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03/16/2012, 08:06 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 39
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Clean up crew... what type???
Hi folks,
I have been looking into a clean up crew. I have read the good reviews from reefcleaners as well as Tampa bay saltwater. They differ however in the types of clean up crews they recommend. Tampa bay leans towards hermit crabs and shrimp. Reef cleaners leans heavily towards snails. I would like a hermit crab but have read they like to kill snails. Any recommendation on which to get? Thanks |
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03/16/2012, 08:28 PM
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#2 |
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Gallantly Forward
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 563
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I don't recommend buying bulk clean up crews for a newly cycled aquarium. Those packages are tailored towards a more mature tank which generally can provide more food for the CUC. In a new tank, there may not be enough food for the CUC to eat and your snails and crabs may end up starving to death. I think it is more effective for you to add only a little at a time as needed.
But in general, snails are generally more reef safe than crabs and hermit crabs. Even cleaner shrimp can go rogue at times and tear up coral. Because of a few bad experiences, the only crabs I allow in the tank are hermits. If I had to choose snail only or snails with hermits, I would go with snails with hermits.
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Foolproof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools - Gene Brown Current Tank Info: 24g Nano reef tank, 40b reef tank. Both fully stocked reef tank housing stomatopods (mantis shrimp) |
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03/16/2012, 09:39 PM
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#3 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 14,854
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What kind of a mess are you dealing with? (diatoms, cynobacteria) Nassarius snails do no good in a barebottom tank IMO. You might have to nip it in the bud...
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03/16/2012, 10:02 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 39
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This will be a new tank. I will start plumbing the sump tomorrow but I am planning ahead on what I will be needing.
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03/17/2012, 02:15 PM
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#5 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 14,854
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A few grazing snails would be a good start. I'm not sure how big your tank is but a few trochus snails and a couple turbos will help keep the rocks/glass clean. If you have anything bigger than a 50 gallon tank you might want to add a couple more. See how they do for awhile and adjust accordingly.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php |
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03/19/2012, 09:38 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 16
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i-I read on another post its not a good idea to add fish before you've had snails in the tank for a week or so, but I'm setting up a DSB with a few pieces of live rock to seed for critters and an instant cycle. Should I buy a few snails now after the instant cycle? Does it matter if I only have one type of snail or is it best to have a few of each kind?
also or a 55 gallon how much is a few?
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:{D Current Tank Info: A work in progress |
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