After cycle ?

[brad15]

Good morning. Once my new 65 gallon finishes its cycle, I've read that you should then introduce your clean up crew. If no algae or Diatoms are present, what are they going to clean up or eat? With just snails and hermit crabs, is that enough of a bio-load? I'm using the shrimp method and they are slowly decomposing, so figured on just leaving them to supply a food source for bacteria.

 

[mr_X]

You don't need a cleanup crew, and whatever you add must have some food, so, if you don't have a lot of stuff for them to eat, you will have to add food for them. They will starve to death otherwise.

 

[brad15]

So do you suggest a fish first? Then as Diatoms are present, a cleanup crew?

 

[mr_X]

Whichever you like. Diatoms will leave as fast as they came as soon as their food source is gone.

 

[begginersluck]

I'd start with a couple of nice small fish. One of the most popular to start with is a clown.

 

[brad15]

Ok sounds good. Thanks