Clean up crew suggestions please

Schmoner · 04/18/2006, 01:16 PM

Hi Folks - me again

Please flood me with your suggestions for my clean up crew, i'm getting ready to add in a few days.

Readings for past few days

Ammonia <0.25
TrItes 0
Trates 5-7

55g FOWLR, I'm hearing so many stories about crabs killing snails, snails not being so good, having too many/not enough.

Please please, give me all your thoughts

thanks in advance

McBeck · 04/18/2006, 01:54 PM

Don't go by the "number per gallon" recommendations. It really depends on your tank volume.

I would start with 2 or 3 hermits. I prefer the bright red ones w/ gold eye stalks.

I don't like astrea snails b/c they can't turn over if they fall.

I do like stomatellas b/c they reproduce easily and are nocturnal. You don't end up seeing a bunch of snail booties during the day.

Cerith snails are also a good all-around snail. Start with 4-6 and give it time.

HTH

Schmoner · 04/18/2006, 01:57 PM

thanks McBeck,

Good info to go on, what's your thought on Nassarius ?

McBeck · 04/18/2006, 02:33 PM

I LOVE them!! But, they are not a detritus eater. I know, plenty of websites say they are, but they are carrion eaters and do need to be fed. They'll eat whatever food makes its way to the sandbed, but they won't take care of detritus.

I only have a dozen nassrius in my big ole tub. I wouldn't have more than 6 in a 55, and you'll need to make sure enough food hits the sand to feed them. If you don't have a lot of open sand, you might want to try 4 of them.

mike89t · 04/18/2006, 02:36 PM

I put a thread together on cleaner crews that may help:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=748495

bertoni · 04/18/2006, 02:42 PM

That's a pretty nice thread. I would only add a few comments:

1) I don't know of any evidence that nitrate levels will harm snails. I've kept them at 50-80 ppm for years in one tank with no signs of problems.

2) A good guess for a fighting conch's space needs is 8-10 sq ft of open sand when adult size.

3) Stomatella, Collonista, and columbellids like the "Strombus Grazers" from ipsf.com are very good herbivores, too, IMO.

4) Bristleworms, mini-brittle-stars, amphipods, and copepods also do a lot of cleanup, along with many other less visible animals.

mike89t · 04/18/2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
That's a pretty nice thread. I would only add a few comments:

1) I don't know of any evidence that nitrate levels will harm snails. I've kept them at 50-80 ppm for years in one tank with no signs of problems.

2) A good guess for a fighting conch's space needs is 8-10 sq ft of open sand when adult size.

3) Stomatella, Collonista, and columbellids like the "Strombus Grazers" from ipsf.com are very good herbivores, too, IMO.

4) Bristleworms, mini-brittle-stars, amphipods, and copepods also do a lot of cleanup, along with many other less visible animals.

All very good points. I was primarily concentrating on snails and have added several packs from IPSF to seed my sand. Indeed they are a valuable part of my overall cleaner crew.

The Fighting Conch only grow to be about 3" when mature. I was under the impression that about 2 square feet of open sand would be enough to sustain them.

As for snails and Nitrates I was going off what I read from Dr Ron's Marine Invert book. I have never tried to keep them in a high Nitrate environment so you may be correct in that they can tolerate higher levels of Nitrate.

bertoni · 04/18/2006, 02:56 PM

I'll take a look at his book. I didn't think there was any data on that point, but I might be wrong.

I thought I got the sq ft number from Dr Shimek, but I can do some research on that.

Nice thread.

mike89t · 04/18/2006, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
I'll take a look at his book. I didn't think there was any data on that point, but I might be wrong.

I thought I got the sq ft number from Dr Shimek, but I can do some research on that.

Nice thread.

Actually to be more correct Dr Ron says you want about 1-2 square feet of open sand per inch of shell lenght. So a full grown fighting conch would require 3-6 square feet of open sand. Needless to say most tanks can only really support about one of these guys if that.

Pillz · 04/18/2006, 03:28 PM

I would say if your going to do crabs do the red scarlet crabs bc there strictly veg. While the blue legs are omnivores.

I love snails.. They clean alll day long.

