help me pick some cleaners for the clean up crew.

[Tropix]

Going back to the LFS soon, like in a couple hours and would like to get some more cleaners to add to the crew.

3) Hermits, 2 average size, 1 massive in size
1) emerald crab
1) Sea Star < forgot the name but the more solid star if that makes sense.


That's it, what do you think I should get that would be important and go down. Meaning shrimp vs snail, My algae seems to be down to nothing right now but I have some dead leftover through some of the sand.


What about the sea star, what does it eat. LFS didn't tell me much except it is good for cleaning the sand and adding to the clean up crew.

[Sisterlimonpot]

I'm opinionated when it comes to hermits.... I can't stand them and don't want them in my tank. I think that a better CUC would be an assortment of astrias, nassarius , and ciriths nails coupled with emeralds. They all clean up differing portions of the tank.

[Tropix]

I am about to leave, any last comments.. I am looking at the tank and see the only problem some dead maybe some live brownish faded green remains of algae. will the snails be ok to add or another star. the star seem to bury itself in the sand so is that another good candidate.,

[Tropix]

adding a fish, I would like to do but I am picky on the fish I want and the ones I want are out of budget right now. A fish under 20, is possible though.

went to get a yellow tang couple days ago, and was surprised to see them at 30+ dollars. I remember like, 5 years ago I could buy them for 10-20 at max.

[Sisterlimonpot]

I think the star will keep to itself. Yellow tangs are a popular fish, I would think that the prices should be low as well. but I guess it all comes down to supply and demand.

[Mr.leee]

the star fish is not going to eat the algea. if it was me, i go all snails. if you mix snails and Hermits together the Hermits ends up eating all the snails as time pass by....

[Tropix]

I never really paid attention in the pass how hard my snails worked, when I come to think of it.

Will the snails clean the sand too, plus they clean the walls, but will they clean up sand and rock as good as the hermits.. I don't mind changing, actually sounds like I will do this.

[jcono]

Nassarius snails are cool! They cruise around under the substrate until you feed, then they pop up out of the sand. If they get flipped over they can right themselves, and are fast enough to not get munched on by hermits.

I am down on hermits right now- I'm tired of losing snails to them.

[wickedfish]

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

I'm opinionated when it comes to hermits.... I can't stand them and don't want them in my tank. I think that a better CUC would be an assortment of astrias, nassarius , and ciriths nails coupled with emeralds. They all clean up differing portions of the tank.

Agreed with above. hermits are nasty lil buggers. Turbo snails and a diamond goby to keep the sand clear also a red spotted blenny to keep the rocks etc looking good. Just my opinion. Thats what i have in my tank. Also what he states above.

[Frogmanx82]

Well I like the hermits, I have about 25 and they don't bother my snails. I have red legs, I have heard that the blue legs, while smaller, are more of a snail threat. I'm not sure what giant hermit you have, but the big ones can be pretty destructive.

I have 10 astrea, 5 nassarius, 2 turbo, 3 trochus and 2 stomatella snails as well as a couple emerald crabs. Nassarius snails are great, I highly recommend a few of them.

I think you got bad advice on the starfish. Those sand sifters will strip your sand pretty quick.

I don't place a lot of stock in shrimp as part of a CUC. They are cool, but they like to eat what your fish eats and are fast enough to take it.

[Tropix]

Originally Posted by Frogmanx82

I'm not sure what giant hermit you have, but the big ones can be pretty destructive.

During my cycle, I had hairline algae covering the rocks and sand, controlable but getting to that point. I found this large red leg, size is 2" across, large shell, looks like a rock when still on my other rocks anyway after 12 hours inside the tank, he ate 25% of the algae, could not believe it. Watching him eat with clawfuls of it, it entertaining. so right now, I have zero algae and might place him in the sump and feed him some chunks of beef. His name, Optimus Prime, haha... I am going to keep him down there until I know what to do with him. I am going to add all these snails and don't want my investmnet to be lunch.

[bertoni]

There are a lot of starfish species, and their diets vary quite a bit. The true "sand-sifting" type, in the biology sense, eat live animals in the sandbed, and starve fairly quickly in our tanks after they clear out the sand. Some of the other species will eat corals.

The brittle starfish tend to be better behaved, although the green ones are very predatory.

[Reneeslane]

well now I know why I'm finding empty snail shells in my tank. Hermit take-over...... Moral: Just go with snails...

[Flipper62]

I like hermits. They get down in to the little crevices in the rock.

