Clean Up Team

i got a brand new 125g waiting to be stocked im still in the curing stage for my rock, what would be the best clean up team i buying a skunk and a fire shrimp for sure. What is the deal with hermits i hear good and bad about those guys, and the best type of snail. this is going to be a full blown reef.

 

Sea Cucumber, Queen or Fighting Conch, Serpent Sea Stars, Astrea and Margarita snails and the Black long-Spine Diadema Urchin are my recommendation for clean up crews!

 

I like turbo and trochus snails...just a few of each keep my lr and glass pretty much algae free (with lots of help from asterina's)

Don't go out and spend a bunch on those retail "clean up crews" === usually way more then you really need.

Above snails and a dozen hermits (about any kind) plenty enough to start with.

Add more later if you think needed.

Good luck...

 

Since I had much to say on this topic and am too lazy to retype it all I put together what I believe to be an acceptable clean up crew based on the assumption that the true meaning of the word "coral reef" is being taken into account (no hermits for me thank you). Hope it gives you a few ideas.

The Reef Aquarium Clean up Crew

Chuck

 

Nassarius snails, turbo(but do be careful they will get huge), I would also go with a couple of Cleaner Shrimp(when feeding corals you will need to shu them away, LOL), a couple of stars, and hermits..We have a sally lighfoot crab, there are those that would never keep one, others swear by them. He has never hurt anything in the tank, yet keeps the sandbed quite clean...

 

Once the tank is established, I recommend the Mexican Turbo snail.
I had a P4 issue awhile back so the live rock was covered quickly with algae.

I added three of these Mexican Turbos and in 3 weeks, its almost all gone. Man can they chow.

Careful not to add cleanup and snails if there is nothing for them to eat, A new tank will not. Maybe wait 3 months or so and then slowly start adding.


\Cheers

 

Hiya Chuck,

Another great article that you obivously put allot of work and thought into...much appreciated and thanks!..

First time have seen anyone mention asterina's as an asset.

Have finally decided same over time. Have had them around since tank startup.

Other then having to radically thin population periodically, which is pretty easy to do each water change. (just suck them off glass with siphon) - they do do a great job on chowing down on algae on both glass and rocks...

I remove them primarily for appearance's sake...not because they are doing any harm.

Maybe I'll do test and leave them be for a long period of time, and see if they don't reach some kind of natural population level.

Will do starting today. (at least for how long I can stand it...:-/)

;D


Algae cleanup on glass...




2 week "harvest"

 

Thanks for the input i have a good list to stock my tank with now, chuck you put in the hours on your page i really like it, karma to you