clean up crew numbers

[jacob.morgan78]

How many crabs and snails should I get? I have a 125 gallon tank and these will be the first additions.

Also, I've heard that there are some types to stays away from. I don't want the snails that knock stuff over and I don't want the hermits that kill snails.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[zigzag1]

I avoid hermits all together. I see no need for them and havent used them for many years with good results, and my snail populations are much more stable long-term for this reason, IME.

And Banded Trochus snails are the best I have found. Well worth the extra money! They typically go for around $2-3 per. I keep a 50/50 mix of trochus and astrea snails. I have about 25 of each in my 125 gallon tank. If you are a sand bed guy (I'm not) there are other types that also may be beneficial for your sand cleanup. I'll leave that to others to describe as I have no experience there. GL!!

[papagimp]

I always recommend a nice variety of cerith snails, nassarius, nerites, astrea's, trying some margarita's out in my tank currently and seem to like em so far. I don't promote crabs at all as I personally hate most (I do like the scarlets) but any can be opportunistic and snatch a shell off one of your snails. I recently made a purchase through reefcleaners.org, one of their quick pick packs and was pretty impressed with what they sent. I also like serpant stars, chitons, fighting conches, stuff like that.

I'd avoid things like sand sifting starfish, horseshoe crabs, might even avoid turbo snails since their large size can knock stuff over time to time. any of the snails I listed above are decent cleaners imo. But their are plenty to stay away from, lets see what everyone else chimes in with...

I also love the trochus that zigzag mentioned. similar to the astrea's, they just look cooler.

[NorthReefer]

I love my turbos. They are overtime workers and do the job well. I glue my stuff done so they dont fall though.

[Reefing Newbie]

papagimp mentioned fighting conchs for cleanup crew, which is good. They are only good if and only if they are true fighting conchs! There are several look alikes sold under the name fighting conch, the only one I know of as of now is the crown conch. I only know of that one as I have three and found out after buying 10 new snails(5 nassarius and 5 cerinths) that they are bad news. Hermits and these "fighting conchs" decimated the original CUC as there are tons of cerinth and astrea snails in my sand bed(got a complete setup). But at least three of the five cerinths were eaten by the crown conchs. This experience lead me to not trust conchs as many do not trust hermits. My advice would be go to reefcleaners.com and fill out the custom form. They then email you what would work out well for your setup.

[briankmarsh1980]

I like to buy from these guys www.ccritters.com

here is there recommendations
I think they are crazy though on the amount on hermits but they will work with you in customizing the order, Dana is very knowledgeable




Clean up crew for 20-55 Gallon reef tank

Products belonging to this package Quantity
Scarlet Hermit Crab: 6
Blueleg Hermit Crab: 25
Nasssarius Snail: 10
Brittle Starfish: 2
cerith snail: 10
Emerald Crab: 2
Turbo/Astrea Snail: 15
Clean up crew for 20-55 Gallon reef tank
Item #Cuc 20-55
Price $52.00




Clean up crew for 30-90 Gallon reef tank.

Products belonging to this package Quantity
Scarlet Hermit Crab: 8
Blueleg Hermit Crab: 50
Nasssarius Snail: 10
Emerald Crab: 3
porcline crab: 2
cerith snails: 10
Turbo/Astrea Snail: 20
Clean up crew for 30-90 Gallon reef tank.
Item #CuC 30-90
Price $62.00




Clean up crew for 55-100 Gallon reef tank

Products belonging to this package Quantity
Scarlet Hermit Crab: 10
Blueleg Hermit Crab: 75
Turbo/Astrea Snail: 25
porcline crab: 2
Emerald Crab: 2
sea cucumber: 2
Brittle star 2
Clean up crew for 55-100 Gallon reef tank
Item #CUC 55-100
Price $75.00

[doctorgori]

I've always suspected the recommended numbers were unnatural...

here is a topic I started similar to this; same thread/different day

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2053456

[jacob.morgan78]

Thanks!! Seems like there are quite a few opinions on this! Keep them coming! :-)

I think I'll take an average from everybody and have my start point.

[papagimp]

Another thing to consider as well, see if you have some fellow reefers in your area (check the local clubs section here on RC http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=80 and maybe someone will have some sand or rubble to help seed your tank with some of the micro life. I just aquired a few asterina starfish, some pods, ect. ect. still need to get my hands on some stometella's though.

[jacob.morgan78]

thanks!

