Looking for place to buy clean up crew

Johnic · 01/07/2019, 11:30 PM

I’ve tried a few different places in the past but I’ve been out of the loop lately.
Looking to buy a good clean up crew, any suggestions.
Looking for turbo, hermits etc.

mcgyvr · 01/08/2019, 05:43 AM

How many?
Got a local fish store?
That IMO is typically the best for a small clean up crew as anywhere online will have high shipping costs unless you are buying a bunch $75+ or so..

alton · 01/08/2019, 05:45 AM

http://www.reeftopia.com/reefaquariumsnails.htm
For Astrea Turbo Snails
For crabs I like Zebra Hermits, if you add 20 of these in a year you will still have 20
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...&c=497+501+613

marzvt · 01/08/2019, 07:19 AM

AlgaeBarn has the really nice aquaculture stuff. If not saltwaterfish.com or liveaquaria or literally anywhere. I get my cleanup from the local fish store or a tag on for something else because they are so inexpensive to get free shipping. I agree with Alton. I get a reasonable amount of cleanup grew and that last forever. I have a couple turbos that are 3.5 inches now and they just keep truckin.

EMeyer · 01/08/2019, 09:04 AM

My LFS wants something like $8 for a snail

For CUC, go to
aquariumdepot.com
reefcleaners.com
live-plants.com

the major fish suppliers are very overpriced on CUC so I don't suggest them.

kevin21 · 01/08/2019, 09:15 AM

I never had a problem with reefcleaners.org

mcgyvr · 01/08/2019, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMeyer

My LFS wants something like $8 for a snail

What kind? Thats really ridiculous for any though..

Typically I see from $0.50 to maybe $2.99 for big "golfball" mexican turbos and deals (%off) when you buy multiples..

My only complaint with reefcleaners is that the snails are very small/young lately.. I don't remember them being like that years ago when I purchased for my first tank..
When I was first buying from them I though their packages were quite overkill on the amount per tank size and I would recommend getting 1/2 tank size recommendations (100G tank buy a 50G clean up crew).. Now though its about right and 100G to 100G...

Last time though I bought a crew and shortly after putting them in my tank the wife said "I thought you were going to buy a CUC.. I don't see anything yet"..

Johnic · 01/08/2019, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

What kind? Thats really ridiculous for any though..

Typically I see from $0.50 to maybe $2.99 for big "golfball" mexican turbos and deals (%off) when you buy multiples..

My only complaint with reefcleaners is that the snails are very small/young lately.. I don't remember them being like that years ago when I purchased for my first tank..
When I was first buying from them I though their packages were quite overkill on the amount per tank size and I would recommend getting 1/2 tank size recommendations (100G tank buy a 50G clean up crew).. Now though its about right and 100G to 100G...

Last time though I bought a crew and shortly after putting them in my tank the wife said "I thought you were going to buy a CUC.. I don't see anything yet"..

I agree, the last time I ordered from Reefcleaners the snails were small...I would like a larger Nassarius snail this time..last time they were tiny!

kevin21 · 01/08/2019, 11:50 AM

I honestly have stopped bothering with differentiating my clean up crew. I have a few mexican turbos that do such a good job on practically anything that pops up that I never feel the need to add to the crew.

Johnic · 01/08/2019, 11:58 AM

I do want to have good sand sifters

kevin21 · 01/08/2019, 12:11 PM

Nassarius snails are the way to go then

biecacka · 01/08/2019, 12:24 PM

John @reefcleaners is my go to guy for CUC.

Corey

CAPT_Dave · 01/08/2019, 12:31 PM

Reef cleaners is a good source but I have to agree about the sizes being quite small. I'm also never really sure about how many live. The part I really don't like are that they include Cerith snails, which tend to fall off things, land on their backs, and die because they usually can't flip themselves over if they fall on sand. Instead, I really like Trochus snails. They're a little bigger and cost a little more but can flip themselves over and best of all, will breed in the tank. I started with just 5 a year ago and now have at least 12.

Be careful buying too many. Reef cleaners tells you that you need scores of these things, and if you feed heavy or have a large bio load, maybe you do, but if not they clean up the tank then starve and have to then clean up each other. Then all the stuff they cleaned up goes back into the water and you're left with a substrate of Coraline algae covered shells.

The other thing to watch out for is that a lot of cheap on line stores source their snails from (relatively) cold water, like the Carolinas. These snails will live for some time in a reef tank but the higher temps increase their matabolism and drastically shorten their lives.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

hkgar · 01/08/2019, 02:34 PM

Get either snails or hermits, but probably not both. The hermits will feast on the snails if for no other reason than a new and bigger house. Snails like moving up the social ladder with bigger homes.

wrott · 01/08/2019, 06:43 PM

https://www.kpaquatics.com/
Very reputable, they keep all inverts fish-free.

rjjr1963 · 01/08/2019, 11:27 PM

I've been happy with reefcleaners.

Nanook · 01/09/2019, 09:41 AM

Reeftopia, Reef Cleaners and Indo Pacific Sea Farms are my gotos.

ChronicReefH2o · 01/09/2019, 01:06 PM

There are pros and cons to online and LFS. Just depends on how fast and badly you want them.

LFS your always going to leave with live stocks but pay the price for them.

