cerinth snails

i set up my 55gal with a shallow sand bed about 2 weeks ago and am hoping to add my clean up crew early just to prevent any problems before they arise....i would like to add 5 cerinth snails and a brittle starfish but am unsure if they will be able to survive on whats there already or if i should wait and how long? the starfish is for my 4yr old who i can't say "no" and they seem to be the only starfish tthat won't cause loads of trouble long term, just wondering what to feed them....i appreciate all the help i trust you guys more than the lfs, i've been teaching the friend that got me started on saltwater things after only having my tank for 2 weeks and he's had his for over a year....thanks a million

 

i wouldnt add any crew while you still have ammonia and nitrite or very high nitrates. especially animals for a child that you would have to explain death too.

go with a serpent star not a brittle, green brittles will go fishing

 

I added my CUC at 10 days, and they're all doing quite well. I have lots of live rock for them to graze on. If you're really concerned about their diet consider dropping 2-3 flakes of krill in there every 3-4 days, they'll find it.

Consider 3-4 Nassarius snails as well, they're a lot of fun to watch when they come out. They move lightning fast (for a snail) and look like some kind of organic submarine when they surface...they kind of crash out of the sand.

A turbo or 2 will clean off the diatoms and brown algeas as well. I have 2 Zebras. I never see them any more, they're nocturnal, but man... I can see the tracks they make at night on the base rock and sand.