Clean Up Crew for my 120

[jsharp13]

Tank specs are in the signature. I will be getting my live rock early next week (assuming my sand that I put in last night settles at some point!), and the next thing I will be ordering is my starting clean-up crew. Would like some advice based on this list that I have put together. The first number is what I plan on ordering first, the number in parentheses is what I plan on having in total when final (once I get some fish in to make more of a mess).

First, how long should I wait? I've read everything from "you can put it in the same time as your live rock" to "wait until after it cycles". Live rock will be from TBS.

So, here is the list. After much research, I decided to avoid hermit crabs. A lot of the packages you can buy come with them, but they just seem like a lot of trouble for not much benefit over snails.

Turbo Astrea snails 5 (10)
Spiny Star Astrea 5 (15)
Peppermint Shrimp 3 (5)
Serpent Star 1 (2)
Brittle Star 1 (2)
Emerald Crab 2 (4)
Porcelain Crab 1 (3)
Nassarius snail 10 (20)
Coral Banded Shrimp 1 (1)
Cerith Snail 5 (5)
Shortspine Sea Urchin 1 (1)
Snapping Shrimp 1 (1)
Chaetomorpha Algae (for the sump) 1/2 lb

So, what do you think?

 

[Dayson]

I would go to reefcleaners.org and get the snail only package for your size tank. I'm personally not a fan of crabs as they usually just end up eating your snails and sometimes even fish. Drop the snails in with the rock. After cycle get a couple of shrimp and stars if you want. Just my opinion.

 

[cloak]

As soon as your tank cycles you can start adding your CUC, but don't overdo it. A lot of people seem to forget that they are the best janitor their tank will ever see, not a bunch of invertebrates.
For that size tank you might want to start off with 7-10 Banded Trochus snails or Turbo snails and maybe 3-5 Scarlet hermit crabs. See how they do for awhile and hopefully if everything goes right you WON'T have to add anymore to your CUC. Use something like a Mag-Float to keep your glass clean, stir up or vacuum your sand bed on a regular basis and you should be set IMO. GL.

 

[shifty51008]

If you order through reefcleaners i would only order a 50 gal package, once you recive it youll know why

 

[jsharp13]

Hmmm...I was looking at LiveAquaria, but Reefcleaners looks promising too. Sounds like people have had good experience with them.

After reading some on the site and seeing that they include extra shells with crabs, maybe I might try some hermit crabs too...

 

[Shawn O]

First, how long should I wait? wait until after it cycles


Turbo Astrea snails 5 (10)
Spiny Star Astrea 5 (15)
Peppermint Shrimp 3 (5) Not really CUC animals, usually used to control Aiptasia
Serpent Star 1 (2) Not generally CUC animals, more for entertainment
Brittle Star 1 (2) Will starve in a new tank if a sand sifter, will likely starve either way
Emerald Crab 2 (4) Not really CUC animals, more for entertainment
Porcelain Crab 1 (3) Not really CUC animals, more for entertainment
Nassarius snail 10 (20)
Coral Banded Shrimp 1 (1) Not really CUC animals, known to be nasty buggers
Cerith Snail 5 (5)
Shortspine Sea Urchin 1 (1)
Snapping Shrimp 1 (1) Not CUC animal
Chaetomorpha Algae (for the sump) 1/2 lb

 

[jsharp13]

So, I got on reef cleaners and did their customized package where you send the details of your tank and they send their suggested crew. Here is what I got back:

100 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
23 Nassarius
38 Florida Ceriths
25 Assorted Hermits
15 Empty Hermit Shells
25 Nerites
3 Chitons and 4 Limpets
3 Emerald Crabs
1 five pack of mangroves
1 chaeto

Seeing how many animals there are, I sent them back a question of whether they thought this should all be right away. We'll see what they say, but they are obviously a business so though I listen to their suggestions, I definitely value the opinions of the people on this forum. What do you think?

 

[Marchillo]

That is a ton of animals. If it were me I'd skip the hermits and the emeralds and look at about a third of what they suggest. To me that is enough to start with. More than enough. I had some snails have babies and those guys are growing now too.

You can see how a smaller amount works and get more if needed.

Get a fighting conch if you have open roaming space and a decent sandbed in the tank. They are great cleaners and fun to watch. They say 1 per 50 gallons. Id get 1 to start.

 

[shifty51008]

They do add alot mainly because they are smaller in size than others

 

[cloak]

So, I got on reef cleaners and did their customized package where you send the details of your tank and they send their suggested crew. Here is what I got back:

100 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
23 Nassarius
38 Florida Ceriths
25 Assorted Hermits
15 Empty Hermit Shells
25 Nerites
3 Chitons and 4 Limpets
3 Emerald Crabs
1 five pack of mangroves
1 chaeto

Seeing how many animals there are, I sent them back a question of whether they thought this should all be right away. We'll see what they say, but they are obviously a business so though I listen to their suggestions, I definitely value the opinions of the people on this forum. What do you think?

Wow! How the hell are you going to keep track of all those critters? I don't know about you, but I want my janitors to check in once in awhile. Be prepared for a lot of casualties IMO. Clean up crew members cleaning up clean up crew members and possibly a spike in your numbers. (not good) Good luck though.