Clean up crew?

gareth.hubbarde · 04/17/2017, 09:23 AM

Hi there, my 94l (24 G) tank is currently cycling with 10kg of live rock. Had quite a bit of die off so I'm taking my time. Just wondering about a clean up crew of snails and hermits? Are they recommended and if so when to add them and how many? I'm planning on having eventually a few fish, in the plan are- pair of clowns, goby and shrimp pair, possibly couple of damsels. Am planning on going reef with soft corals.
Advice is welcome. Many thanks.

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AlSimmons · 04/17/2017, 09:56 AM

For that size tank you might want to start off with 5-7 Trochus snails and maybe one Scarlet hermit crab. Use a Mag-Float or something similar to keep the glass clean and either stir up or vacuum your sand bed on a regular basis too. If everything goes right you won't have to add any more janitors to the tank later on. It's amazing what a little elbow grease can accomplish sometimes.

mcgyvr · 04/17/2017, 10:33 AM

Great CUC "packages" here..
https://www.reefcleaners.org/cleaner...-free-shipping

aaronwitt · 04/17/2017, 10:36 AM

I like trochus snails for algae like AlSimmons said, and I have a 20 gallon tank with about 5 scarlet hermits to clean the rock up a bit. I also have a few nassarius snails to keep the sand bed clean and they do a good job at it. I stay away from turbo snails since they always seem to flip over and die really easily.

gareth.hubbarde · 04/17/2017, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronwitt

I like trochus snails for algae like AlSimmons said, and I have a 20 gallon tank with about 5 scarlet hermits to clean the rock up a bit. I also have a few nassarius snails to keep the sand bed clean and they do a good job at it. I stay away from turbo snails since they always seem to flip over and die really easily.

Thanks for the advice, when would you suggest adding the gang? Once cycling is finished? I have a magnet and it does make a big difference to the glass.

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mcgyvr · 04/17/2017, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gareth.hubbarde

Thanks for the advice, when would you suggest adding the gang? Once cycling is finished? I have a magnet and it does make a big difference to the glass.

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NOTHING...creature/fish/coral wise should go into a tank before its finished cycling..
The process of cycling ensures that any "toxic" ammonia is quickly converted to a less toxic form before it can harm critters.. By adding creatures to a tank before a cycling process is complete is basically making them live in a toxic environment which can/will kill them..

So yes.. the CUC (clean up crew) gets added after cycling..

gareth.hubbarde · 04/17/2017, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

NOTHING...creature/fish/coral wise should go into a tank before its finished cycling..
The process of cycling ensures that any "toxic" ammonia is quickly converted to a less toxic form before it can harm critters.. By adding creatures to a tank before a cycling process is complete is basically making them live in a toxic environment which can/will kill them..

So yes.. the CUC (clean up crew) gets added after cycling..

That's what I thought, thanks for clarification.

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04/17/2017, 09:23 AM	#1
gareth.hubbarde Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 719	Clean up crew? Hi there, my 94l (24 G) tank is currently cycling with 10kg of live rock. Had quite a bit of die off so I'm taking my time. Just wondering about a clean up crew of snails and hermits? Are they recommended and if so when to add them and how many? I'm planning on having eventually a few fish, in the plan are- pair of clowns, goby and shrimp pair, possibly couple of damsels. Am planning on going reef with soft corals. Advice is welcome. Many thanks. Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

04/17/2017, 09:56 AM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	For that size tank you might want to start off with 5-7 Trochus snails and maybe one Scarlet hermit crab. Use a Mag-Float or something similar to keep the glass clean and either stir up or vacuum your sand bed on a regular basis too. If everything goes right you won't have to add any more janitors to the tank later on. It's amazing what a little elbow grease can accomplish sometimes. Last edited by AlSimmons; 04/17/2017 at 10:42 AM.

04/17/2017, 10:33 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Great CUC "packages" here.. https://www.reefcleaners.org/cleaner...-free-shipping __________________ Who me?

04/17/2017, 10:36 AM	#4
aaronwitt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 62	I like trochus snails for algae like AlSimmons said, and I have a 20 gallon tank with about 5 scarlet hermits to clean the rock up a bit. I also have a few nassarius snails to keep the sand bed clean and they do a good job at it. I stay away from turbo snails since they always seem to flip over and die really easily.