Cleanup Crew?

pizzy91 · 04/09/2007, 04:16 PM

My 37 gallon tank has been running for about three weeks with half pre cured rock and sand. I just added more to make it double what was cured. The three big water params are all zero, with pH being 8.3. For the last week the hair algea has been blooming pretty wildly, and now covers most of the sandbed and a large portion of the rocks. I've done two water changes with the lastest one being a couple days ago since the tank has been up.
I had a group of four palys hitchike on one of the pieces of rock along with two of what I believe to be astrea snails. After the first couple days and the tank was up and running the snails haven't stopped roaming around the tank eating algea since. Also, the palys are opening as far as possible during the 8 hours of light and closing when they are shutoff. Everything seems to be running smoothly.

The LFS has said it was okay to add a fish, but I'm not so sure. I am curious if it would be okay to add the cleaning crew? Possibly some more snails, and a shrimp. Not sure exactly what to get but some reccomendations would be nice.

So if its okay to add, a cleaning crew for a 37 gallon with some medium/tall hair algea would consist of?

BurntOutReefer · 04/09/2007, 04:44 PM

Test for Ammon/Nitrite levels...(nitrate is not so important right now)...and then....yes....add your crew. Hold off on your fish for at least two more weeks.....and then do it slowly (and wisely...i.e. avoid damsels)....

BurntOutReefer · 04/09/2007, 04:48 PM

IMO...get:
Scarlet Hermit Crabs: 5
Zebra Turbo Snails or Margarita Snails :10
Dwarf Red Tip Hermit or Dwarf Zebra Hawaiian Hermit :15

That should work great

sufunk · 04/09/2007, 04:50 PM

I agree not to add any fish for a while.

Depending on how much LR you have, i'd say add like 5 scarlet(or whatever you like) hermits and 4-5 more turbos to start and see how they work out. If you have alot of LR, add some more snails and hermits.

Sk8r · 04/09/2007, 04:57 PM

I like the little micro so called blueleg hermits: to me they look black. They never get bigger than a cerith shell, which they favor above all others.

BurntOutReefer · 04/09/2007, 05:08 PM

yes...those are nice...I think I still have some......havent seen them for awhile

MyPartOfTheSEA · 04/09/2007, 05:18 PM

IMO TEST TEST TEST before you do anything!!

The only that thing that happens when you do things fast is a fast disaster waiting to happen!!

Also a CUC is a bit more hardy than a Fish!!!!

pizzy91 · 04/09/2007, 05:40 PM

Thanks for all the info, I'm going to test one more time in the morning and if all is good then go with a small cleaning crew to start off.

What do you guys think about a cleaner shrimp? and later on a lawnmower blenny?

04/09/2007, 04:16 PM	#1
pizzy91 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 7	Cleanup Crew? My 37 gallon tank has been running for about three weeks with half pre cured rock and sand. I just added more to make it double what was cured. The three big water params are all zero, with pH being 8.3. For the last week the hair algea has been blooming pretty wildly, and now covers most of the sandbed and a large portion of the rocks. I've done two water changes with the lastest one being a couple days ago since the tank has been up. I had a group of four palys hitchike on one of the pieces of rock along with two of what I believe to be astrea snails. After the first couple days and the tank was up and running the snails haven't stopped roaming around the tank eating algea since. Also, the palys are opening as far as possible during the 8 hours of light and closing when they are shutoff. Everything seems to be running smoothly. The LFS has said it was okay to add a fish, but I'm not so sure. I am curious if it would be okay to add the cleaning crew? Possibly some more snails, and a shrimp. Not sure exactly what to get but some reccomendations would be nice. So if its okay to add, a cleaning crew for a 37 gallon with some medium/tall hair algea would consist of?

04/09/2007, 04:57 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I like the little micro so called blueleg hermits: to me they look black. They never get bigger than a cerith shell, which they favor above all others. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/09/2007, 05:40 PM	#8
pizzy91 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 7	Q's Thanks for all the info, I'm going to test one more time in the morning and if all is good then go with a small cleaning crew to start off. What do you guys think about a cleaner shrimp? and later on a lawnmower blenny?

04/09/2007, 04:44 PM	#2
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	Test for Ammon/Nitrite levels...(nitrate is not so important right now)...and then....yes....add your crew. Hold off on your fish for at least two more weeks.....and then do it slowly (and wisely...i.e. avoid damsels)....

04/09/2007, 04:48 PM	#3
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	IMO...get: Scarlet Hermit Crabs: 5 Zebra Turbo Snails or Margarita Snails :10 Dwarf Red Tip Hermit or Dwarf Zebra Hawaiian Hermit :15 That should work great

04/09/2007, 04:50 PM	#4
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	I agree not to add any fish for a while. Depending on how much LR you have, i'd say add like 5 scarlet(or whatever you like) hermits and 4-5 more turbos to start and see how they work out. If you have alot of LR, add some more snails and hermits.

04/09/2007, 05:08 PM	#6
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	yes...those are nice...I think I still have some......havent seen them for awhile

04/09/2007, 05:18 PM	#7
MyPartOfTheSEA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 25	IMO TEST TEST TEST before you do anything!! The only that thing that happens when you do things fast is a fast disaster waiting to happen!! Also a CUC is a bit more hardy than a Fish!!!!