clean up crew recommendations

what is the right amount of snails for a 50 gallon??

 

clean up

i really enjoy my sand sifting sea star. excellent for airating the sand and eating excess food. as far as crabs i use drawf zebra hermits, they are small and great for dealing with algae (especially red slime algae, gross). then of course turbo snails are like cows super nassirus burrow like crazy, and my tongan fighting conch cruises the sand all day. good luck.

 

I also like cerith and nassarius for snails. I also have a bumble bee which is fun to watch.

 

Personally I like scarlett hermits, i find they are more peaceful then the other crabs.

 

I like trochus snails as they eat film algae and can right themselves usually if they fall. Ceriths, Nasserus and Nerite snails are great too. Stay away from Marguerite snails as the are a cold water species and dont do too well in the warmer waters of a reef tank. Queen and fighting conchs are nice additions too. They are interesting to watch.

 

In addition to your snails and hermits, I would get a starfish or two(brittle and/or serpent). Sea urchins also are very good at cleaning up algae on live rock. Lawnmower and Red Lip blennies are good fish as well as Tangs for keeping tanks free of microalgae also.