55 gal reef cleaner list...

[mfed]

currently setting up a 55 gal reef tank that i think is near the end of its cycle...ive been looking into a list of critters to include as a cleaner group...

30 scarlet reef hermits
30 blue leg hermits
30 astraea turbo snails
20 nassarius snails
15 cerith snails
4 peppermint shrimp
3 emerald crabs

any comments/suggestions?? I think this looks like the best list ive seen so far...

"tanks" alot
Mike

[lando]

I would not start with that many. It is a good list for a mature system but I am afraid there is not enough "clean up" for this crew to do. You can start with a few reef hermits and a couple shrimp and emeralds. they will require supplimental feedings in order to survive. Once your tank's livestock is complete and you are feeding more on a regualr basis you can add more memenr to yoru clean up crew.

[mfed]

i like that advice....makes sense!! Ive read up on what to start with and of course everyone you talk to has there own opinions haha

Thanks lando...
Mike

[melosu58]

I agree too many hermits. Really just too big a crew.

[mfed]

so i guess i can see why i should start off with a smaller crew at first...how does this list sound...
20 scarlet hermits
20 blue leg hermits
20 astraea turbos
10 nassarius snails

I also have the option of adding these guys for an extra $20...will these just overload the system??
10 cerith snails
3 peppermint shrimp
2 emerald crabs

Mike

[austinsdad]

You can start with a few reef hermits and a couple shrimp and emeralds. they will require supplimental feedings in order to survive.

More like 5 hermits, 5 astreas, 2 emeralds. I'd hold off a couple of weeks on the shrimp until you get the water real stable. They are sometimes more sensitive. I think turbos have bigger appetites and should wait also until after fish and algea appear on the glass. Even the 20 list above is too many IMO.

[mfed]

5 scarlet hermits
5 blue leg hermits
5 astraea snails
2 emerald crabs

good beginner list for a newly cycled 55 gal tank with 45 lbs select fiji premium lr??

Mike

[austinsdad]

Start w/the 5 scarlets. Or 3 and 2 blue leg maybe.

[DragonForce]

You might want to add a serpent star to that list.

[dscount]

Ditto everyones comments. Except do you have any LR or LS?

I didn't have a clean up crew for about a year in my 55gal. Yeah that was a BAD idea to wait so long (Lots of cleaning the hard way).

So I then started out with 3 Marg Snails, 3 Scarlet Hermits and one cirth snail. Gradually added up thru about 8 of each and then I had a large cleanup crew ordered.

Now I've got a full house and more snails coming. (Nass & Cerith)

[hackteck]

i was thinking of adding a sand sifting star

[mfed]

i have 45 lbs lr...i just started running the lights on 12 hrs a day...i checked the water levels 3 times over the past week and a half and got 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and a ph of about 8.2-8.3 every time. salt is 1.24 and and water temp holding at about 79.4 deg...

i figure ill start with that small cleanup crew...

when should i think about adding some fish/corals??

"tanks" alot
Mike

[BMWALDO]

Hope you don't mind the small hijack. I noticed everyone going small on the emerald crabs. I just bought 5 of them for my 25 gallon tank. Is that too many? Do they not clean very much? 21lb LR/20lb sand/3 blue damsels.