How do you pick a cleaning crew?

As most of you know I took over a tank from someone and came compleatly setup. I am getting ready to setup my main tank "remodeling now" and I have a small crew now of the following:

3 real small blue leg hermits
2 large blue leg hermits
2 snails that I do not know what kind.

they are doing a good job now but I see that people are buying like 20 or 30 crabs and snails for tanks the same size I have up now.

I have an 80 gal up now but I am moving to a 150 so any suggestions or tell me how you picked out your crew and why.

Thanks Matt

 

Personally I would go on Reefcleaners.Org and send Joseph and John a request for Custom Clean Up Crews and don't forget to ask for your 3reef discount.

 

I agree with that, it will be less of a hassle. I would try to get a variety of species though. I have red and blue legged hermits, astrea, cerith, nassarius snails and a burrowing conch. The variety is nice because there are different needs such as algae, detritus and sand stirring.

 

reefcleaners.org is good but don't forget the urchins and starfish

 

reefcleaners is good but if i were you i would just research different animals and come up with your own mix of janitors. Variety is good. If there is a good lfs near you then you could get a variety of janitors that you think would be good but only get 1 of each. Then put them in your tank and decide which ones you like the best based on their activity. Then based on the online research and observation in your tank you can go and get more.

 

Which ones do you recommend?

 

urchins: any reef safe short spined ones, the big long ones knock crap over
starfish: some serpeant stars and a sand star if you want, but i heard the ss is bad for your sand bed

 

Me 2

They've got a good variety. I think their Chitons are awesome!

 

Yes--this is a great way to go--John is very helpful, I don't think you would go wrong this way. You can always add other stuff as your tank matures.

 

Thanks guys, I am going to go with reefcleaners, I like my lfs but they have a very little selection on cleaning crews.

Matt