Cleaning crew suggestions

[SaltwaterChief]

I have a 55g saltwater fish only tank that currently has a lone Undulated Trigger in it. The sand bed is about 1.5 inches deep and I plan on this being a fish only fairly aggressive tank. Wondering if there is anything out there to keep my sand clean and survive this tank. Old timers, where you at?

[blazej01]

ask them, http://www.reefcleaners.org/

[Reefmedic79]

How aggressive is the trigger now?

In all honesty, IME, the Undelated should probably be the last fish you put in this tank. Once they've had time to set up thier territory they tend to not allow new additions.

[SaltwaterChief]

Yeeeaaaahhhh....... That's what I've discovered..... After the fact. I got a bit ahead of myself on this tank. He's right on the food when I feed him, but he is still very anti social. ( when I get close to the tank, he heads for the rocks) he has never shown any intimidation tactics like an Oscar might. I was hoping I could get some monster snails and maybe a couple of sand stars and call it good. However, I hope to add a slightly larger Niger Trigger in the near future. What do you think? Am I going the wrong direction?

[hollister]

The fish would most likely eat any CUC added. In many aggressive FO tanks you see bare bottom tanks.

[Taipan]

I'd have to agree with hollister. Undulated are traditionally mean. That being said....it doesn't mean YOUR trigger is mean; just that the odds are that it will be. If you have a lawnmower blenny and the trigger isn't bothering or interested in it.....you may want to try a goby (diamond, golden sleeper) to stir up the substrate for you. I find moving the substrate helps with your detritus and some algae. I'm afraid that snails and smaller crabs may just end up being a snack.

There is a risk that the slender bodies may be mistaken as food though. Also; if chased they have a tendency to jump.

You may also have issues with a Niger and the Undulated in the same setup. The Undulated will have already established its dominance and familiarity in its home. Nigers are a little more passive. Your display may also be a little small for both.

I hope this helps. Cheers.

[chrisfont23]

I would suggest nassarius snails. Turbo IMO are too clumsy and large and Astrea constantly need to be uprighted. Not so sure sand stars survive that trigger either

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by chrisfont23

I would suggest nassarius snails. Turbo IMO are too clumsy and large and Astrea constantly need to be uprighted. Not so sure sand stars survive that trigger either

LOVE Nassarius snails. Great for moving substrate around and just overall cool to look at especially when you feed your fish and are great for left over food and flesh. They come out of the substrate like zombies. Turbos knock over everything in its path. Great for algae, but are bulldozers - especially in reefs. Both though...may be too tempting for the Undulated.

btw...it is a cool looking fish.

[Fish_King_25]

I i have nassarius snails in my reef, and they are smallebough where i do not need to be worrying about frags getting knocked over, but do an awesome job. Then ive gor a couple Trochus snails that take care of my rock, and i only usually see them at night

[SaltwaterChief]

Originally Posted by blazej01

ask them, http://www.reefcleaners.org/

THis crew may work:

50 Dwarf Ceriths
19 Nassarius
26 Florida Ceriths
10 Large Nerites, 10 Small to Medium Nerites

Triggers usually can;t kill that many shelled inverts.

This is what the folks at Reef Cleaners told me, but the last line sounds fairly contrary to what most of you said.

[Reefmedic79]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterChief

Triggers usually can;t kill that many shelled inverts.

Not all at once at least.