clean up crew questions

[papagimp]

My turn to ask noobie questions and thought I'd give you all a chance first

I'm surfin reef cleaners website as I hear good things about them, looking at their pre-bundled quick pick stuff, these packages sure do seem to come with an awful lot of snails... like a LOT of them, more than I ever used in similar sized tanks. What's the general opinion here on these numbers (i'm lookin at the 58g quick pick)

76 ceriths, 23 nassarius, and 28 nerites. I mean their pricing dont' look that shabby but this seems excessive to me quantity wise. These are my 3 top picks I'd have been looking at anyways but I was thinking more like 1/2 this.

thoughts? experience with vendor? are they overestimating their numbers anticipating some deaths? or have I always just gone light on my snails and should consider this a decent snail package?

in addition, i'm also interested in their fuzzy chiton, fighting conch, and I would like a nice serpent star, but not much else clean up crew wise besides the typical micro-life seeded into my lr and sandbed.

I'm still at LEAST a month away from thinking about livestock so just checking my options early.

Thanx

 

[cwinn]

i've ordered from them multiple times. got my rocks from them as well as my clean up crew. i also thought their packages were excessive so if i remember right i ordered items separately instead of as a package. i have a 90g and a 28g and ordered strictly snails from him. are you planning on getting hermits? if u do, u have to pay for the express mail which didn't make it worth it imo. i got my hermits elsewhere

the dwarf ceriths are tiny and he gives u more than u order. he normally gives people a little extra on everything. his communication is great, id shoot him an email if u have any concerns/questions before ordering.

also he has specials going on all the time, i would say at least once a week for say 10-15% off that day. just a heads up

 

[lauremf2002]

Honestly, I wouldnt put that many in my tank. They do tend to "disappear" over time though so maybe its just overstocking in anticipation of that. I would worry about them getting the tank too clean with that many and starving. Ive never bought more than 1 snail per gallon and 1 hermit per gallon in the past and some even consider that overkill. Order a nano pack or order separately if you dont feel comfortable with that many.

 

[papagimp]

Alrighty then it's not just me lol. I have absolutely ZERO intentions of going with hermits for part of the CUC. I'll get another scarlet, but only a single specimen because I like them in particular. I was only looking cause I was curious but seeing that their packages were the snails I was going to buy anyways and the pricing wasn't to shabby, figured I'd ask a little further. I've been reading good things about them but i wouldn't ask them this information honestly. Be like going to the LfS and asking if I really need 'supplement X' for my tank, of course they wanna sell it to you. (in defense of lfs, their is one here in particular that i do trust and hopefully she knows who she is) I think I'll probably go with them due to the feedback I've heard from many sources, but definatly go with a smaller pack and add more later if needed. Thanks for the responses as always, you guys rock!

 

[Lytehouse]

I believe them to be a good vendor and was considering an order next month.

If you are concerned about the numbers, I'd call. They are really nice.

Each of the critters in their packs are there for a certian purpose in the tank.
I also like the have a page with common snails, etc sold commonly and why they may not be a good idea.

If none of the local vendors/stores are doing a group buy-- that's where I would go.

 

[dcordray]

ReefCleaners has a link on their page for "Custom Clean Up Crews", all you have to do is fill out the form and they will get back to you with a package for your particular tank. They are great to work with!

 

[cjilge]

I have ordered repetitvely and in my opinion the numbers are fine. ceriths are smaller snails but do a good job, nerites also do a good job and I have both in my tank from them. I also have nassarius and astrea's. I love their chitons as well, I have 2 of them! His packs are not overkill by no means, but if you call John or email he is great about getting back with you and he will put custom packs together. As stated above he also will send more than what you order to compensate for some death due to transit, however I have only had one thing ever die in transit and that was a sea hare, which are bad shippers anyway. Good luck! You picked one of the best vendors for sure!

 

[papagimp]

Thanks for all the advice everyone

I'm pretty familiar with the snails he's selling and have always made my own custom crews for my tanks, the numbers was the only thing that was throwing me off. I just couldn't see adding that many snails to my little ol' 58g.

I really like those fuzzy chitons cjilge, Do you have to supplement their feeding at all or are they film grazers? I didn't notice any trochus snails or the spiney star astrea's, I really liked those guys too. Not to mention various types of macro algea he's selling that are on my "wish list". I'm glad to hear so much good feedback on this place.

Since I keep reading over and over about them sending "extra's" lol i'll be sure to let everyone know when it's time to get my CUC as I forsee getting more than needed. Someone round here is bound to need a few snails

 

[Lytehouse]

Thanks for all the advice everyone

I'm pretty familiar with the snails he's selling and have always made my own custom crews for my tanks, the numbers was the only thing that was throwing me off. I just couldn't see adding that many snails to my little ol' 58g.

I really like those fuzzy chitons cjilge, Do you have to supplement their feeding at all or are they film grazers? I didn't notice any trochus snails or the spiney star astrea's, I really liked those guys too. Not to mention various types of macro algea he's selling that are on my "wish list". I'm glad to hear so much good feedback on this place.

Since I keep reading over and over about them sending "extra's" lol i'll be sure to let everyone know when it's time to get my CUC as I forsee getting more than needed. Someone round here is bound to need a few snails

always

 

[cjilge]

no suplement on the chitons, they graze. Trust me the numbers are fine on your 58gl! I had that tank last year before I upgraded and I think I had 50 astreas, 100 ceriths, 25 nassarius, chiton, nerites, zig zags, and probably others, with out ever starving a snail. But I do like diversity in my tanks, figure some will eat different things. I keep 4-5 different kinds of hermits to. his macro is always good but sometimes a little small depending on time of year for that macro. Make sure you get the 1 penny macro! always fun to see what they will throw in.

Chris