SPS tanks and clean up crews

watson_barrett · 12/10/2008, 08:10 PM

I have to admit it's been a good year since i've added any additional snails and crabs. Just wondering if they are needed for a SPS tank. Personally i hate them b/c they end up knocking stuff over but if i absolutely need them i will get some more.

I probably have maybe 20-30 of the tiny tiny tiny snails that burrow, 5 larger ones and probably 7-10 crabs....

johnny313 · 12/10/2008, 09:52 PM

I have a 65g and I just bought 100 cerith snails and 35 Astreas. what size tank do you have? DSB or BB?

watson_barrett · 12/10/2008, 10:35 PM

do you have a reef tank?

92GBF, Mostly SPS but mixed reef right now, apx 4-5" bed, 1 burrowing fish

TomRep · 12/10/2008, 11:05 PM

I have a 50 breeder that is pretty much a mixed reef, mostly zoas at the moment but will be mostly sps. I have about 200 mini ceriths, 15 Florida Cerith's (large), 25 or so Nassarius snails, 10 LARGE Nerites, probably 30 or so Planaxis snails, and a couple scarlet hermits. Sand bed is a little over and inch deep under normal conditions, but due to flow varies from 0-3" at spots. Only fish in the tank right now are a single Chromis and two juvi Onyx clowns (<1")

GatorWPB · 12/11/2008, 09:39 AM

snails can be annoying, knocking frags off my rack, but I feel they are a neccessity. Im not a fan of hermits because they kill the snails, who do the real work on any algae. So the hermits get tossed to the fuge.
I have about 30 each of nassarius, cerith, and astrea, about 15 nerite and 2 mexican turbos. These numbers were about 1 year ago, so there are less now, but I would still approximate about 75 snails total in my sps dominated 65g.

kaserpick · 12/11/2008, 10:09 AM

I'm with Gator; I would stick to snails instead of hermits. Hermits seem like they could be a potential risk, and they like to eat the poor snails. Also, like Gator said, snails do most of the work. If you're looking for something to eat left overs, don't go for hermits. Nassarius snails love meaty left overs.

I have a 65g AGA as well, and I keep about 36 astreas, 24 nerites, 4 margaritas and 1 mexican turbo (he managed to sneak in on the LR). The tank is SPS dominated.

Paul_PSU · 12/11/2008, 10:18 AM

If you get the red leg cortez hermits they work really well. They do not seem to bother the snails like the other hermits. They will crawl
on the frags and eat the algae around it on the plugs. They also cleaned up algae on my rocks that my snails never touched. IMO they are way more efficient for the rocks.

http://www.garf.org/algae2/janitor.html

SunnyX · 12/11/2008, 10:26 AM

I believe they are not needed for a successful reef.

I have two snails and two serpent stars in my tank. My tank is too clean anyway to support a population of cleaners.

Paul_PSU · 12/11/2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SunnyX
I believe they are not needed for a successful reef.

I have two snails and two serpent stars in my tank. My tank is too clean anyway to support a population of cleaners.

Oh sure, but for those of us that don't have a picture perfect TOTM we can use all the help we can get...

I agree Sunny, I use less and less cuc as my tank gets better. I only have about a dozen snails, 2 serpent stars, 15 of the hermits I mentioned above. That is at least half of what I had 9 months ago.

Paul

Todd March · 12/11/2008, 10:56 AM

I'm with Sonny, I have 3 Nassarius, 5 Ceriths, and couple of Turbos and Trochus. in my 85g they all have to work to find algae food sources. Plus lately at night I see that my hitch hiker Stomatella snail population has exploded, which is making things that much harder for everyone trying to find algae (including my tang and blenny). If your tank is clean and relatively algae free, you need very little algae eating cleaners. Detritus cleaners like Nassarius can be more useful if you have fish and feed fairly well...

Toddrtrex · 12/11/2008, 11:27 AM

Mine ( 58 gallon ) doesn't have many at all either. I think I have 6 nass, a couple of Trochus and one or two Turbos. Used to have more, but they died -- assuming from lack of food -- since I haven't noticed any real change in the amount of algae I haven't bothered to buy any more.

Logzor · 12/11/2008, 11:35 AM

about 1000 strombus grazers - takes some time for them to breed to that many. I started with 85 in my new tank, a month later there must be 100's more and I see 15 new eggs sacs a day that each will hatch around 5 snails.

They may be tiny but they never stop and they and eat a lot for how small they are. Not to mention once you have a nice stock you never have to replace them as new generations will replace the oldies and the sickies.

SunnyX · 12/11/2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul_PSU
Oh sure, but for those of us that don't have a picture perfect TOTM we can use all the help we can get... I agree Sunny, I use less and less cuc as my tank gets better. I only have about a dozen snails, 2 serpent stars, 15 of the hermits I mentioned above. That is at least half of what I had 9 months ago.

