Clean up Crew???12 Gallon Tank

saltman123 · 08/27/2006, 02:02 AM

I am starting up a 12 gallon AquaPod reef tank and was hoping someone can help me understand how much of a clean up crew I will need.

I think I will be ordering from sealifeflorida.com since his prices seem reasonable.

What types of hermit crabs should I get? And how many?
What types of snails do I need? and how many?
Should I get 1 or 2 shrimp?

These are some of the types they carry:
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
Scarlet Reef Crab
White Claw Hermit

Emerald Crab
Porcelain Crab

Astrea Snails
Florida Cerith
Nerite Snails

Red Banded Coral Shrimp(Maybe a mated pair?)

Any insight on exactly how many of these critters I will need will be appreciated.
Thanks.

AquaReeferMan · 08/27/2006, 03:43 AM

I would go with 10 Astrea Snails and 10 blue legs. Make sure you have some empty shells laying around in your tank of the hermits will kill the snails for theirs. I wouldnt go with a Coral Banded shrimp. They tend to get aggressive, ecspecially in a tank that small. Try and add a cleaner shrimp and like 5 nassarius snails if possible.

saltman123 · 08/27/2006, 10:55 AM

Thanks for the recommendation.

Anyone else???

srbball22 · 08/27/2006, 11:22 AM

i would say 10 blue legged hermits, with empty shells, and get 10 astrea, and about 3-5 of the other 2 kinds.

Xerious · 08/27/2006, 11:47 AM

Scarlet Reef Hermit are great, they shouldn't bother anyone...make sure you have a couple empty shells around though.

Also, NO Coral Banded Shrimp. That tank is too small, they like to pick on everyone.

Check out your LFS though and if you buy at the LFS, I would recommend 3 Scarlet Reef Hermits, 3 blue legged hermit,
3 Astrea, 3 Cerith, then check out your tank. You will probably end up getting more, but at least you will know that the little guys won't be starving, or fighting each other for food. If it looks like you get more, then get more.

If you find a good deal online and you like it, go for it! If you buy too much, the worst that happens is you waste a little money, and the inverts die (R.I.P.).

Good luck!

saltman123 · 08/27/2006, 10:52 PM

Are Emerald or Porcelain crabs ok to keep in a 12 gallon aquapod?

chrisstie · 08/27/2006, 10:59 PM

I have 1 emerald and its okay but keep it fed so it wont pick at your fish or anything else.

To the OP: will you have established live rock or new stuff? You dont want your cleanup crew to starve. My 12g aquapod is doing godo with 1 emerald, 3 hermits and 4 nassarius snails (the underground kind)

saltman123 · 08/27/2006, 11:04 PM

The live rock I have is from a friends 2+ year old tank that he took down. I actually have a 5 gallon tank set up right now with tons of live sand and live rock, and it actually already has 2 large snails, and about 3 or 4 hermit crabs running around. Plenty of growth, I would say they can't keep up because it looks like there is more growth every day.

Not sure if I have enough rock so I may be purchasing some cured live rock to add to the mix.

All of my LFS are SUPER EXPENSIVE, so I will probably just be ordering some online.

By the way, what does OP mean?Sorry, I'm a newbie

08/27/2006, 02:02 AM	#1
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	Clean up Crew???12 Gallon Tank I am starting up a 12 gallon AquaPod reef tank and was hoping someone can help me understand how much of a clean up crew I will need. I think I will be ordering from sealifeflorida.com since his prices seem reasonable. What types of hermit crabs should I get? And how many? What types of snails do I need? and how many? Should I get 1 or 2 shrimp? These are some of the types they carry: Blue Leg Hermit Crabs Scarlet Reef Crab White Claw Hermit Emerald Crab Porcelain Crab Astrea Snails Florida Cerith Nerite Snails Red Banded Coral Shrimp(Maybe a mated pair?) Any insight on exactly how many of these critters I will need will be appreciated. Thanks.

08/27/2006, 03:43 AM	#2
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I would go with 10 Astrea Snails and 10 blue legs. Make sure you have some empty shells laying around in your tank of the hermits will kill the snails for theirs. I wouldnt go with a Coral Banded shrimp. They tend to get aggressive, ecspecially in a tank that small. Try and add a cleaner shrimp and like 5 nassarius snails if possible. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

08/27/2006, 10:55 AM	#3
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	Thanks for the recommendation. Anyone else??? __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

08/27/2006, 10:52 PM	#6
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	Are Emerald or Porcelain crabs ok to keep in a 12 gallon aquapod? __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod

08/27/2006, 10:59 PM	#7
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	I have 1 emerald and its okay but keep it fed so it wont pick at your fish or anything else. To the OP: will you have established live rock or new stuff? You dont want your cleanup crew to starve. My 12g aquapod is doing godo with 1 emerald, 3 hermits and 4 nassarius snails (the underground kind) __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS

08/27/2006, 11:22 AM	#4
srbball22 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 268	i would say 10 blue legged hermits, with empty shells, and get 10 astrea, and about 3-5 of the other 2 kinds.

08/27/2006, 11:47 AM	#5
Xerious Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CA Posts: 57	Scarlet Reef Hermit are great, they shouldn't bother anyone...make sure you have a couple empty shells around though. Also, NO Coral Banded Shrimp. That tank is too small, they like to pick on everyone. Check out your LFS though and if you buy at the LFS, I would recommend 3 Scarlet Reef Hermits, 3 blue legged hermit, 3 Astrea, 3 Cerith, then check out your tank. You will probably end up getting more, but at least you will know that the little guys won't be starving, or fighting each other for food. If it looks like you get more, then get more. If you find a good deal online and you like it, go for it! If you buy too much, the worst that happens is you waste a little money, and the inverts die (R.I.P.). Good luck!

08/27/2006, 11:04 PM	#8
saltman123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: CT Posts: 1,048	The live rock I have is from a friends 2+ year old tank that he took down. I actually have a 5 gallon tank set up right now with tons of live sand and live rock, and it actually already has 2 large snails, and about 3 or 4 hermit crabs running around. Plenty of growth, I would say they can't keep up because it looks like there is more growth every day. Not sure if I have enough rock so I may be purchasing some cured live rock to add to the mix. All of my LFS are SUPER EXPENSIVE, so I will probably just be ordering some online. By the way, what does OP mean?Sorry, I'm a newbie __________________ 12 Gallon Aquapod. 4 Gallon Pico-Coming Soon Current Tank Info: 12 Gallon Aquapod