What cleanup crew works for you?

widmer · 02/03/2008, 12:54 AM

I'm setting up a new reef here, and don't really know what the best collection is. I figured I'd buy them all together online because that would be a lot cheaper than going LFS style. The website I tentatively have pegged is premiumaquatics.com . If anyone knows of a better cheap place to order from I'm all ears.

Anyways, here's my plan, for the new 30 gallon reef:

20 Nassarius snails
10 Trochus
1 arrow crab (if it'l leave the coral alone)
1 brittle star

For as fun as the hermit crabs are to watch, I worry about keeping them around the corals. So what works/doesnt work for you guys?

cloak · 02/03/2008, 03:23 AM

Gotta figure out what they might be cleaning first. No use putting nassarius snails in a barebottom tank.

Chef Reef · 02/03/2008, 04:23 AM

heh. mines prolly not the smartest but i have this in my 30 gal -

5 Blue legs
3 Nassarius snails
2 Emarald crabs
1 SSS
2 Cucumbers
1 Blue tux urchin

haven't had any problems running out of pods and i dont have a fuge. NONE of the crabs have went near my corals so far, (only had the emaralds about a month).

problem i see with the one you listed is if you plan on keeping fish id ditch the brittle or be prepared to toss him in a sump later. they Usually will grab sleeping fish in the night as a snack if they can. more likely to do so when they get bigger. as much as i love arrow crabs iv heard nothing but bad things about them, its a shame becuase i would like to get one. i would worry to much (if at all) about the hermit crabs, from what i'v seen/heard they dont mess with corals IMO.

atrain5851 · 02/03/2008, 04:59 AM

In a 30 gallon i would maybe go with 5 nass. snails, get 5 margarita snails, 5 astreas, and 5 turbos, i would also get prolly about 30 hermits instead of the 30 nass. snails you listed. Depending how much you have to clean this is just what i would do. haha. I have only heard taht arrow crabs become a problem when they get bigger and dont know much about the brittle stars.

atrain5851 · 02/03/2008, 05:06 AM

if you want an unusual specimen to clean algae the sea hare does a great job but i hear that it can release some toxins?? maybe someone can chime in on that so i dont give you wrong info on the toxin part i am sure on the great job though haha

yrema · 02/03/2008, 05:47 AM

I have 5 ring cowries and around 6 hitchhiker collumbellids in my tank, and a sea cucumber in my tank, nothing more.

GTriever · 02/03/2008, 06:32 AM

IMO, what you have planned is way too many for a new 30g tank. Start with just a few and add more if the algae/detritus situation requires it. For a 30g I'd probably start with nothing more than 3-4 Trochus and 6 Nassarius snails (assuming at least a 3-4" sandbed for the Nassarius) and go from there. In too many cases, folks overstock and then they experience die-off due to a lack of food.

tami1024 · 02/03/2008, 06:37 AM

I was considering getting a sea hare but I also heard the same thing about it releasing toxins, so I decided not to. I did get a lettuce nudi but I thing it was sucked into my filtering system. Hav'nt seen it in a few days. I do have a brittle but he/she has never eaten any of my fish for a midnight snack. Gonna have to watch that.

tami1024 · 02/03/2008, 06:41 AM

I bought some nerite snails for my 75 and my 29 and just to give you a heads up those snails will get out of your tank if it is'nt completely covered. I have found some on the floor.

widmer · 02/03/2008, 10:47 AM

hey thanks for all the replies.

Man I really want to have an arrow crab though, they're just so rediculous... I wish I could put him on a leash away from the corals, kind of like puting a dog on a leash out in the yard. I'm really going to want something that makes a good sandsifter, though I of course won't have a whole lot of square footage of sand bed, particularly because I like to go heavy on the LR, almost fruit stand style. So I don't feel like I'd have enough area to keep a cucumber alive. Anyone know of a good little star or other sand sifter?

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 10:54 AM

In my 24gal Aquapod I have the following.......