Paul

12/10/2008, 08:10 PM	#1
watson_barrett Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Waldorf, MD Posts: 283	SPS tanks and clean up crews I have to admit it's been a good year since i've added any additional snails and crabs. Just wondering if they are needed for a SPS tank. Personally i hate them b/c they end up knocking stuff over but if i absolutely need them i will get some more. I probably have maybe 20-30 of the tiny tiny tiny snails that burrow, 5 larger ones and probably 7-10 crabs....

12/10/2008, 11:05 PM	#4
TomRep Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fleetwood, PA 19522 Posts: 1,219	I have a 50 breeder that is pretty much a mixed reef, mostly zoas at the moment but will be mostly sps. I have about 200 mini ceriths, 15 Florida Cerith's (large), 25 or so Nassarius snails, 10 LARGE Nerites, probably 30 or so Planaxis snails, and a couple scarlet hermits. Sand bed is a little over and inch deep under normal conditions, but due to flow varies from 0-3" at spots. Only fish in the tank right now are a single Chromis and two juvi Onyx clowns (<1") __________________ "I got me a big wave, ride me a big wave, got me a big..WAVE!" Ed Vedder It's a reef thing, you wouldn't understand! Current Tank Info: 50 breeder w/o sump mixed reef, sps dominant. NEP T5 fixture with no stock bulbs, Bermuda Rogue HOB skimmer, canister filter, DIY hang on fuge, 2x modded MJ400's, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Randy's 2 part dosed with and Aquamedic twin

12/11/2008, 10:09 AM	#6
kaserpick Keeping it Simple Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 2,637	I'm with Gator; I would stick to snails instead of hermits. Hermits seem like they could be a potential risk, and they like to eat the poor snails. Also, like Gator said, snails do most of the work. If you're looking for something to eat left overs, don't go for hermits. Nassarius snails love meaty left overs. I have a 65g AGA as well, and I keep about 36 astreas, 24 nerites, 4 margaritas and 1 mexican turbo (he managed to sneak in on the LR). The tank is SPS dominated. __________________ Kasey Current Tank Info: None

12/11/2008, 10:56 AM	#10
Todd March Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 3,684	I'm with Sonny, I have 3 Nassarius, 5 Ceriths, and couple of Turbos and Trochus. in my 85g they all have to work to find algae food sources. Plus lately at night I see that my hitch hiker Stomatella snail population has exploded, which is making things that much harder for everyone trying to find algae (including my tang and blenny). If your tank is clean and relatively algae free, you need very little algae eating cleaners. Detritus cleaners like Nassarius can be more useful if you have fish and feed fairly well... __________________ My hobby? I glue animals to rocks... Current Tank Info: Rimless Starfire 85g SPS (36" x 26" x 21"): ATI Powermodule 10 x 39W, ATB Small Cone, RK2, Vortech MP40W, 6025 Stream modded, MAG 9.5 return, Balling

12/11/2008, 11:27 AM	#11
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Mine ( 58 gallon ) doesn't have many at all either. I think I have 6 nass, a couple of Trochus and one or two Turbos. Used to have more, but they died -- assuming from lack of food -- since I haven't noticed any real change in the amount of algae I haven't bothered to buy any more. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/10/2008, 09:52 PM	#2
johnny313 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 649	I have a 65g and I just bought 100 cerith snails and 35 Astreas. what size tank do you have? DSB or BB?

12/10/2008, 10:35 PM	#3
watson_barrett Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Waldorf, MD Posts: 283	do you have a reef tank? 92GBF, Mostly SPS but mixed reef right now, apx 4-5" bed, 1 burrowing fish

12/11/2008, 09:39 AM	#5
GatorWPB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Palm Beach Posts: 567	snails can be annoying, knocking frags off my rack, but I feel they are a neccessity. Im not a fan of hermits because they kill the snails, who do the real work on any algae. So the hermits get tossed to the fuge. I have about 30 each of nassarius, cerith, and astrea, about 15 nerite and 2 mexican turbos. These numbers were about 1 year ago, so there are less now, but I would still approximate about 75 snails total in my sps dominated 65g.

12/11/2008, 10:18 AM	#7
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,512	If you get the red leg cortez hermits they work really well. They do not seem to bother the snails like the other hermits. They will crawl on the frags and eat the algae around it on the plugs. They also cleaned up algae on my rocks that my snails never touched. IMO they are way more efficient for the rocks. http://www.garf.org/algae2/janitor.html

12/11/2008, 10:26 AM	#8
SunnyX Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,991	I believe they are not needed for a successful reef. I have two snails and two serpent stars in my tank. My tank is too clean anyway to support a population of cleaners.

12/11/2008, 11:35 AM	#12
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	about 1000 strombus grazers - takes some time for them to breed to that many. I started with 85 in my new tank, a month later there must be 100's more and I see 15 new eggs sacs a day that each will hatch around 5 snails. They may be tiny but they never stop and they and eat a lot for how small they are. Not to mention once you have a nice stock you never have to replace them as new generations will replace the oldies and the sickies.