths.

hulley · 05/29/2007, 05:06 AM

I have hermits crabs in my display, they just hang out on the rocks.

MO Will · 05/29/2007, 05:31 AM

Thanks for the replies. Hulley - do you also have snails?

Will

MO Will · 05/29/2007, 10:35 PM

Any more opinions on the hermit crabs. I just went BB and the hermit crabs are now in the remote DSB. Still trying to decide if I should put them back in the display. Don't want them to eat the snails if that is the way I am going.

Thanks

flyyyguy · 05/29/2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MO Will
[B]Any more opinions on the hermit crabs.

Hermit crabs SUCK

Hey, you wanted an opinion.

Astreas, ceriths and flow are all I keep in my BB for a clean up crew.

Der_Iron_Chef · 05/29/2007, 11:21 PM

I have two hermit crabs. One has grown huge over the last 10 months, and has been attacking my trochus snails. The other is tiny and cute....we'll see if he also goes the way of the buffalo

DriftRtist · 05/30/2007, 12:12 AM

I have red tip reef hermits and they have been great. It seems like hermits attack snails when the snail is about to die.

Frick-n-Frags · 05/30/2007, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyyyguy
Hermit crabs SUCK

Hey, you wanted an opinion.

Astreas, ceriths and flow are all I keep in my BB for a clean up crew.

Now THERE's a guy I can relate to.

right-the-BLEEP-on! heh

and maybe add small female mithrax crabs to clean along the encrusting SPS edges so the corals don't have to fight the algae as much (once you get SPS going).

hulley · 05/30/2007, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MO Will
Thanks for the replies. Hulley - do you also have snails?

Will

Oh yeah! lots of snails! they keep the bottom clean just like the sides!

King-Kong · 05/30/2007, 06:26 AM

I have added a long spine urchin to my BB to help keep corraline down and keep the rocks porous.

And yeah.. I also use Astreas and Ceriths.

mecheng · 05/30/2007, 05:10 PM

Forget the hermits. Snails are better and don't eat each other.

MeuserReef · 05/30/2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mecheng
Forget the hermits. Snails are better and don't eat each other.

I second this vote! I banished all of my hermits to my sump months ago. Amazingly, my sanils seem to be living MUCH longer lives now in my display tank.

SDguy · 05/30/2007, 07:19 PM

I have one hermit for looks

I just use astreas and trochus snails.

Silverfin · 05/30/2007, 07:42 PM

Hmmmm.....

----------
I am my Father's Daughter.....reef wise......

"The only thing we have to fear.....is fear itself."
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in..... infamy...."---Franklin D. Roosevelt

Silverfin · 05/30/2007, 07:43 PM

I would recommend a Yellow watchman Goby or a Diamond Goby; they are really good at keeping the sand stirred and clean. A Sand-sifting Starfish is a really good cleaner too.

----------
I am my Father's Daughter.....reef wise......

"The only thing we have to fear.....is fear itself."
"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in..... infamy...."---Franklin D. Roosevelt

SDguy · 05/30/2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by silverfin
I would recommend a Yellow watchman Goby or a Diamond Goby; they are really good at keeping the sand stirred and clean. A Sand-sifting Starfish is a really good cleaner too.

Just for reference, "bare bottom" refers to a tank with no sand substrate.

Frick-n-Frags · 05/31/2007, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by silverfin

----------
I am my Father's Daughter.....reef wise......

O RLY? LOL

MO Will · 05/31/2007, 06:51 PM

Thanks for all the replies! The hermit crabs will remain in the sump.

What about brittle stars to go with the snails? or a blue linkia starfish? Or is the whole point that there probably won't be as much detritus?

Thanks

SeanT · 05/31/2007, 11:37 PM

Another vote for Astrea's and Cerith's.
My rule of thumb is a 2 -1 ratio.
Two Cerith's for every Astrea.
And 1 Astrea per gallon.

itz frank · 06/01/2007, 12:17 AM

I've found that blue legged hermits don't attack snails. The only time i've noticed a problem was when one outgrew it's shell. Keep extra shells if you plan to keep hermits.

Frick-n-Frags · 06/01/2007, 05:10 AM

my deal with hermit crabs is what are they really good for? they are meat eaters. i put enough nutrients into the water without having to worry about feeding them too. and hungry hermits do cause trouble.

somehow the argument has devolved into their "pest status" like hassling snails, but I still think the base argument is that they provide no benefit, therefore should not be considered when talking cleanup crews. decorations/oddities/diversity sure, but they are useless for tank maintenance.

smariner · 06/03/2007, 06:06 PM

Try trocus snails instead of astrea's...

