Clean Up Crew for new 75 gal.

[eaglesatc]

I have been curing my live rock for 2 and a half weeks now and the tank has finally cycled. I am thinking about waiting another week or two before adding anything else. The live rock is Fiji and I have 88 pounds. It is starting to get what looks like brown algae growing on it. I am thinking about adding a clean up crew next. Is this ok and what would you add to a new 75 gal tank. I also have one of the 24 inch hang on the back refugiums in the tank.

 

[bjonesjr1]

You don't want to add to many inverts to fast, take it slow... For a tank that size maybe 2-3 turbo snails, 5-10 hermit blue legged hermit crabs, 5-10 serith snails, you can add more or less depending on what you want for your tank in the end and how bad the algae is on the live rock but... My 55 gallon tank all I have is 2 turbo snails, 5 blue legged hermit crabs, 3 sand sifting snails, 5 serith snails, 3 peppermint shrimp, thats all I bought so far, but I proably will add some hermit crabs and serith snails in the future once their is a need for them...

 

[bertoni]

I avoid hermit crabs and true crabs since they are predatory, but they are fun to watch. If you can buy locally, you could add snails on an as-needed basis. I'd start with 3-4 Trochus (if available) and 3-4 cerith, and see how it goes.

 

[eaglesatc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6998550#post6998550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
I avoid hermit crabs and true crabs since they are predator, but they are fun to watch. If you can buy locally, you could add snails on an as-needed basis. I'd start with 3-4 Trochus (if available) and 3-4 cerith, and see how it goes.

What do you mean by "they are predator"? Will they prey on fish, reefs etc?

 

[bertoni]

Larger crabs often can prey on fish. All of them will eat small animals when available, like amphipods, copepods, and sandbed creatures. My biggest annoyance was the consumption of snails.

 

[eaglesatc]

Does the disadvantages of having hermit crabs out way the advantange of crabs. And if they attack snails why then do most of the cleaner packages that you seen on the web have them together?

 

[bertoni]

I haven't missed hvaing hermit crabs. The cleaner packages are meant to make money.