[Lynnmw1208]

check out reefcleaners.org and they can customize a CUC for you. I didn't follow any of the premade ones and I have around:

10 red leg hermits
6 astrea snails
5 nassarius snails
70-80 mini cerith snails (only ordered 20...)
11 florida ceriths
3 mexican turbos
10 nerite snails
10 dwarf planaxis
around 80 or more hitchhiker collonista snails that started as 2

I find that I needed snails that preferred the sand as that is where it needed cleaned. I don't have very much algae in my tank. This is in my 125 gallon and now I feel like it's enough. you can also order empty shells for the hermits. Just be prepared because small means really really small and none of my hermits could fit in it so my jawfish got to play with those for his burrow.

[jacob.morgan78]

Lynn!! thanks!

I know a lot of people complain about hermits but I think I'm gonna go ahead and get them. Do you like the red legged ones the best? I'm thinking about trochus because people are recommended those too.

I follow your build thread and can't wait to see your next update by the way! :-) We have very similar tanks and stands so I like to keep an eye on what you're up to!

[demonnite57]

I don't know the numbers I have, but I've been using in both my 75g and my 44g tanks:
Hermit Crabs (Scarlet and blue legged) (their numbers are dwindling, they keep going underneath anemones and for some reason getting pinned)
Fighting Conch's (the true ones)
Nassarius Snails (or as my fiance calls them "Zombie Snails")
Cerith Snails
Tiger Trocha Snails
Cleaner Shrimp (Skunk Back)

So far seems to work great for me =)

[Chris27]

Aside from both hermits and snails you want to look for other creatures as well, given that everything we put in our tank in terms of a CUC has a purpose. Cucumbers, crabs, urchins and shrimp can each provide a valuable service to the tank in addition to the token snails and hermits.....plus some just look plain cool. Coral and fish are cool and beautiful, but something like a large cucumber, active shrimp, or large urchin can really add a wow factor to the tank.

[jacob.morgan78]

can I have a cucumber with a sand bed of only half to one inch?

[Lynnmw1208]

Originally Posted by jacob.morgan78

Lynn!! thanks!

I know a lot of people complain about hermits but I think I'm gonna go ahead and get them. Do you like the red legged ones the best? I'm thinking about trochus because people are recommended those too.

I follow your build thread and can't wait to see your next update by the way! :-) We have very similar tanks and stands so I like to keep an eye on what you're up to!

Yeah the red leg hermits seem to be the most docile out of all of them imo. They kind of stick to themselves and crawl around the rocks looking for food. I haven't had a problem with them at all and they stay pretty small so I like them. I did have a zebra hermit which I would say is a no-no since he got big fast and became a bully. In case you are wondering, here is a pic of the crabs I have.


Thanks for looking at my build! I won't have an update for awhile as I am going back to school and money is tight I really want to add biopellets though! I will post pics once and while of some coral growth and if I can get something cheap to add once in awhile

[Chris27]

Originally Posted by jacob.morgan78

can I have a cucumber with a sand bed of only half to one inch?

In a 6' tank, yep, you could pull it off. Don't throw it in with the first wave of inverts, rather waiting until a few months down the road. By then, enough junk will build up in the sandbed and under the rocks to feed it.

[DonRW2007]

I have a 120 with quite a bit of live rock, and average 1-2 inch sand bed. I've probably got more snails and hermits than most, though I lost count long ago. I am a big fan of Nassarius as I think they are the ultimate for keeping the sand bed clean, and they're rather inconspicuous as they are burrowed most of the time. There are probably 500 or more in my tank. I have 5 or 6 turbos; my only complaint is that they tend to knock things over a good bit. Hermits - red and blue leg, a couple dozen each in a variety of sizes. They definitely eat a snail now and then, but I have a surplus of shells (and snails) so the net effect isn't noticeable. Also have a couple of serpent stars, and quite a few mini stars in the rock work. Bought some fuzzy chitons a while back but they're difficult to spot nowadays. My favorite scavenger is a hawk wing conch that stays buried days at a time.

Anyways, I favor a large and diverse tank population, and things have gone well for 3+ years with this "clean up" crew.

[DonRW2007]

Oops - also have 5 or 6 emerald crabs and a yellow sea cucumber...

[jacob.morgan78]

was searching for suggested cleanup crews for my new tank and the first thing that popped up was what I started over five years ago!

very cool! @lynnmw1208, you still around?

[niladride]

You guys are so lucky, I was not able to add more than 5 nassarius snails in my 120 gallon tank in last 5 months as the price is incredibly high, one snail cost 500 INR - over 7$.

Also, 1 hermit crab cost is 1000 INR - over 14$.

How will we have proper clean up crew here if this is the situation?

[jacob.morgan78]

I'm sorry man... online vendors able to ship to you at all???

[Bent]

I like the tiger tail cukes. I dunno how good of a job they do cleaning the sand bed, but they sure are cool.

[niladride]

Originally Posted by jacob.morgan78

I'm sorry man... online vendors able to ship to you at all???

Not in India, no way.