10 Mexican Red Leg Hermits
5 Scarlet Red Leg Hermits
2 Emerald Crabs
10 Turbos
2 Mexican Turbos
1 Coral Banded Shrimp

They keep it looking like a hospital ward!

handtlkr · 02/03/2008, 06:57 PM

WOW!! I feel naked! I only have in my 28gal:
4 turbos
3 small (SMALL) red-legged hermits
2 small emerald crabs
1 sand sifting goby

SemperReef · 02/03/2008, 07:03 PM

I know seems like a lot, but sticking to the old one cleaner per gal, I am alitter over. They do keep the place spotless though.

About once every 2 weeks I over feed just a bit to ensure they have food if they clean the tank too much. Don't want them to starve.

handtlkr · 02/03/2008, 07:05 PM

How do you like other species...bumble bees ect?? I'm trying to keep in mind bang for the tank visually since the first deadly sin of this small tank is overstocking....and I haven't gotten to corals yet!

Mavrk · 02/03/2008, 07:24 PM

Don't forget about my favorite snail... Cerith snails will eat algae, detritus, and even diatoms. They eat it on the glass, on the rock, on the sand, and even in the sand (but they will not eat it with green eggs and ham

).

handtlkr · 02/03/2008, 08:07 PM

Does that snail have a tan smooth shell with brown squareish dots on it??? Is it normal to have it burrowed in the sand? Is it eathing there? All I see since I've put it in is this little straw-like thing poking up like a periscope.

Pea-brain · 02/03/2008, 08:09 PM

Scarlet reef hermits are a favorite of mine. They take out any algae, rarely kill snails and are very thorough. Only problems are: they are big, and they eat coralline. And they are also slow as heck. I wouldn't gamble with an arrow crab. margarita snails mostly come from cold water and will die within 3-4 months.

Dan

jerryvan · 02/03/2008, 08:36 PM

Hello--I had a Sea Hare and after I got it(didn't do the research) it was all over my Hare algea and one day my daughter was over and she said a blue ink like substance was coming out of the thing. We watched it for a while and it quit and it was dead. I did not loose any fish. They seemed to be OK. I read somewhere that they are not as deadly as stated. I was nervous for a while.---Jerry

02/03/2008, 12:54 AM	#1
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	What cleanup crew works for you? I'm setting up a new reef here, and don't really know what the best collection is. I figured I'd buy them all together online because that would be a lot cheaper than going LFS style. The website I tentatively have pegged is premiumaquatics.com . If anyone knows of a better cheap place to order from I'm all ears. Anyways, here's my plan, for the new 30 gallon reef: 20 Nassarius snails 10 Trochus 1 arrow crab (if it'l leave the coral alone) 1 brittle star For as fun as the hermit crabs are to watch, I worry about keeping them around the corals. So what works/doesnt work for you guys?

02/03/2008, 03:23 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Gotta figure out what they might be cleaning first. No use putting nassarius snails in a barebottom tank. Last edited by cloak; 02/03/2008 at 03:29 AM.

02/03/2008, 05:47 AM	#6
yrema Lounger Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 331	I have 5 ring cowries and around 6 hitchhiker collumbellids in my tank, and a sea cucumber in my tank, nothing more. __________________ Warmest Regards, Marty, Amery and Seth :) Current Tank Info: 100gal Low-tech, Low-cost Mixed Reef

02/03/2008, 06:37 AM	#8
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	I was considering getting a sea hare but I also heard the same thing about it releasing toxins, so I decided not to. I did get a lettuce nudi but I thing it was sucked into my filtering system. Hav'nt seen it in a few days. I do have a brittle but he/she has never eaten any of my fish for a midnight snack. Gonna have to watch that. __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

02/03/2008, 06:41 AM	#9
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	I bought some nerite snails for my 75 and my 29 and just to give you a heads up those snails will get out of your tank if it is'nt completely covered. I have found some on the floor. __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

02/03/2008, 04:23 AM	#3
Chef Reef Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hallandale, FL Posts: 2,189	heh. mines prolly not the smartest but i have this in my 30 gal - 5 Blue legs 3 Nassarius snails 2 Emarald crabs 1 SSS 2 Cucumbers 1 Blue tux urchin haven't had any problems running out of pods and i dont have a fuge. NONE of the crabs have went near my corals so far, (only had the emaralds about a month). problem i see with the one you listed is if you plan on keeping fish id ditch the brittle or be prepared to toss him in a sump later. they Usually will grab sleeping fish in the night as a snack if they can. more likely to do so when they get bigger. as much as i love arrow crabs iv heard nothing but bad things about them, its a shame becuase i would like to get one. i would worry to much (if at all) about the hermit crabs, from what i'v seen/heard they dont mess with corals IMO.

