best clean up crew for 90g

razataz5 · 01/24/2012, 07:14 PM

So what do you think is the best clean up crew you can get . I know you can get package deals. But I want to no what you long time reefers think is the best critters to have.

LaOtIn · 01/24/2012, 07:18 PM

Mexican turbo snails for sure! I have several types of hermit crabs, blue leg, red, etc. I also have several reef safe stars

Basically in my 90 I have approximately 50 snails and 40 crabs, 5 stars, 10ish peppermint shrimp, a blood red shrimp

Dholmblad · 01/24/2012, 07:20 PM

reefcleaners is a pretty good place to get them from. I just ordered there for my 90, got alot of hermits since I like watching them. There are certain snails you want to stay away from because they are used to temperate climate.

stevedola · 01/24/2012, 07:59 PM

nerite snails
cerith snails
turbo snails(pacific+mexican)
trochus snails
nassarius snails
florida conch
peppermint shrimp/cleaner shrimp
scarlett hermits
------------------------all good for a cleanup crew. they eat a variety of algeas/diatoms/wastes. I would get a bunch of each...not sure on the exact count but prolly 50-60 snails and 15 scarletts to an established reef with a few of the extra inverts ive stated to help out. prolly need double that amount of snails if theres no snails in the tank

I would stay away from astrea snails because they end up on their back and die. I wouldnt buy margarites because all are from colder waters and may last a few weeks but eventually die off.

scarface70706 · 01/24/2012, 08:03 PM

just get a mix of all types of crabs and snails. if i was you for starters just go with 30 crabs and 30 snails. in a few months get another 20 of each and id call it good.

ugluk · 01/25/2012, 07:51 AM

In my experience I dont think it is good to have a large clean up crew. In the begining I had large crews but I would have to replenish every year due to die off. I figured if they were dying off every year, maybe I shouldn't have so many. So I pretty much stopped buying a cc and I am happy with the results. I have about 3 Nassarius snails left after buy around 30 a year. I figure that the fact that they all have lived about 3+ years while the other 90+ nassarius bought died off in under a year shows that my tank can only sustain this many. I have about 5-6 hermits and 4 turbo snails (though I will pick up more since it seems they are not keeping up with the algae). Oh and my black brittle star who I have had for years and is the unsung hero of my tank.

I am interested in others opinions on this as whenever I see someone asking about size for a cc they always give a larger number then what works for me and "reef packages" are always very big. Is it just my tank or do others think a smaller cc is better?

Humuhumunuku · 01/25/2012, 10:30 AM

Nassarius snails are my favorite. I love when they just pop out of the sand like daisies!

stevedola · 01/25/2012, 10:46 AM

A cleanup crew is very important to a clean healthy tank.

razataz5 · 01/26/2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugluk

In my experience I dont think it is good to have a large clean up crew. In the begining I had large crews but I would have to replenish every year due to die off. I figured if they were dying off every year, maybe I shouldn't have so many. So I pretty much stopped buying a cc and I am happy with the results. I have about 3 Nassarius snails left after buy around 30 a year. I figure that the fact that they all have lived about 3+ years while the other 90+ nassarius bought died off in under a year shows that my tank can only sustain this many. I have about 5-6 hermits and 4 turbo snails (though I will pick up more since it seems they are not keeping up with the algae). Oh and my black brittle star who I have had for years and is the unsung hero of my tank.

I am interested in others opinions on this as whenever I see someone asking about size for a cc they always give a larger number then what works for me and "reef packages" are always very big. Is it just my tank or do others think a smaller cc is better?

That's what I was kinda wondering if smaller would be better

sponger0 · 01/26/2012, 10:33 AM

My opinion lol....even though its very opinionated

Crabs:
Im not a fan of hermit crabs. They tend to pick at some corals and so on or snails. The ones Ive found to be the least evasive are scarlet hermit crabs. Ideal tank mates in my tanks. They dont go after anything but algae

My favorite crabs and very ideal tankmate are blue porcelain crabs. Harmless to everything and mine even eats hair algae.

Snails:
Nassarius, astrea and margaritas. I really like the tonga nassarius.
Im not big on turbos cause they can knock things over.

And cleaner shrimp are awesome. Whenever I put my hand in my tank they come up and try to clean my hand.