Hope this helps,
Chad D. Bryant

hulley · 06/03/2007, 06:25 PM

I recently removed 9 snail shells from my tank! Kinda funny, it was after I witnessed my blue legged stripped hermit crab going after a couple of new LARGE turbo snails a just bought. After removing the hermit, I havent found any empty shells since! Hmmm.

05/28/2007, 12:51 PM	#1
MO Will Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 444	Bare-bottom cleanup crew Any thoughts on a cleanup crew for bare-bottom tanks I just switched to bare bottom and I am going to try to focus more on SPS What cleanup crew would be best for this? All of my hermit crabs are no in a hoding tank in the sump - not sure if I want to put them back in the display (although they are a hit with the kids) Thanks for the advice Will

05/30/2007, 07:19 PM	#15
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I have one hermit for looks I just use astreas and trochus snails. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

05/30/2007, 07:42 PM	#16
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	Hmmmm..... ---------- I am my Father's Daughter.....reef wise...... "The only thing we have to fear.....is fear itself." "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in..... infamy...."---Franklin D. Roosevelt __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag,

05/30/2007, 07:43 PM	#17
Silverfin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brentwood, California Posts: 224	I would recommend a Yellow watchman Goby or a Diamond Goby; they are really good at keeping the sand stirred and clean. A Sand-sifting Starfish is a really good cleaner too. ---------- I am my Father's Daughter.....reef wise...... "The only thing we have to fear.....is fear itself." "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in..... infamy...."---Franklin D. Roosevelt __________________ Arrested Person:"I swear to drunk i am not God." Current Tank Info: Family 210gal reef, 30gal frag,

05/31/2007, 11:37 PM	#21
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	Another vote for Astrea's and Cerith's. My rule of thumb is a 2 -1 ratio. Two Cerith's for every Astrea. And 1 Astrea per gallon. __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

05/28/2007, 01:23 PM	#2
minimalist Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herndon, VA Posts: 506	Astreas and Ceriths.

05/29/2007, 04:21 AM	#3
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	I concur Astreas and Ceriths.

05/29/2007, 05:06 AM	#4
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	I have hermits crabs in my display, they just hang out on the rocks.

05/29/2007, 05:31 AM	#5
MO Will Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 444	Thanks for the replies. Hulley - do you also have snails? Will

05/29/2007, 10:35 PM	#6
MO Will Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 444	Any more opinions on the hermit crabs. I just went BB and the hermit crabs are now in the remote DSB. Still trying to decide if I should put them back in the display. Don't want them to eat the snails if that is the way I am going. Thanks

05/29/2007, 11:21 PM	#8
Der_Iron_Chef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 841	I have two hermit crabs. One has grown huge over the last 10 months, and has been attacking my trochus snails. The other is tiny and cute....we'll see if he also goes the way of the buffalo

05/30/2007, 12:12 AM	#9
DriftRtist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Reef Central Forums Posts: 138	I have red tip reef hermits and they have been great. It seems like hermits attack snails when the snail is about to die.

05/30/2007, 06:26 AM	#12
King-Kong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 2,346	I have added a long spine urchin to my BB to help keep corraline down and keep the rocks porous. And yeah.. I also use Astreas and Ceriths.

05/30/2007, 05:10 PM	#13
mecheng Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Savannah,GA Posts: 85	Forget the hermits. Snails are better and don't eat each other.

05/31/2007, 06:51 PM	#20
MO Will Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 444	Thanks for all the replies! The hermit crabs will remain in the sump. What about brittle stars to go with the snails? or a blue linkia starfish? Or is the whole point that there probably won't be as much detritus? Thanks

06/01/2007, 12:17 AM	#22
itz frank Gives Bad Advice. Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 2,168	I've found that blue legged hermits don't attack snails. The only time i've noticed a problem was when one outgrew it's shell. Keep extra shells if you plan to keep hermits.

06/01/2007, 05:10 AM	#23
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	my deal with hermit crabs is what are they really good for? they are meat eaters. i put enough nutrients into the water without having to worry about feeding them too. and hungry hermits do cause trouble. somehow the argument has devolved into their "pest status" like hassling snails, but I still think the base argument is that they provide no benefit, therefore should not be considered when talking cleanup crews. decorations/oddities/diversity sure, but they are useless for tank maintenance. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

06/03/2007, 06:06 PM	#24
smariner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 900	Try trocus snails instead of astrea's... Hope this helps, Chad D. Bryant

06/03/2007, 06:25 PM	#25
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	I recently removed 9 snail shells from my tank! Kinda funny, it was after I witnessed my blue legged stripped hermit crab going after a couple of new LARGE turbo snails a just bought. After removing the hermit, I havent found any empty shells since! Hmmm.