Online like reefcleaners.com (is what I use) cheaper price then retail stores, but you really don't know what you will be getting sort of speaking. I mean this as there will be some DOA but the company usually will take care of you if this does happen.

My experience, Hermits never tend to make the trip. 2 orders and both ended up with dead hermits so I stop ordering them online. Snails on the other hands about 98% of them live during the trip.

01/07/2019, 11:30 PM	#1
Johnic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,092	Looking for place to buy clean up crew I’ve tried a few different places in the past but I’ve been out of the loop lately. Looking to buy a good clean up crew, any suggestions. Looking for turbo, hermits etc. __________________ 75 Lee Mar Peninsula Tank, Reef Octo Elite 150, Custom Advanced Acrylic Sump, (2) MP40, Vectra M2 Main Pump, (2) XR15 Pro, Clear Water ATS CW-50, Alkatronic,GHL Doser 2.1, Apex Neptune El with Trident

01/08/2019, 05:43 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	How many? Got a local fish store? That IMO is typically the best for a small clean up crew as anywhere online will have high shipping costs unless you are buying a bunch $75+ or so.. __________________ Who me?

01/08/2019, 09:15 AM	#6
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	I never had a problem with reefcleaners.org __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

01/08/2019, 11:50 AM	#9
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	I honestly have stopped bothering with differentiating my clean up crew. I have a few mexican turbos that do such a good job on practically anything that pops up that I never feel the need to add to the crew. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

01/08/2019, 11:58 AM	#10
Johnic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,092	I do want to have good sand sifters __________________ 75 Lee Mar Peninsula Tank, Reef Octo Elite 150, Custom Advanced Acrylic Sump, (2) MP40, Vectra M2 Main Pump, (2) XR15 Pro, Clear Water ATS CW-50, Alkatronic,GHL Doser 2.1, Apex Neptune El with Trident

01/08/2019, 05:45 AM	#3
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	http://www.reeftopia.com/reefaquariumsnails.htm For Astrea Turbo Snails For crabs I like Zebra Hermits, if you add 20 of these in a year you will still have 20 https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...&c=497+501+613

01/08/2019, 07:19 AM	#4
marzvt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Vermont Posts: 52	AlgaeBarn has the really nice aquaculture stuff. If not saltwaterfish.com or liveaquaria or literally anywhere. I get my cleanup from the local fish store or a tag on for something else because they are so inexpensive to get free shipping. I agree with Alton. I get a reasonable amount of cleanup grew and that last forever. I have a couple turbos that are 3.5 inches now and they just keep truckin.

01/08/2019, 09:04 AM	#5
EMeyer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 173	My LFS wants something like $8 for a snail For CUC, go to aquariumdepot.com reefcleaners.com live-plants.com the major fish suppliers are very overpriced on CUC so I don't suggest them.

01/08/2019, 12:11 PM	#11
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	Nassarius snails are the way to go then __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

01/08/2019, 12:24 PM	#12
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	John @reefcleaners is my go to guy for CUC. Corey

01/08/2019, 12:31 PM	#13
CAPT_Dave Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 157	Reef cleaners is a good source but I have to agree about the sizes being quite small. I'm also never really sure about how many live. The part I really don't like are that they include Cerith snails, which tend to fall off things, land on their backs, and die because they usually can't flip themselves over if they fall on sand. Instead, I really like Trochus snails. They're a little bigger and cost a little more but can flip themselves over and best of all, will breed in the tank. I started with just 5 a year ago and now have at least 12. Be careful buying too many. Reef cleaners tells you that you need scores of these things, and if you feed heavy or have a large bio load, maybe you do, but if not they clean up the tank then starve and have to then clean up each other. Then all the stuff they cleaned up goes back into the water and you're left with a substrate of Coraline algae covered shells. The other thing to watch out for is that a lot of cheap on line stores source their snails from (relatively) cold water, like the Carolinas. These snails will live for some time in a reef tank but the higher temps increase their matabolism and drastically shorten their lives. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 120 g mixed reef

01/08/2019, 02:34 PM	#14
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Get either snails or hermits, but probably not both. The hermits will feast on the snails if for no other reason than a new and bigger house. Snails like moving up the social ladder with bigger homes. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

01/08/2019, 06:43 PM	#15
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	https://www.kpaquatics.com/ Very reputable, they keep all inverts fish-free. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

01/08/2019, 11:27 PM	#16
rjjr1963 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Nebraska/Missouri Posts: 770	I've been happy with reefcleaners. __________________ 72x24x16 115 gallon under construction Current Tank Info: 40 gallon reef

01/09/2019, 09:41 AM	#17
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	Reeftopia, Reef Cleaners and Indo Pacific Sea Farms are my gotos. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

01/09/2019, 01:06 PM	#18
ChronicReefH2o Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: South SoCal Posts: 61	There are pros and cons to online and LFS. Just depends on how fast and badly you want them. LFS your always going to leave with live stocks but pay the price for them. Online like reefcleaners.com (is what I use) cheaper price then retail stores, but you really don't know what you will be getting sort of speaking. I mean this as there will be some DOA but the company usually will take care of you if this does happen. My experience, Hermits never tend to make the trip. 2 orders and both ended up with dead hermits so I stop ordering them online. Snails on the other hands about 98% of them live during the trip.