Picking a Clean up crew.

[Zer0.]

I like reef cleaners, that said i started out with just 5 nassarius 2 turbo and 3 astrea and a serpent star in my 180 from a LFS. I then later got the 40 gallon package with hermits from reef cleaners, the package recommended for roughly 1/4 my tank size. I also added in 1 fighting conch as well as a pair of skunk cleaners and a pair of blood red fire shrimp.

I feel this is a good mix for a 180. Point being if you do order from reef cleaners, I would only order the package rated for 1/3 or so your actual tank size. Also the regular ceriths dont seem to make the trip well. The dwarf ceriths nassarius and nerites are all doing well though, although they are much smaller than the same snails at the LFS are.

Hope this helps,
-Matt

 

[PD Monkey]

The prices seem very reasonable. For my 110 gallon, the package includes 200 animals ($100). At the LFS, this would cost 3x as much.

Maybe order for a smaller tank (ie 110 gallon tank, order for a 50 gallon)

 

[tg1966]

Don't buy from Reefcleaners. Worst company I have ever dealt with. Nothing but problems and excuses. Stay as far away from them as you can. Glad some of you got lucky on your orders. If you want to gamble go buy a scratch off. Better use of your money.

 

[Pigpen17]

Don't buy from Reefcleaners. Worst company I have ever dealt with. Nothing but problems and excuses. Stay as far away from them as you can. Glad some of you got lucky on your orders. If you want to gamble go buy a scratch off. Better use of your money.

Could not disagree more. I Get everything I order on time and perfectly. I am very happy with all my animals. In fact, they are my go to source for inverts .

 

[JammyBirch]

Man everyone has had such a good experience with RC...wish I would have. My order was half dead already, and had a bunch of hermit crabs in it, the problem was I ordered snails only.

I agree with everyone that starting small is better, the Nass snails are great as well as the dwarf ceriths for diatom and algae...all of my regular ceriths are now dead, killed by the crabs...they are supposed to be great too... Good luck, I would go to the LFS, and build my own...

 

[moneymm]

my clean up crew is rolling alone. I am noting that alot of rocks they are cleaning are turning white after, is this die off? is die off suppose to show after algae is removed from snails?

 

[shesacharmer]

The CUC is not supposed to clean up your glass and do your housework for you! The purpose of a large cleanup crew in a newly cycled tank is to crap in the sand and provide food for the bacteria that is turning your sand and rock LIVE. That's why it's recommended to add a nice large crew and leave them alone in the newly cycled tank for four weeks before adding fish. If people could grasp the function of the CUC then they wouldn't be so confused about what they are doing. Yes, it's good to get a variety that stir sand, clean glass, and rocks, but that is not the initial primary function of a CUC in a new tank.

 

[moneymm]

The CUC is not supposed to clean up your glass and do your housework for you! The purpose of a large cleanup crew in a newly cycled tank is to crap in the sand and provide food for the bacteria that is turning your sand and rock LIVE. That's why it's recommended to add a nice large crew and leave them alone in the newly cycled tank for four weeks before adding fish. If people could grasp the function of the CUC then they wouldn't be so confused about what they are doing. Yes, it's good to get a variety that stir sand, clean glass, and rocks, but that is not the initial primary function of a CUC in a new tank.

is this directed at my previous question? im trying to figure out why my rocks are turning white after the algae is removed

 

[Pigpen17]

Sometimes questions like this get lost in the original topic. Might want to ask your question in a new thread.

 

[Mcgeezer]

Scarlet hermits, one turbo, astreas, trochus, and a bunch of nassarius is good for your tank. Remember....your trying not to have a bunch of algae to feed them. Just having enough is all you should strive for.