Cleanup Crew-what should I invest in.

[squall7733]

My tank has been standing for about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks now. I know it was early but I have 3 Fish in it (its a 150gallon). 2 Blue Damselfish, and 1 Coral Beauty.

I was wondering if I should invest in some crabs / invertebres to help clean up the tank, pick up the food the fish missed.

I'm not experienced in this area at all, all of my tanks have been fish only, so this is new territory for me. Does anyone have any opinions suggestions ?

It would be very much appreciated.

Ps.
All my levels are fine, the tank is stablized to keep corals eventualy, when I get brave enough.

 

[renaldz]

yes i would look at getting some hermit crabs, turbo snails and maybe a cleaner shrimp or 2?
renaldz

 

[amstar15]

hope your tank is done cycling. as far as a clean-up crew. the rule of thumb is usually 1 snail/1 hermit to every gallon of water. i myself am at 1 snail/2 hermits per gallon of water in my tank. what type of rock and substrate do you have in the tank?

 

[renaldz]

wow i never knew that the rule of thumb was 1 of each for every gallon of water! i thought my 8 hermits and 4 turbos were doing a great job but by the sounds of it i need to invest in more!!

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...I think it's a little more conservative....1 snail/1-2 gallons. If you put 150 snails in a 150 gallon tank, if 10% die, 15 dead snails......but, that's for small tanks. With a 150 you can have larger cleaners, but, you must determine which are reefsafe and which are not if you are going to keep corals.

As per crabs, be careful..it depends on what you are going to keep in your tank. Sally Lightfoots will pick at corals. Arrow crabs can trap small fish. Research it out, but, it's good to have SOME sort of cleanup crew in there. SH

 

[squall7733]

lol... i cant image 150 snails in my tank, that would be pretty interesting.

My tank is tall so there isnt a whole lot of surface space for the 150 gallons. I'll ask the local fish store whats good.

The tank seems to be done cycling, im starting to get red algea O-O

 

[ostrow]

If you put 150 cleaners in there many will die and you will be wasting money. Quality over quantity is what you are after. You need a good mix of critters to do different things.

You could get a zillion nassarius snails, watch half die, or you can get a dozen Tongan Nassarius and they will all survive and do the same or better job. You can get a few dozen astreas and see them die either because the water is too warm, or they fall over and you lose patience righting them, or you can get a dozen or two trochus snails. Get a dozen ceriths and a dozen nerites and you are fine.

You might add two or three fighting conchs. And a cleaner shrimp or two.

I'm not big on crabs. Most will eat snails. Scarlet hermits work well and are reef safe.

Alll of these guys are on the pricey side but you need fewer and they will do what you want.

 

[Opcn]

Variety is the key really, some critters will work well and others wont, Look at all your LFS's and find one that has snails Cheeply and buy say 10 of each cleaner type snail they have, and an abalone or two if they have them, then a few scarlet hermits or dwarf zebras, take those home and toss em in, then wait a few weeks and get some more, by the end of a few months you will want 100 snails and 50-100 hermits (hermits are fun to watch you see) and then every year or so you will need to buy say 25 more because snails and hermits dont live forever. Goodluck.