Clean up Crew

M

msujohn

Member
I'm looking to add my clean up crew for my 90 gallon tank (corals will mostly be LPS). Should I get both snails and crabs or just snails? What snails and how many do you recommend? How about shrimp (cleaner, pistol, peppermint, etc), should I add any of these?
 
Last edited:
The crabs will probably end up killing at least some of the snails. You can add empty shells for the crabs and that might cut down on the killings. If I were to do it again I would go with just snails from the start. I like ordering from reefcleaners.org; they have packages for any tank size. Unfortunately they do not have Turbo snails which are good for hair algae. Peppermint shrimp can be good if you have Aiptasi but that's never guaranteed. Liveaquaria.com also has clean up crews and free shipping at $75 for them. AquaPros has some CUC but not as large a selection. Reefwise the same; just more expensive. lol
 
I was in Aquapro's yesterday and they didn't have much of a selection at the time -they told me that they would have more in mid next week. I've looked at reefcleaners.org - and just worry about getting a package of snails that large to start, plus I want to make sure that I know what I am actually putting in the tank.
 
ColaAddict said:
Just go to reefcleaners.com


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

With my tank only 6 weeks old, how big of a crew should I start out with? Should I get more than 30 snails in total? My fear is that i get a big crew and alot of these die off. How will I know when/if they die, won't it create a big nitrate spike for me?
 
They have packs for different size tanks. There will always be some that die. Should be fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Agree that buying a clean up crew is a good idea. Crabs are definitely more likely to kill snails and possibly agitate corals at some point.

Cleaner shrimp and peppermint shrimp are fun to watch, help to cut down on parasites...I would recommend at least one of each.
 
I like hermit crabs -- they are a lot more interesting to watch than your average snail, and if they do off a $1 snail from time to time I don't see it as a big deal. The blue-legged and red-legged ones don't get very big anyways. If you are going with a sandbed then Nassarius snails are really cool, and together with sand-sifting starfish they will help to keep it clean.

Just my thoughts. I like the cleanup crew because they are fun to watch and do work in there. I would say don't add it all at once, but add a few members at a time until you feel like you have enough.
 
I just checked our reefcleaners.com and it looks great. I am just starting a new tank, and am wondering when it is appropriate to start adding a clean up crew. Do you do it once the tank has cycled or do you just wait until you start to see some algae and then add? Any advice?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top