Best start up CUC?

[Killerflash]

So I have been doing a lot of research, reading past threads, and information from a few places about different clean up crew options.

However, it seems like every place has different answers/opinions and it's just bugging me because I want to get a nice list going so I can immediately be ready after my tank is cycled. (It's a 90 gallon FOWLR)

So basically here is what I have came up with so far:

Mexican Turbos
Astreas
Emerald Crab
Scarlet Hermits
Fire Shrimp

Not sure how many turbos or hermits to add, I figured just a few to start out and one of each of the others and add more later if needed??

I'm really new to all of this and I see people that prefer different snails, conchs, cucumbers, stars, different hermits, shrimp, etc...

To my knowledge this should be a safe set up that should be able to get the job done unless I read wrong or didn't get the right information, can anyone confirm this or help me out if it's wrong?

 

[stingeragent]

Nassarius for the sand bed if you have one.

 

[Killerflash]

Yeah I do it's about a 1" sand bed. How does everything else in my list look? Would everything get along okay? I know hermits can kill snails, but I believe scarlets are the least aggressive..

 

[floydie83]

Take a look at reef cleaners. John makes great CUC lists for different size systems and his products are great if you decide to buy from there.

 

[CHizer]

I don't like the mexican turbos. They bulldoze too much for me. I do, however, like brittle stars for cleaning up leftover food. The nassarius are a good idea. Maybe change out the fire shrimp for a few peppermint. Fire shrimp are expensive for me to add to a newly cycled tank. You can add the one later though. They are a cool shrimp.

There's nothing wrong with your plan though, these are just my suggestions. Like you said we all like different stuff.

You could start with 20 or so hermits and that many astrea and be good. 2 emerald crabs would do well.

 

[Sapelo]

+1 reefcleaners does an excellent job with great prices.
If I were starting for the first time, I'd pick snails or crabs but not both. Crabs kill snails for their shells. I don't care how many "extra" shells you give them, they still kill snails whenever the opportunity strikes.
Hermits are banned to my sump now, they do not go in the DT

 

[Rubasu]

After seeing this thread, I went to reef cleaners to look at what they had and ended up ordering the crew (without hermits) for $40. Though, doesn't this seem like a TON of snails? Or is that actually what I should have? (My LFS didn't recommend nearly this many)

42 Dwarf Ceriths, 15 Nassarius, 20 Florida Ceriths, 20 Nerites

That just seems like a lot to me. I only have like 4-5 hermits in there now due to a recent crash of my system. Just got everything cleared up and fish back in last night so I needed a new CUC.

I'm also sort of worried about snails taking over the tank when they multiply... (I happened to see a few small ones on the glass in the mornings, so I know they multiply)

 

[pdiehm]

if you go to reefcleaners, get a crew that's half of the recommended size.

Example, for my 120, I went with a 55 gallon crew. the crew for a 120 is just insanely large.

For your 90, look at a crew for a 40 gallon, or 45 gallon.

 

[RockOn681]

For a fish only with live rock, you may not have lights that are even very prone to algae growth. This is something you will just have to determine with time. If you don't have any corals a Mexican turbo is a beast of a cleaner and can handle an entire pane of glass in an evening.

 

[Rubasu]

Too late for me, but you may be right. They have a $5 off deal going on so it was only about $4 extra that I spent, so maybe I will just take some of the snails to my LFS for a little store credit towards a peppermint shrimp or something.

 

[cloak]

For a tank that size I would probably start off with about 7-10 Banded Trochus snails and about 3-5 Scarlet Hermit crabs. See how they do for awhile and hopefully if everything goes right you won't have to add any more janitors to the tank. Don't forget, you can keep both the glass & the sand clean all by yourself. There's really no need to rely on a small army of invertebrates to keep your tank clean just as long as your willing to do a little work. GL.