Best Clean-up Crew for 75 Reef

IndoorOcean · 07/04/2007, 10:40 AM

I'm in the final stages of planning my new 75 reef, and I'm needing a little help with what clean-up crew I should use. Here's what I was thinking:

12x nassarius snail
25x cerith snail
25x trochus snail
3x peppermint shrimp
2x emerald crab
1x sally lightfoot crab
2x sand sifting star

How does this list sound? Is there anything I should add or take away? Some have said I need 20-30 blue-leg hermits, but don't they attach snails?

Thanks for any advice.

Travis L. Stevens · 07/04/2007, 10:44 AM

I would toss the Sally Lightfoot. They are known to become predators of small fish when they get older. I would also skip the sand sifter because they don't do anything for cleaning up. If you are looking to get them for stirring the sand, the Ceriths and Nassarius will do a fine job by themselves. I personally prefer Astrea over Trochus, but this is up to you. I would also forgo the Emerald Crabs and Peppermint shrimp as part of the cleanup crew. Their ability to clean anything is minimal compared to snails and even hermit crabs. Though they aren't bad critters to have in the tank at all, I would at least consider them ornamentals with a cool "side effect" of helping to take care of nuissances. I would also go ahead and bump the Nassarius up to 25, and add no more than 5 Turbo Snails. It wouldn't hurt to have a few hermit crabs. They can clamber over the rocks quickly in order to eat unwanted food that meat-eating scavenging snails can't get to. I would recommend about 10-15 Scarlet Hermits for this job.

IndoorOcean · 07/04/2007, 08:42 PM

Thanks, Travis! After your post and a little more research I have decided to go with the Astrea instead of the Trochus.

Didn't realize the Sally Lightfoot could become a predator. Glad you pointed that out. Everything I had ever read before never mentioned that. Then again, I guess I had only researched them on maybe 2 websites. Think I'll stay away from them.

Do you think the scarlet reef hermits will do OK? I thought I had read before that they sometimes attack snails. Sounds like they do offer some benefits though.

07/04/2007, 10:40 AM	#1
IndoorOcean Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 219	Best Clean-up Crew for 75 Reef I'm in the final stages of planning my new 75 reef, and I'm needing a little help with what clean-up crew I should use. Here's what I was thinking: 12x nassarius snail 25x cerith snail 25x trochus snail 3x peppermint shrimp 2x emerald crab 1x sally lightfoot crab 2x sand sifting star How does this list sound? Is there anything I should add or take away? Some have said I need 20-30 blue-leg hermits, but don't they attach snails? Thanks for any advice. __________________ "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable." - Dwight Schrute Current Tank Info: Without a tank at the moment :(

07/04/2007, 10:44 AM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I would toss the Sally Lightfoot. They are known to become predators of small fish when they get older. I would also skip the sand sifter because they don't do anything for cleaning up. If you are looking to get them for stirring the sand, the Ceriths and Nassarius will do a fine job by themselves. I personally prefer Astrea over Trochus, but this is up to you. I would also forgo the Emerald Crabs and Peppermint shrimp as part of the cleanup crew. Their ability to clean anything is minimal compared to snails and even hermit crabs. Though they aren't bad critters to have in the tank at all, I would at least consider them ornamentals with a cool "side effect" of helping to take care of nuissances. I would also go ahead and bump the Nassarius up to 25, and add no more than 5 Turbo Snails. It wouldn't hurt to have a few hermit crabs. They can clamber over the rocks quickly in order to eat unwanted food that meat-eating scavenging snails can't get to. I would recommend about 10-15 Scarlet Hermits for this job. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

07/04/2007, 08:42 PM	#3
IndoorOcean Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 219	Thanks, Travis! After your post and a little more research I have decided to go with the Astrea instead of the Trochus. Didn't realize the Sally Lightfoot could become a predator. Glad you pointed that out. Everything I had ever read before never mentioned that. Then again, I guess I had only researched them on maybe 2 websites. Think I'll stay away from them. Do you think the scarlet reef hermits will do OK? I thought I had read before that they sometimes attack snails. Sounds like they do offer some benefits though. __________________ "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable." - Dwight Schrute Current Tank Info: Without a tank at the moment :(