cleanup crew help

[Billybatz9]

Hey guys,*

Need to replenish my cleanup crew in my 29 gallon tank. Any advice?*

I have 2 nassarius, 2 hermits, and like 3 no name snails.*

A lot of my cleanup crew has died. Need to go restock.*

Any advice please

 

[shermanator]

Depending on how you run your tank (NO3/PO4 levels, is algae present), you don't really need a bigger clean up crew at all.

Most likely what happened is that you started with way too many (e.g., reef cleaners suggests an absolutely outrageous number of CUC per gallon) and they died off to the appropriate level. Plus hermits (most) will kill snails.

Of course, if you want to keep a CUC as pets (and feed enough for the CUC) then the more the merrier.

 

[Billybatz9]

Depending on how you run your tank (NO3/PO4 levels, is algae present), you don't really need a bigger clean up crew at all.

Most likely what happened is that you started with way too many (e.g., reef cleaners suggests an absolutely outrageous number of CUC per gallon) and they died off to the appropriate level. Plus hermits (most) will kill snails.

Of course, if you want to keep a CUC as pets (and feed enough for the CUC) then the more the merrier.

Thanks for reply. I haven't bought a cleanup crew member in over 2 years, so they lasted a long time. I do have algae though. diatoms

 

[shermanator]

I do have algae though. diatoms

I would base any CUC additions on your needs. You could add a turbo snail for the diatoms (1 or maybe 2 for a 29 gal is reasonable). But if you have diatoms with an established tank, I would check your top off water for silicates...

 

[Reef Frog]

I like Cerith snails, both the mini variety and the larger one. They spend most of their time grazing on the rocks where the algae grows and not the glass, where I don't need the snails' help. They are kind of shy and I see them moving mostly at night.

They won't eat very long strands and might be vulnerable to some hermit crabs. I've also heard about the very small ones getting into pumps but I haven't experienced this.

If you've got uneaten food falling to the sand bed, one or two sand sifters like nasarius (sp?) are helpful and interesting to watch. Nothing will rot, not even a dead fish, with these guys on duty.

 

[cloak]

depending on how you run your tank (no3/po4 levels, is algae present), you don't really need a bigger clean up crew at all.

Most likely what happened is that you started with way too many (e.g., reef cleaners suggests an absolutely outrageous number of cuc per gallon) and they died off to the appropriate level. Plus hermits (most) will kill snails.

Of course, if you want to keep a cuc as pets (and feed enough for the cuc) then the more the merrier.

+1