Cleaner crew- Is this to much?

20 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
12 Nassarius
12 Florida Ceriths
4 Blue Legs
2 Large Nerite


I have a 20 gallon with 2 turbos and one huge zebra hermit already in my tank. 30 pounds of live sand, 25 pounds of live rock.

I plan on having 4 fish in the tank once I am finished.

I was recommended this package by a trusted website....actually refered to him from this site (John Mahoney).

I was just curious for others input. I already placed an order. It seemed like a lot to me but I also have never owned a marine tank. I trust his opinion as he has many years of expereince.

I told him every detail f my tank (amount of rock/sand, fish, other inverts already in my tank) and that is what he came up with as my cleaner crew.

 

In my 55, John recommended:

15 Blue Leg Hermit Crab
60 Dwarf Cerith
18 Dwarf Planaxis
8 Empty Hermit Shells
15 Florida Cerith
15 Limpets
2 Nassarius Vibex (all they had)
3 Fuzzy Chiton

I actually got quite a bit more (he always gives extras).

My Limpets died quickly (more ornamental really) so I got some mixed sizes of Nerites.

The Chitons died after ~4 months.

Otherwise, I think I have more snails now than when I started!;D joking, but I didn't see any die-off. My tank stays very clean. Several folks insisted it was too big a crew... (several folks have algae )

I have lost a couple of Nerites to them falling out of the tank and me not finding them in time.

I documented their effectiveness here:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/clean-up-crew-53007.html

My tank thread picks up where this one leaves off:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/peredhil-55-gallon-thread-56156.html

hope it helps



Also, in a 20 gallon tank, I'd think you're looking at a max of 4-5 inches of grown up fish (in general), if you're going reef. One or two clowns and maybe a goby or blenny for example.

 

Thanks for your response. If your tank is staying algae free then that is good news. I just worry that I will not have enough food for all of these critters to feed on and they will die off. I guess we will see what happens.

Yes, thats may plan actualy. 2 clowns and a goby of some sort. Possibly a chromis....I love that color.

I plan on upgrading to a 55 gallon in about a year after I get some hands on experience with this 20 gallon.

 

I would 2 small maybe a 3rd fish in a 20. I would also half of those nesarious snails.

 

That cleanup crew thread was one of the best I've ever read.

 

I have a 120 gallon.

300 large florida cerith
200 Astrea
50 Nerite
60 tiny hermit crabs
50 Nassarius
2 cleaner shrimp
2 fire shrimp


600 snails wohoo keep my tank spotless though

Its like one big snail orgy lol

 

If you are worried about not having enough algae for them to eat don't, you can always feed them algae sheets if you need to. When I feed my tanks several of my turbos come running, or sliming, I don't think they run, and eat the algae sheets pretty quickly. Sometimes with a cleanup crew more is better, makes maintaining the reef much easier. You can also feed them microalgea from your fuge if you have one..

Good Luck

Cat4wisson

 

My tank's CUC was outfitted by JM. I have in my 90g:

130 Dwarf Ceriths
30 Florida Ceriths
30 Large Nerites
25 Nassarius Vibex
4 Turbos
1 Sandsifting Starfish
1 Large (and hungry) hermit crab.