Schmoner · 04/18/2006, 03:35 PM

Ooooh, look what i've started!

A Heated Debate - sorry folks

thanks for all the advice so far though, much appreciated.

As a starter I've ordered
1 x Peppermint shrimp
2 x Nassarius Snails
2 x Scarlet Hermit Crabs

sound ok for a starter?

04/18/2006, 01:16 PM	#1
Schmoner Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheshire - United Kingdom Posts: 57	Clean up crew suggestions please Hi Folks - me again Please flood me with your suggestions for my clean up crew, i'm getting ready to add in a few days. Readings for past few days Ammonia <0.25 TrItes 0 Trates 5-7 55g FOWLR, I'm hearing so many stories about crabs killing snails, snails not being so good, having too many/not enough. Please please, give me all your thoughts thanks in advance __________________ Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay then it's not the end. Current Tank Info: 55g - setup April '06

04/18/2006, 01:54 PM	#2
McBeck Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wentzville, MO Posts: 1,374	Don't go by the "number per gallon" recommendations. It really depends on your tank volume. I would start with 2 or 3 hermits. I prefer the bright red ones w/ gold eye stalks. I don't like astrea snails b/c they can't turn over if they fall. I do like stomatellas b/c they reproduce easily and are nocturnal. You don't end up seeing a bunch of snail booties during the day. Cerith snails are also a good all-around snail. Start with 4-6 and give it time. HTH __________________ Got Salt? Saltwater Enthusiasts Association of St. Louis (SEASL) "Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Now reefing in various Rubbermaid sizes

04/18/2006, 01:57 PM	#3
Schmoner Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheshire - United Kingdom Posts: 57	thanks McBeck, Good info to go on, what's your thought on Nassarius ? __________________ Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay then it's not the end. Current Tank Info: 55g - setup April '06

04/18/2006, 02:33 PM	#4
McBeck Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wentzville, MO Posts: 1,374	I LOVE them!! But, they are not a detritus eater. I know, plenty of websites say they are, but they are carrion eaters and do need to be fed. They'll eat whatever food makes its way to the sandbed, but they won't take care of detritus. I only have a dozen nassrius in my big ole tub. I wouldn't have more than 6 in a 55, and you'll need to make sure enough food hits the sand to feed them. If you don't have a lot of open sand, you might want to try 4 of them. __________________ Got Salt? Saltwater Enthusiasts Association of St. Louis (SEASL) "Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds." - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Now reefing in various Rubbermaid sizes

04/18/2006, 02:36 PM	#5
mike89t Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chandler, Az Posts: 1,889	I put a thread together on cleaner crews that may help: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=748495 __________________ Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks. Current Tank Info: Sold my 150G reef tank. :^(

04/18/2006, 02:42 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That's a pretty nice thread. I would only add a few comments: 1) I don't know of any evidence that nitrate levels will harm snails. I've kept them at 50-80 ppm for years in one tank with no signs of problems. 2) A good guess for a fighting conch's space needs is 8-10 sq ft of open sand when adult size. 3) Stomatella, Collonista, and columbellids like the "Strombus Grazers" from ipsf.com are very good herbivores, too, IMO. 4) Bristleworms, mini-brittle-stars, amphipods, and copepods also do a lot of cleanup, along with many other less visible animals. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/18/2006, 02:56 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'll take a look at his book. I didn't think there was any data on that point, but I might be wrong. I thought I got the sq ft number from Dr Shimek, but I can do some research on that. Nice thread. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/18/2006, 03:28 PM	#10
Pillz Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 83	I would say if your going to do crabs do the red scarlet crabs bc there strictly veg. While the blue legs are omnivores. I love snails.. They clean alll day long.

04/18/2006, 03:35 PM	#11
Schmoner Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheshire - United Kingdom Posts: 57	Ooooh, look what i've started! A Heated Debate - sorry folks thanks for all the advice so far though, much appreciated. As a starter I've ordered 1 x Peppermint shrimp 2 x Nassarius Snails 2 x Scarlet Hermit Crabs sound ok for a starter? __________________ Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay then it's not the end. Current Tank Info: 55g - setup April '06