clean up crew

jclaus · 02/05/2015, 05:05 PM

How important is a clean up crew? I have a new rebuild of a tank with plenty of live rock, a few hitch-hiker crabs, tiny bristle star fish, and snails. I am experiencing an algae bloom on the glass and on some of the sand that doesn't have as much water flow and am wondering how important a clean up crew will need to be. I am planning on adding the remaining corals and fish tonight or this weekend. attached is the tank as is (210dt w 40g breeder sump). Fish will include a large scat, bicolor angel, flame back angel and 2 pajama cardinals. Corals to be added are primarily SPS type. Current corals appear to be thriving as CA and ALk are decreasing- I am trying to get on top of daily adding this to keep up with the demand. Sorry for the blurring pic - should give you an idea of what my tank is, and more accurately what kind of photographer I am.

JoelA7 · 02/05/2015, 11:47 PM

Get a mess of snails of various types. Here's one supplier there are others.
http://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium.../tank-cleaners

Fishguy603 · 02/06/2015, 01:23 AM

What clean up crew eats hair algae best?

JoelA7 · 02/06/2015, 01:26 AM

Your hair algae is best controlled through lowering NO3 and PO4. There are threads here with various suggested fish and so on.

jrr98002 · 02/06/2015, 01:40 AM

To answer your question, your CUC is important not just for algae control (which I've found minimal TBH) but moreso for detritus/excess food removal between WCs and other maintenance. You'd be surprised how much nitrate detritus and excess food will produce if left untouched. A good bunch of cerith and nassarius snails, just to name a few, will keep your tank water much much nicer between WCs. As mentioned above, algae is easily controlled via nutrient export, but not so much detritus/excess food.

sealtea116 · 02/06/2015, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishguy603

What clean up crew eats hair algae best?

emeral crabs also help with bubble algae

02/05/2015, 11:47 PM	#2
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	Get a mess of snails of various types. Here's one supplier there are others. http://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium.../tank-cleaners __________________ New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12

02/06/2015, 01:26 AM	#4
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	Your hair algae is best controlled through lowering NO3 and PO4. There are threads here with various suggested fish and so on. __________________ New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12

02/06/2015, 01:23 AM	#3
Fishguy603 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 25	What clean up crew eats hair algae best?

02/06/2015, 01:40 AM	#5
jrr98002 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Little Rock Posts: 235	To answer your question, your CUC is important not just for algae control (which I've found minimal TBH) but moreso for detritus/excess food removal between WCs and other maintenance. You'd be surprised how much nitrate detritus and excess food will produce if left untouched. A good bunch of cerith and nassarius snails, just to name a few, will keep your tank water much much nicer between WCs. As mentioned above, algae is easily controlled via nutrient export, but not so much detritus/excess food.