Cleaning Crew

[LIMentality420]

I just set up my 55 gal. finally a hour ago. I have a 4 1/2 inch sand bed. I have only 15 lbs. live rock and 15 lbs. base rock. I will be getting more live rock. I'm cyclying it now with all the rock in it and 1 shrimp. My question is when do I go buy snails, crabs and shrimp ? Also wich ones do you suggest for 55 fowlr with 4 1/2 inch sand bed and how many of each ? Thanks for the help....

 

[lando]

I would wait until the cycle is finished before adding them. When you notice a nitrate spike do a large water change, wait a couple of days and retest. if all is well go ahead and add a clean-up crew. start with maybe a doozen hermits and 6 snails and go from there.

 

[Jonathan G.]

but a test kit with pH ammonia nitrates and nitrites at least and test daily to know when your cycle is finished once it is finished i'd wait a little bit and let your tank settle down for a week or two and then add a fish usually want to add the smaller ones you want first and then add some snails and hermits a bit at a time, thats what i've been doing and also get an assortment of snails as they eat different kinds of algea. i set up my tank in the beginning of feb; 75g, and added two baby O's first, then my lawnmower blenny, and then my 6 line wrasse. i now have about 20 turbo snails 15 astrea coneheads 1 emerald mythrax 1 red mythrax crab about 40-50 baby blue hermits.