How big a cleanup crew?

I've got a few more weeks before my cycle is done - I've been researching "clean up crews"

55gallon - 35lb LR, 30lb holy limestone, CC substrate (maybe 3mm diameter)


What I'm noticing on these packages is that they contain a large amount of crew members.

For example, one has:
36 snails (4 different types included)
1 Fighting Conch (not sure if I can have this on CC)
12 Hermits (6 red and 6 blue leg)
2 Emerald Crabs

That is a LOT of stuff. This leads me to two questions:

1. Are these kind of numbers normal? I would love to have this many critters, but don't want to overtax or anything. And as a "clean-up crew", are these numbers intended for the initial clean up and then die off/removed or should I more or less try to maintain similar quantities throughout the life of the aquarium?

2. Can these all be acclimated in one batch/day or does the tank need a few weeks between adding for so many critters (a problem if they're bought as a package, obviously).

Thanks!

 

Clean up crew

I believe the large number is to combat the various algae cycles in a new tank. Once the tank matures the clean up crew seems to reach a maintainence level thru die off. My 65 has about adozen each of various snails and hermits and is virtually algae free. Even if I add more they seem to stay about the same numbers. Periodically I will add a half adozen or so of various snails and hermits.
Yes you can acclimate and release all of these at once the bio load these creatures add is really not that significant
Mike

 

Here's what Reef Cleaners (I think that's the name of the site) advised me to get for my 90 gallon tank.

100 Dwarf Ceriths
25 Florida Ceriths
24 Nassarius Snails
15 Limpets
2 Chitons
20 Blue Legs Hermits

As far as sheer numbers, I'm guessing this would be on the high side, but if you think of it from the standpoint of the guy who owns the company, I'm sure it's somehow justifiable.

 

Hi - I got my clean up crew from Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation Home Page, and I beliew it was 125 critters, hermits and snails mixed for a 75 gallon. They call them "reef janitors" they were very helpful on the phone, and the website is pretty informative. Worth checking out even if you don't buy from them. Anyway all the critters survived and it was amazing how fast they helped clean up the tank. Although, they pi**sed off the husband as they kept knocking over the little frags.

 

At what point should they be added? My tank has been cycling for 4 weeks now.

I'm starting to see rust colored (or brown or red depending on your eye, I guess) build up in a couple spots - nothing major. My nitrites have been stable at 0 for a while and my nitrate is about 20 or so.

Everything else seems stable (ph 8.3, Ammonia 0, etc.).

2 clowns, 2 Damsel, 2 snail, 1 blue leg hermit, 1 peppermint shrimp have been in the tank since the very beginning (hardy little fellows) already (+1 snail that died this week).

 

These organisms require algae and detritus to live. If you're going to add the full compliment as prescribed by the various sites that sell them--I'd wait until you have some food for them.

 

I saw all the prescribed amounts based on tank size but I was always worried about straving them after the intial clean up. I instead kept steadily increasing my cleanup crew until I saw the the tank balance out. Plus as many have said each tank is different. I personally don't like Mexican Turbo's. They seem to be lazy grazers that go dormant for extended stretches. If I had loaded up based on a predescribed mix, I might have been stuck with too much of something I don't like in my tank. Just be sure whatever you add is "reef" safe if you have a reef tank.

 

Try filling out the custom cleanup crew option on ReefCleaners.org. There is quite a bit of info you'll need to give, and even a space where you can add additional comments (I wrote as much in there as I thought was necessary and it helped). John will tailor the size, and makeup, of your cleanup crew based on the info you provide. For my 38g I purchased 35 Dwarf Ceriths, 15 Florida Ceriths, 15 Blue-leg Hermits, 5 Limpets, and 12 Nassarius Vibex snails. I received 50 Dwarf Ceriths, 20 Florida Ceriths, 16 Blue-leg Hermits, 5 Limpets, and 14 Nassarius Vibex. Only 1 Limpet survived shipping (I was given my money back on them so no problems here). In the first week after receiving them 2 Hermits and 4 Nassarius Vibex died (probably couldn't handle the stress of shipping). Since then, the only things to die are 4 Florida Ceriths (the Hermits killed them for their shells). Wherever you order from, make sure to order some empty hermit shells (if you order some hermits) so you don't have the hermits hijacking the snails' shells.

 

I hit up the reefcleaners.org site. This is the list he gave me.


60 Dwarf Ceriths - small but effective cleaners
15 Florida Ceriths
12 Nassarius Snails
15 Blue Leg Hermits (Express Mail)
3 Chitons (Express Mail)
15 Limpets (Express Mail)
15 Planaxis Snails - (more would be better - very tiny)
1 Chaeto
1 Five Pack of Mangroves

I have a few questions I'd like to pose to my fellow 3reefers.

1. Should I *not* be going Chaeto/Mangrove route? I reckon these are plants and I don't think I want them. Or do I? If it's for aesthetics at all, I don't. But if they're useful and not a pain . . . I'm open to it.

2. Does this list look good (chaeto/mangrove relegated to question 1 ? Missing anything?

3. I was wanting crabs/shrimps as part of my crew but reefcleaners doesn't offer them. Should I just wait on crabs/shrimps? They told me they're not really considered CuC critters . . . (I have one peppermint shrimp in tank now, FYI)

4. Lastly, I know I already asked, but I plan on putting the entire crew in at once (at least all in the same day (or as they come in the mail)). Any problem with this?

 

You're asking good questions. I'm a couple months behind you. I don't even have a tank yet. Enjoying your questions though. I'd like to get an Arrow crab and a Harlequin shrimp.

I saw an Arrow crab in the LFS and was very interesting to watch him eat. hehe.
arrow crab photos - Google Image Search