I need a few pointers............

reefman13

reefman13

New member
Well all ya guys/galls here on RC seem to know what you are all talking about. And I am in need of a little advice.

>1. I have never come across a snail/crab to gallon ratio for a reef aquarium.
>2. What are the types of snails people would recommend for clean up crew?
>3. What are the types of hermits people would recommend for clean up crew?
>4. How difficult/what special needs does a Sebae anemone need (I have a 250W halide and 65W PC for moonlight)?
>5. What kind of cleaner shrimp would you guys recommend?

I may have other questions that I will post later. But for now these are critical questions that I would like to have answered.

Thanks in advance.
 
Here's what I have:

1.) 2 large turbo snails/10 nassarius snails/15+ hermit crabs/2 emerald crabs
2.) I will only keep turbo snails. No one around me sells anything else except the astrea snails, which die quicker than anything I have ever seen. I have heard good things though about margarita, nerite & cerith snails, but never tried them. You can get them from Drs F&S
3.) I keep blue leg hermits, and I think I have an odd ball zebra hermit. I tried to keep the scarlets, but they died too. I think the blue legs ate them.
4.) Can't help with the sebae, never had one, but I know they need a lot of light. You should be ok with 250w MH. How are your water params, stable?
5.) Do you want a shrimp that cleans other fish, or cleans the tank? I have a blood/fire shrimp, and he doesnt touch the fish, but is pretty darn good with helping to keep the tank clean. I've heard good things about scarlet cleaner shrimp and how they like to clean fish.
 
Hermit crabs and snails are a great mix to start but eventually the hermits become pests--alot of times killing the snails for their shells.
There are alot of tips on clean up crews on my web site under tangsters tips:
www.yags.net
 
I would like shrimp that does both........

Could I do a Scarlet and a Pistol in the same tank?

Anyone on the anemone and snail issue?
 
Sebaes are very sentistive. They require a very mature and stable tank. Lighting you have however will be sufficient for one. You can keep a scarlet and pistol together. The pistol generally stays in its burrow and the scarlet will hang out around the rocks.
 
My scarlet cleaner tends to the YWG, hes the only fish that will let the shrimp clean him. Cleans out the inside of his mouth too. Interesting to watch. Other that that I have 6 nassarius, lost count of the cerith due to the cerith porn palace I apperently created, time to trade some in, 1 Turbo, 1 margerita, 1 Electric blue hermit, and a red leg hermit, I think thats it.
 
I meant a Blood/fire shrimp and a scarlet. Would they be okay?

jake- hilarious with the snail porn!!!:D

ez- its a good thing it will all be going in a 50.

Announcement
I added an O.Clown fish and a yellow damsel today to my tank and they look as happy as can be;) Hope all goes well.

Oh, I will post pics if anyone wants tomorrow.
 
A snail/crab to gallon ratio for a reef aquarium are not as important as fish to gallon ratio for a reef aquarium. Invertebrates seem to be a little more efficient with digestion and waste they produce. So i would not be concerned with them that way.
I would just add them gradually , if there are too many snails they can starve (then possibly screwing up your trates)
Too many hermits and they might start nibbling on corals If there is not enogh food to sustain them.

In my 14g I have 3 electric blue hermits , 4 astrea snails one
emerald crab and a peppermint shrimp. works well for me!

As far as cleaner shrimp go. The scarlets are the most reef safe.
But the pepermints are nice to keep aptasia away.
Stay away from the coral banded, they are cool but they are mean buggers!

As for anemones . they will move where they want taking out corals on the way, and with the price of corals today , do you really want to risk it?
 
I originaly got started in the hobby by, well you know, Finding Nemo. So when I saw these things at a store and their anemones I figured I had to have one. So for me it is something where I can't have one or the other, I have to have both:D

Another quick Q:
I bought the one clown today, if I add another later with my anemones (probably about 6 months) will they mate?

I don't plan on keeping the damsel he is one of the fish to make sure my cycling is done.
 
Last edited:
O. Clowns are one of the easiest to pair up. Just make sure when add the second one that it is smaller than the first one. The blood and cleaner shrimps will be fine together.
 
clowns will host corals also. I have a tomato clown that hosts a rock covered with hair algae.
Just because you have an anemone in the tank it does not guarantee the fish will host it.

I don't want to seem negative ,just wanted to keep you informed.

BTW "Finding Nemo" is one of my favorite movies also.
 
Yeah, I have heard about the clowns not always taking to anemones right away and have heard stories about them hosting frogies and hammers.

I know that, and I am open to ALL advice. I think I am going to wait a bit and do as much research as I can (at least 6 months) before I get my Sebae.


Another Q:
I decided that at night I am going to turn off all water flow except the return (no corals yet) and the two fish seemed to have slowed down and gone into hiding. Both were like in slow motion fin movement and everything. Is this just them going to bed? (First saltwater fish I have EVER kept)
 
I would just keep the flow constant, they can handle it.
Yes , the fish will bed down for the night and find little areas sheltered from flow and predators.
 
why turn off the flow??

my two clowns seem to fool around in the bottom front corner of my tank right in the sand all night long...as soon as the day light hits the tank they go out and about again...and frolic about the tank...my green chromis hides behind the rocks until the tank lights come on..but none of them really seem to do any swimming when the tank lights are off...i have to rewire up some new moon lights for them to see i guess..

as for snails and such i cant help you..like mentioned above my hermits keep killing the astreas for the shells...the turbos quickly run out of food and the nassaruis seem to be short lived...

my emerald crab is very lazy and just sits under the rocks cleaning himself...and my xenia died last week and wiped out my all my shrimp...
 
Okay, that's a lot of anxiety of my chest. because I know from FW when that staarts to happen it means they are on their way out:(

Anyway always like good news:) Tomorrow I will turn on my MJ1200 and will leave it on. And as you described, they both went into hiding behind the LR. So hopefully all will be well in the new day;)

Once again (I am going to get old writing this and people are going to get old reading it) Another Q:
I was wondering if there is a highly recommended (burring) Goby out there that also contributes to the maintenance/cleaning of the tank.


Oh, I think earlier in the thread I stated why I turned the flow down...anyway, it was I THOUGHT it would reduce some of the stress they may be having as newly introduced fish, and I have no corals yet. But it will be on permanently as of tomorrow morning.
 
>1. I dont really think there is a ratio, depends on how much live rock and how big you tank is, glass, etc

>2. Easiest snails would be turbos and they do a fine job with algae you could also use cone snails, margaritas, etc. If you have sand get some nassarius snails to clean the sand bed,

>3. What are the types of hermits people would recommend for clean up crew? Honestly hermits become pest after you have more coral set up but what I do buy are the red legged scarlets since they are active at night and dont bother corals as much

>4. How difficult/what special needs does a Sebae anemone need (I have a 250W halide and 65W PC for moonlight)? Your lighting is more than enough. If your sebae wanted more light it will move up top to where it feels comfortable

>5. What kind of cleaner shrimp would you guys recommend? I like skunk cleaners the best, peppermints only if you have apatisia problems, blood ones are great also
 
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