Cleaning Crew Question

[StickyTuba]

Hello All. I am brand new, having received the 12 gallon Nano-Cube DX for Christmas. It has been up and running for approximately a week, (we couldn't control ourselves and opened gifts early). I am hopefully going to be able to get my cleaning crew soon. I have approximately 12 pounds of LR and 10 pounds of LS in the tank. Temperature has been stable at about 76 degrees. Any suggestions on what I should get or how many of each critter I can have. I would like to get some snails, hermit crabs and a shrimp or two if possible. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[grimlock3000]

Make sure the tank is fully cycled, then start with a few snails of different types and maybe some hermits. All tanks are different so you may need a different clean up crew compared to someone else. Once you get a few in there, you can tell what is eating whatever types of algae you may hace and what is doing a poor job. If you check out my sig, you can see what I have. That combination works well for me and they are always doing something interesting.

 

[StickyTuba]

I am going to be absolutely sure that my tank is cycled. The LR was all cured when purchased but I am going to have my water tested and double check everything before going ahead with anything.

 

[grimlock3000]

That is the best way to do it. It was over three months before I bought fish for my my tank.

 

[RocketSeason]

I would consider blue-legged hermits and nassurius snails. you will probibly want some asterias to clean your glass too.

I have an electric orange hermit crab which is really awsome and does a number on my algea. Might be a good idea to add a real pretty hermit like that.

Avoid Coral Banded Shrimp. they get to big for a nano.