Inverts For My 29 Gallon

[TMF89]

I posted this question in the Beginners forum but the traffic in there is so high it gets bumped off the first page almost immediately lol.


http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1879713


I'm just looking at what I need for a cleaner crew. I don't really like snails, honestly they just weird me out when they're latched onto the front glass and I don't really like the look of them. lol. So what's the minimum number of snails I'd need? As far as the other guys go, I'm interested in Peppermint shrimp, but I've heard that they tend to eat corals? I'm not getting corals right away, but I would like some at some point. So what do I need to numbers of snails/crabs/shrimp, and what would you guys suggest species-wise? Thanks guys!

 

[M88A2]

there is no magic number for any given tank. they are all different based on your stock and habits. i suggest you add things nice and slow. how old is your tank and have you finished the cycle yet? do you have a lot of algea growing? i like the banded torchus snails because they look like purple peppermints. the eat a good amount of algea and can right themselves if they fall on their backs. turbos are good if u feed alot and have tons of algea growing but will need to be feed supplemental vegies if you end up with lower nutrients. cerith snails are nice too but can not right themselfs. bumble bee snails i also like for their asthetics as well as their ability to get into small spaces, though some people say they eat benefical worms in the sand bed. Nassarius snails, both the small and the larger, are great for eating left over food and stiring the sand. hermits are ok in my opinion. i do have some but will not likely get anymore. they were cool to watch but the fact that the knock unglued frags down and ate some of my snails has overshadowed their amusement factor. i also have an emerald crab which i love. it looks cool and eat a wide range of things (different types of algea and meaty left overs). some will say that they will eventually attack fish/inverts/corals but i have yet to see this. Infact mine lives under a mushroom with my clown as it's room mate. shrimps are great because they look cool, eat left over foods, and supply my tank with snacks every once in a while. I have 2 skunk clears, 2 blood red fire shrimps, and use to have 3 peppermint shrimps. I think they give the tank some character, especially the skunks. they are simultanious hermaphs. so they throw babies into the water column fairly regularly. my peppermint shrimps clear my aiptasia problem too, but i suspect my neon dottyback snacked on them so you need to do some reseach on fish agression towards different shrimps if u get any. anyway in conclusion this is what i suggest.
-banded torchus
-nassarius snails
-a few bumble bee snails
-emerald
- any of the shrimp in pairs (peppermint if you have aiptasia)
*also i hear that the blood shrimps with fight if you dont introduce at the same time so either get them at the same time or try to get them the same size if not introduce together

theres much more info out there but i dont have any links. perhaps someone can chime in with their 2 cents and a link. gl and remember to add them slowly

 

[TMF89]

So you're thinking just one pair of shrimp? And how many each of the snails?

 

[M88A2]

for any kind of ball park recomendation i would have to ask if your tank has finished cycling? what are your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels? is there a lot of algea growing? aslo, i would help if you could get a pic. and are there any fish in there?

 

[TMF89]

Well actually the tank isn't even set up yet, I don't leave for school for another three weeks, lol. I know I'm asking questions way before I'll even need to think about them, but I figure as long as I have the time I might as well try to figure it out. Especially since I'll have to drive two and a half hours to pick up any livestock, fish or inverts, lol. So it'll be a lot of drive, and obviously if I get there and aren't sure, I can't just come back the next day, and spend another five hours driving, lol.

 

[Reefman29]

Basically your clean up crew will have snails, hermit crabs, and maybe a starfish. As mentioned above the amount will depend on the amount of algae you have. If you don't like snails then get a few and then get lots of hermit crabs( blue leg).

 

[M88A2]

Well actually the tank isn't even set up yet, I don't leave for school for another three weeks, lol. I know I'm asking questions way before I'll even need to think about them, but I figure as long as I have the time I might as well try to figure it out. Especially since I'll have to drive two and a half hours to pick up any livestock, fish or inverts, lol. So it'll be a lot of drive, and obviously if I get there and aren't sure, I can't just come back the next day, and spend another five hours driving, lol.

its never to early to start learning about things in this hobby. in the end it will serve you well to do as much research as you can before making and purchases. i feel you on the drives, i love going to the pet stores but sometimes the drives are killer. if you plan on getting anything specific, you should give them a quick call before making the drive. i cant remember how many times i had my heart set on some specific Cuc members and tehy were out of stock