Help sizing cleanup crew

[Guy W]

I've got a 29g tank and I want to get the cleanup crew squared away. Can anyone suggest a good baseline for type and quantity of inverts for a tank this size assuming a bioload of 3 to 4 small fish (currently only have a pair of clowns but will add 1 or 2 more eventually).

Thanks I appreciate it.

 

[cloak]

For that size tank, maybe three Banded Trochus snails and one Scarlet Hermit crab would be a good start. Hopefully if everything goes right you won't have to add anymore janitors to the tank. Don't forget, your the best CUC member that tank will ever see. A little elbow grease can go a long way sometimes. GL.

Btw, you might want to check out www.reefcleaners.com, but be aware that some of the CUC packages they offer can be an absolute overkill. Less is more sometimes.

 

[Guy W]

That's a lot fewer then I was thinking. Looking at live aquaria the other day they were recommending a combo of crabs and snails numbering around 40, which seemed like a lot.

I do want a few shrimp but otherwise open to suggestions on inverts.

 

[Buzz1329]

IME, crabs eat snails. So if you follow the recommendations of CUC vendors, you will need to restock snails (i.e., crab food) every few months.

I'd stock snails only.

Just my two cents,

Mike

 

[Dkuhlmann]

The only hermit that won't attack your snails just for fun IMO and IME is a scarlet legged.