What do I put in my fuge?

[EmergencyRn]

My first reef tank has been up and running for 1 month with live rock and cleaning crew. I haven't had anything in my fuge. I have been told to put Cheato in there.

Is this the best for the fuge?
What does Cheato do for the reef setup?
If I use Cheato does this mean that I dont have
worry about my cleaning crew starving?
(emerald crab, 5 hermit, 12 turbo, and 2 peppermint shrimp)

Thanks,

John

 

[AIMFish]

People prefer chaeto because it doesn't go sexual (although I saw an argument calling it asexual ) meaning that if conditions get bad it won't explode and then start reappearing everywhere in your tank a couple of weeks later. It is used for nutrient export, basically nitrate reduction. I would always wonder about starving the cleaning crew unless you let algae get to the levels I do. I allow more green than most and like to make sure my snails don't starve tho I would think that w/ strong enough light you will always have some green algae for them to eat on.