As someone mentioned here, I dont tend to buy some big CUC. I start smaller and go bigger until I feel they have enough food to survive.

01/24/2012, 07:14 PM	#1
razataz5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: G-Town Texas Posts: 157	best clean up crew for 90g So what do you think is the best clean up crew you can get . I know you can get package deals. But I want to no what you long time reefers think is the best critters to have. __________________ 125 5'DT

01/24/2012, 07:18 PM	#2
LaOtIn Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 704	Mexican turbo snails for sure! I have several types of hermit crabs, blue leg, red, etc. I also have several reef safe stars Basically in my 90 I have approximately 50 snails and 40 crabs, 5 stars, 10ish peppermint shrimp, a blood red shrimp __________________ I am a water keeper that happens to like fish and coral Once a Marine, Always a Marine Semper Fidelis Devil Dog

01/24/2012, 07:59 PM	#4
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	nerite snails cerith snails turbo snails(pacific+mexican) trochus snails nassarius snails florida conch peppermint shrimp/cleaner shrimp scarlett hermits ------------------------all good for a cleanup crew. they eat a variety of algeas/diatoms/wastes. I would get a bunch of each...not sure on the exact count but prolly 50-60 snails and 15 scarletts to an established reef with a few of the extra inverts ive stated to help out. prolly need double that amount of snails if theres no snails in the tank I would stay away from astrea snails because they end up on their back and die. I wouldnt buy margarites because all are from colder waters and may last a few weeks but eventually die off. __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon... Last edited by stevedola; 01/24/2012 at 08:04 PM.

01/25/2012, 07:51 AM	#6
ugluk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: King of Prussia, Pa Posts: 336	In my experience I dont think it is good to have a large clean up crew. In the begining I had large crews but I would have to replenish every year due to die off. I figured if they were dying off every year, maybe I shouldn't have so many. So I pretty much stopped buying a cc and I am happy with the results. I have about 3 Nassarius snails left after buy around 30 a year. I figure that the fact that they all have lived about 3+ years while the other 90+ nassarius bought died off in under a year shows that my tank can only sustain this many. I have about 5-6 hermits and 4 turbo snails (though I will pick up more since it seems they are not keeping up with the algae). Oh and my black brittle star who I have had for years and is the unsung hero of my tank. I am interested in others opinions on this as whenever I see someone asking about size for a cc they always give a larger number then what works for me and "reef packages" are always very big. Is it just my tank or do others think a smaller cc is better? __________________ Deltec MCE600, 2 Koralia evolution 1050, CPR HOB fuge, 4 bulb tek light. Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront, ocelluris clown, B&W Clown, Yellow watchman goby Last edited by ugluk; 01/25/2012 at 08:01 AM.

01/25/2012, 10:30 AM	#7
Humuhumunuku Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Townsville, AU Posts: 616 Blog Entries: 1	Nassarius snails are my favorite. I love when they just pop out of the sand like daisies! __________________ They mostly come at night. Mostly. Current Tank Info: 135g mixed reef

01/24/2012, 07:20 PM	#3
Dholmblad Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern va Posts: 563	reefcleaners is a pretty good place to get them from. I just ordered there for my 90, got alot of hermits since I like watching them. There are certain snails you want to stay away from because they are used to temperate climate.

01/24/2012, 08:03 PM	#5
scarface70706 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,364	just get a mix of all types of crabs and snails. if i was you for starters just go with 30 crabs and 30 snails. in a few months get another 20 of each and id call it good.

01/25/2012, 10:46 AM	#8
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	A cleanup crew is very important to a clean healthy tank. __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon...

01/26/2012, 10:33 AM	#10
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	My opinion lol....even though its very opinionated Crabs: Im not a fan of hermit crabs. They tend to pick at some corals and so on or snails. The ones Ive found to be the least evasive are scarlet hermit crabs. Ideal tank mates in my tanks. They dont go after anything but algae My favorite crabs and very ideal tankmate are blue porcelain crabs. Harmless to everything and mine even eats hair algae. Snails: Nassarius, astrea and margaritas. I really like the tonga nassarius. Im not big on turbos cause they can knock things over. And cleaner shrimp are awesome. Whenever I put my hand in my tank they come up and try to clean my hand. As someone mentioned here, I dont tend to buy some big CUC. I start smaller and go bigger until I feel they have enough food to survive.