The problem with Hermits is that there are some reef safe & some NOT reef safe. When your LFS buys hermits, he get them by the hundreds. There is a good chance that there may be a few that are NOT reef safe.

I have lots of hermits in all of my tanks & have had them for years. Every once in a while I get a bad boy. I then just get him out of the tank.

[Flipper62]

One way to help keep hermits from killing any snails & hijacking their shells, is to buy some larger empty shells from your LFS and put them around in the tank. Once the Hermit wants a new larger home, he ( most of the time ) will hijack one of the empty shells first.

I have been doing this for years & it seems to work most of the time.

[Tropix]

Originally Posted by Flipper62

One way to help keep hermits from killing any snails & hijacking their shells, is to buy some larger empty shells from your LFS and put them around in the tank. Once the Hermit wants a new larger home, he ( most of the time ) will hijack one of the empty shells first.

I have been doing this for years & it seems to work most of the time.

Very true, I too observed this happening and it would prevent them from going after a snail for the shell. how many snails should I go for, 60 gallon with 40lbs LR.

[Korrine]

I have 3 blue leg hermits in my 29. They do a great job combing the lr and sand for leftover food. The big thing is don't go overboard on them. They will also strip your tank of good stuff if you have to many.

I also have
6 nassarius snails
2 or 3 astraea snails
will add about 10 cerith snails

Good Reads

The Grazing Snails, Part I - Turbo, Trochus, Astraea, and Kin
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

The Grazing Snails, Part II - Abalones, Limpets and Nerites
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php

The Grazing Snails, Part III: Conchs, Ceriths, Cowries, and Columbellids
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php

[Frogmanx82]

I think the redlegs aren't that bad on snails. My snail population is fairly stable and some of the losses can't be blamed on the hermits. My turbo snails just don't seem to last long term, maybe 6 months, I'm not sure why.

Unless you have had a stable snail population and seen it drop from adding the hermits or actually seen a hermit kill a snail, I think the hermits are getting taking the blame for snails not being as hardy.

After 4 months I have all 5 of my nassarius snails, 7 out of 10 astrea, lost 3 of 3 turbos and now bought 2 more, just bought 3 trochus. I absolutely do not blame the hermits for the turbos dying. I could tell they weren't moving like they were supposed to and they were intact when I pulled them out. I also have a couple stomatella snails that hitchhiked into the tank. They are doing great.

[Korrine]

Some turbos are NOT tropical..I'm guessing that's why you keep losing them. Also astraea snails are temperate and not tropical snails. It explains that in those articles.

[Frogmanx82]

How can you tell which turbos are tropical? I know the margarita snails are temperate. I got the trochus snails now instead of more turbos to see if they do better.

I thought the astreas could handle the tropical temps. They are recommended quite often on this forum.

[Korrine]

Astraea's are very good snails and that's why they are recommended, but they don't live as long.

Ask the pet store where they were collected? If they can't tell you, they're not a very good store.

[jfarris1976]

Originally Posted by Flipper62

One way to help keep hermits from killing any snails & hijacking their shells, is to buy some larger empty shells from your LFS and put them around in the tank. Once the Hermit wants a new larger home, he ( most of the time ) will hijack one of the empty shells first.

I have been doing this for years & it seems to work most of the time.

Can i buy them from the pet store? I have never heard of a pet store selling snail shell. Only the REAL big hermit crab ones

[Korrine]

My lfs gave me a handful

[fishguy84]

Personally for my 10 I have 2 Margarita's, 2 nass nails, and a half dozen small blue hermits. I think I have an astrea or 2 but I never bought them so they mustve been hitchhikers. Oh, MINI brittle stars are nice too if you can find them.

As unconventional members of the cleanup crew, I have a Pom Pom Crab and a Pistol Shrimp. They're fun to watch!

I agree with having extra shells in your tank for the crabs... I keep mine in a back corner of the display so I can see when they switch their old ones for new ones.

As far as snails go... if you keep your glass clean they will mostly stay on the rock and sand.

[Indymann99]

I like hermits because they are active and fun to watch.

I have 15 blue legs in my 120g DT and they HAVE killed snails for shell upgrades.

About 9 mo ago I added 20 Nassarious (sp?) snails, in about 6 mo all of my hermits have upgraded shells and I only have 5 snails....

I had empty "upgrade" shells available but I think the hermits prefer the shape of the Nassarious shells over the ones I had.

The most interesting thing I have ever seen with hermits was I watched a hermit drag another hermit and drop him into my GBTA.... day or 2 later... shell was available...

I have 2 turbos for algae control on the walls.

And my Gobi goes to town on the sand.