Clean-Up Crew Advise Sought

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CaliGal

Aquarium Advice Activist
Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Messages
109
Location
Norfolk, Virginia
Hi there,

Planning on ordering online a clean-up crew for my two week old 180 gallon coral reef tank. Recommendations, please, regarding where to look on the Net for the best deal on these critters. Any input would be very much appreciated.

Oh, my substrate consists of 200+ pounds of Aragonite. I reside in Virginia.

Sue
 
I have had good luck with my livestock order from flying fish express.

http://www.ffexpress.com

You can see my report on the experence under the General retailers section. I myself also have to order a cleanup crew for my 80 gal soon. So any other suggestions for online locaations for snails and such would be appricated.
 
My last clean up crew came from my LFS. I did go in with a pre printed order from live aquaria that they matched the prices on. This worked great for me.

The last order I placed on the web was great but the crabs and snails were much smaller then when I got at my LFS.

Good luck!
 
Montanarocknreefer said:
To establish a great DSB infauna(critters) for your tank I strongly reccommend picking up a detrivore kit from either http://www.ipsf.com or http://www.premiumaquatics.com. I have one kit from both places and I firmly believe in diversity in my DSB. You can never have enough critters in your DSB! Johnny:)

Johnnie, a questions for you. The site you indicate above and their critter kits, I have always read folks adding the kits to their refugiums. You actually put them in your tank. I am wondering if you feel these critters have an opportunity to reproduce and flourish in the main tank. I would love to do just as you have because I have not installed a refugium to either of my systems.

Sue
 
Hi all,

I am unsure at this point just what a DSB can be 'constructed' of. I do not have sand in my tanks, but rather purchased Aragonite, about 3 inches deep. I have not referred to this substrate as a DSB. Would you agree?

S
 
Sue, I would agree your substrate does not qualify for a DSB UNLESS the Aragonite is suger grain size mostly. If its larger pebble or small rock size hen no. But if it is suger grain size then yes it would qualify. Do you have any photo of your substrate?

If you put the critters in the main tank yes they have the potental of being depleted but a diverse sand bed will give you the greatest amount of filtration.
 
Hi Sue! Yes I put my detrivore kits right in the main tank as I do not have a refugium(but if you have one, that is a great place for the kits). You have to be careful about what inverts you have running around on your substrate as they can deplete your infauna. I just add a new kit once a year and it keeps the population up!

If you want to spend a very useful $9 for a book on deep sand bed by Dr. Ron Shimek it will tell you all you need to know about establishing a deep sand bed. Johnny:)
Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/nd p/obidos/ASIN/0966454960/reeflink/102-6932720-3052155
 
Aaron, Johnnie, thank you a lot for your guidance.

I do not have a picture of my substrate, but I shall take one in the near future. My substrate is definitely NOT sugar consistency. So, I do not have a DSB,; it's settled! Now Johnnie, would you think the detrivore kits have a chance of reproducing in my tank without a DSB. (My substrate consists of mostly small pieces of shell.)

I plan to add a refugium at some point, but have not come up with a structure that I can fit under my 180 on top of a portion of the sump which will include a light fixture. Any thoughts regarding how short a refugium can be to function?

Sue
 
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