02/03/2008, 04:59 AM	#4
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	In a 30 gallon i would maybe go with 5 nass. snails, get 5 margarita snails, 5 astreas, and 5 turbos, i would also get prolly about 30 hermits instead of the 30 nass. snails you listed. Depending how much you have to clean this is just what i would do. haha. I have only heard taht arrow crabs become a problem when they get bigger and dont know much about the brittle stars.

02/03/2008, 05:06 AM	#5
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	if you want an unusual specimen to clean algae the sea hare does a great job but i hear that it can release some toxins?? maybe someone can chime in on that so i dont give you wrong info on the toxin part i am sure on the great job though haha

02/03/2008, 06:32 AM	#7
GTriever Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Paducah, KY Posts: 193	IMO, what you have planned is way too many for a new 30g tank. Start with just a few and add more if the algae/detritus situation requires it. For a 30g I'd probably start with nothing more than 3-4 Trochus and 6 Nassarius snails (assuming at least a 3-4" sandbed for the Nassarius) and go from there. In too many cases, folks overstock and then they experience die-off due to a lack of food.

02/03/2008, 10:47 AM	#10
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	hey thanks for all the replies. Man I really want to have an arrow crab though, they're just so rediculous... I wish I could put him on a leash away from the corals, kind of like puting a dog on a leash out in the yard. I'm really going to want something that makes a good sandsifter, though I of course won't have a whole lot of square footage of sand bed, particularly because I like to go heavy on the LR, almost fruit stand style. So I don't feel like I'd have enough area to keep a cucumber alive. Anyone know of a good little star or other sand sifter?

02/03/2008, 10:54 AM	#11
SemperReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 53	In my 24gal Aquapod I have the following....... 10 Mexican Red Leg Hermits 5 Scarlet Red Leg Hermits 2 Emerald Crabs 10 Turbos 2 Mexican Turbos 1 Coral Banded Shrimp They keep it looking like a hospital ward!

02/03/2008, 06:57 PM	#12
handtlkr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 132	WOW!! I feel naked! I only have in my 28gal: 4 turbos 3 small (SMALL) red-legged hermits 2 small emerald crabs 1 sand sifting goby

02/03/2008, 07:03 PM	#13
SemperReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 53	I know seems like a lot, but sticking to the old one cleaner per gal, I am alitter over. They do keep the place spotless though. About once every 2 weeks I over feed just a bit to ensure they have food if they clean the tank too much. Don't want them to starve.

02/03/2008, 07:05 PM	#14
handtlkr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 132	How do you like other species...bumble bees ect?? I'm trying to keep in mind bang for the tank visually since the first deadly sin of this small tank is overstocking....and I haven't gotten to corals yet!

02/03/2008, 07:24 PM	#15
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Don't forget about my favorite snail... Cerith snails will eat algae, detritus, and even diatoms. They eat it on the glass, on the rock, on the sand, and even in the sand (but they will not eat it with green eggs and ham ).

02/03/2008, 08:07 PM	#16
handtlkr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 132	Does that snail have a tan smooth shell with brown squareish dots on it??? Is it normal to have it burrowed in the sand? Is it eathing there? All I see since I've put it in is this little straw-like thing poking up like a periscope.

02/03/2008, 08:09 PM	#17
Pea-brain Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vassalboro, ME Posts: 1,661	Scarlet reef hermits are a favorite of mine. They take out any algae, rarely kill snails and are very thorough. Only problems are: they are big, and they eat coralline. And they are also slow as heck. I wouldn't gamble with an arrow crab. margarita snails mostly come from cold water and will die within 3-4 months. Dan

02/03/2008, 08:36 PM	#18
jerryvan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bothwell, Ont. Posts: 79	Hello--I had a Sea Hare and after I got it(didn't do the research) it was all over my Hare algea and one day my daughter was over and she said a blue ink like substance was coming out of the thing. We watched it for a while and it quit and it was dead. I did not loose any fish. They seemed to be OK. I read somewhere that they are not as deadly as stated. I was nervous for a while.---Jerry