Waiting for new tank to cycle...

IAfishguy · 03/03/2010, 03:45 PM

Ok so my new 75 gallon tank is cycling. I am now in the process of choosing a clean-up crew. What is anybodys suggestion? I have had various hermits and snails in the past but was wondering what anybody else thinks will make up a solid clean-up crew. I do know that I want an emerald crab and probably cleaner shrimp.

wooden_reefer · 03/03/2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAfishguy

Ok so my new 75 gallon tank is cycling. I am now in the process of choosing a clean-up crew. What is anybodys suggestion? I have had various hermits and snails in the past but was wondering what anybody else thinks will make up a solid clean-up crew. I do know that I want an emerald crab and probably cleaner shrimp.

You should think about CUC, but please don't add them before the medium in the tank has finished the cycle.

You absolutely do not need to use the ammonia excreted by any livestock, even cuc, to start and finish a cycle.

Chiefsurfer · 03/03/2010, 05:38 PM

I have a mix of snails and hermits. All my hermits(except for a few that hiked in on the rock) are dwarf blue-leggers. Have never seen one go after a snail. As for snails, I have cerith, nessarious, and something else, not sure what they are. I have always heard that the more spcies you have the better. I also have a tigertail cucumber, a peppermint shrimp(who is always sticking his legs into tiny holes in the rock for some sort of food), and a serpant star. I have also heard people love fighting conch's for sand-sifters in larger tanks.

dwd5813 · 03/03/2010, 06:12 PM

i had nassarius, cerith, and astrea snails in my tank before and they did a good job. i also had dwarf blue legged hermits and they were good workers too, but they definitely took out their fair share of cerith snails. i think for my next crew i'm going to switch the astreas for trochus and the blue legs for scarlets cause the trochus can flip themselves over and the scarlets are said to be less prone to snail predation.

wooden_reefer · 03/03/2010, 06:19 PM

Plus

A tank is just 5 sheets. It has little surface area for bacteria to grow on.

Better to think of cycling the medium inside a tank, or medium intended for a tank in a separate container.

03/03/2010, 03:45 PM	#1
IAfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 17	Waiting for new tank to cycle... Ok so my new 75 gallon tank is cycling. I am now in the process of choosing a clean-up crew. What is anybodys suggestion? I have had various hermits and snails in the past but was wondering what anybody else thinks will make up a solid clean-up crew. I do know that I want an emerald crab and probably cleaner shrimp.

03/03/2010, 05:38 PM	#3
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	I have a mix of snails and hermits. All my hermits(except for a few that hiked in on the rock) are dwarf blue-leggers. Have never seen one go after a snail. As for snails, I have cerith, nessarious, and something else, not sure what they are. I have always heard that the more spcies you have the better. I also have a tigertail cucumber, a peppermint shrimp(who is always sticking his legs into tiny holes in the rock for some sort of food), and a serpant star. I have also heard people love fighting conch's for sand-sifters in larger tanks. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

03/03/2010, 06:12 PM	#4
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	i had nassarius, cerith, and astrea snails in my tank before and they did a good job. i also had dwarf blue legged hermits and they were good workers too, but they definitely took out their fair share of cerith snails. i think for my next crew i'm going to switch the astreas for trochus and the blue legs for scarlets cause the trochus can flip themselves over and the scarlets are said to be less prone to snail predation. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

03/03/2010, 06:19 PM	#5
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	Plus A tank is just 5 sheets. It has little surface area for bacteria to grow on. Better to think of cycling the medium inside a tank, or medium intended for a tank in a separate container.