Guest mikesroth December 5, 2004 Share December 5, 2004 Hey Everyone, Time for a new question. I would like to know what you all would recommend for a 'Clean Up' crew for my 29. I have probably 10 cerith snails, 10 Blue legs, and 10 or so Nassarus snails. I like the cerith, but they seem to work my rock more than my glass, it could also be that I just don't have enough snails. What else should I put in my tank to help out? Crabs, snails, shrimps? Something else? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller December 5, 2004 Share December 5, 2004 i like serpent or brittle stars they seem to do a good job on waste Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryL December 5, 2004 Share December 5, 2004 crown top snails really do a number on my glass. scarlet hermits are great too. i have 2 atrae star snails seem to be ok. i have 5 emerald crabs but not sure of there effectiveness eventhough they are very mobile. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quazi December 5, 2004 Share December 5, 2004 I got rid of my hermits. Too destructive. They knock too much stuff over. They do a good job of algae control, though. I use all sorts of snails, with great results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest goblinshark December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 Zebra hermits!!!!! The best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Stearns December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 I like diversity under the hope that they are getting something different- there are several very small snails that multiply in the tank and come out only at night that you can get as hitchhikers from almost anyones mature system LR- I think they do a great job on the rockwork- Red leg crabs seem to do the most against algea, emeralds,Sepent stars,-- I'd stay away from the large turbos because they are serious bull dosers- nerite snails are slow but good on glass and fairly attractive to boot, the atrellas and tops are effective, ceriths in my opinion are slow as well but great as a part of the diversity, but not much on hair algea. A tiger fighting conch is also good for the diatom and red algea. And the nassarias for detrius. I even have two urchins in my 29(will not put them in the main tank for fear of bull dosing effect)- but expect I may have to move one to the fuge as they are too good at feeding and I am runnig out of algea!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mikesroth December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 Wouldn't the conch be a bit large for a 29? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Stearns December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 The Tiger fighting is supposed to only get 3 inches as oppose to the queen and regular fighting Conches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 Mike, I always had a ton of cleaners, enjoy all the critters running around the bottom. I had a 30g last year as well. IMO: Your current 10 cerith snails, 10 Blue legs, and 10 or so Nassarus snails are good, but I would double that size with some Red Legs replacing the Blue's. Blues very agressive and WILL eat the Nassarius. I think its because they like their shells instead! I like the Margarita Snails as well and Emerald Crabs are constantly busy and don't seem to bother anything else. I WOULD NO RECOMMMEND ANY LARGE HERMITS! I had 2 last year killed over $150. worth of fish in a week before I made sushi of them! They got up in the rocks where they slept at night and before I did anything, they cleaned house. Stick with Bluelegs, Redlegs and Red Tipped Leg crabs. So IMO: 20-25 Nassarius, 10 Blue Legs, 20 Red Tip or Redlegs, 20 Cerith, 10-20 Margarita, 2 Emeralds, 1 Serpent Starfish. Most of these guys are and stay small, but keep busy! Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mikesroth December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 OK, looks like a do need to go nuts. I figured I was going a bit low. And yes, those blues are mean, I figured they'd be ok being so small, but they already stole one cerith snail shell. I wonder if I can get more shells, or do they just like the fresh lived-in smell? Anyone starting up a Reeftopia or other such large purchase soon? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 Yeah, I had a bunch of Nassarius that I got from MS a while ago and all of sudden I noticed everyone (Bluelegs) where wearing new Mr Nassarius snail suits! BUT of course no one was talking! I might be interested but not until Jan. or so. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mikesroth December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 That as similiar to my Certith, I was feeding the sun corals, and I was like WOW that is one fast moving cerith, until I saw the little feet. He claims that it was just lying around and that the homes previous owner had left, but I have my suspicions. Jan. is better for me also, but the NOW NOW NOW part of me, well of course wants them NOW NOW NOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 Yeah, The day I put them in my 30g tank, 3 or 4 Bluelegs jumped all over one of them and was like a feeding frenzy! Needless to say, I plan on using mostly Redlegs and Redtipped Legs from here on out. I believe they are just a tad easier on the `escargo side! bsg Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryL December 6, 2004 Share December 6, 2004 I don't think i'll replace my blue leggs. to many snail jackings in my neighborhood. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudgreef December 7, 2004 Share December 7, 2004 You get free shipping on any cleanup crew order over $60 on eTropicals, just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA December 7, 2004 Share December 7, 2004 Hey Tom, Eddie over at ReefTopia has worked with us on several very large orders in the past with volume discounts and free shipping. I can guarantee you a large order anytime people want to go into one. I will probably run another one in late Jan/Feb timeframe myself. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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