Where is a good place to get a clean-up crew?

[Steve]

This past weekend I converted my 120 to a DSB. This was not an easy task being that I had to remove all of the live rock, fish, existing sand, etc. Anyways, now that I have a nice deep sandbed of Southdown, I would like to get a clean up crew. Where and what do you recommend?

Thanks.
Steve

[Aragorn]

You'll stand a better chance of getting more responses in the Reef Forum. I'm moving this thread there.

[wgscott]

A couple of years ago I actually got a decent one from GARF. However for various other reasons you might want to check a few other options. I just posted a question about etropicals.com. It sounded too good to be true. Apparently it isn't so hot.

I've heard mixed comments about FFexpress, and good comments about IPSF and also Inland Aquatics, but I would like to hear some first-hand accounts before plopping my money down.

Anyone?

In general, I would avoid blue-legged hermit crabs, and instead get the red-legged ones (or skip the crabs) as the blue-legged ones especially seem to like to kill snails. Astra snails have a tendency to capsize and die. I bought a bunch of turbo snails about 6 months ago and they seemed to die off at the rate of about 1 or 2 per month for no obvious reason. Some claim they are very hard to acclimate, and I took my time, but maybe it wasn't good enough. Anyway I would prefer a more user-friendly snail species.

[Mikeman]

You want to get nassurias snails, trochus, and creith snails, I would also get stroumbus snails from ipsf just because they breed profoundly.

I would avoid blue legged hermits, but if you feed heavily and have a good sized fish load, scarlet hermits are all right. I kind of like scarlet hermits because there different looking, I have 4 in my tank right now, and I catch my self looking at them more than my fish. Other than that you would want those little mini stars that only get like a 1/2" long

I would pruchase the clean up crew from

ipsf: snails, mini stars, caulerpa, little pods

premium aquatics: snails, snails, snails, maybe a few hermits if you want

this is where I'm going to get my clean up crew

[Steve]

I had decided to buy my cleanup crew from Indo-Pacific Sea Farms, but I emailed them 4 days ago and have not received a reply. For those of you who have ordered through IPSF, is this normal customer server for this place? If so it is very poor customer service. Anybody else have any suggestions on where to buy? Anybody have good or bad experiences with a store?

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Steve
I had decided to buy my cleanup crew from Indo-Pacific Sea Farms, but I emailed them 4 days ago and have not received a reply. For those of you who have ordered through IPSF, is this normal customer server for this place? If so it is very poor customer service. Anybody else have any suggestions on where to buy? Anybody have good or bad experiences with a store?

I guarantee you that you will be happy with IPSF, Gerald (the owner of IPSF) Will give you a nice amount of critters for your money.....Just bear with him if he hasnt emailed you. Or you can call and leave your order at 1-800-636-0200 He is very busy this time of year Im sure. Your not gonna find to many places that deal with the types of detrivores that IPSF sells.......Gerald is very busy im sure. He is NOT a big corporation like some ppl make him out to be. He is one guy with a vision that is a good vision and tries his damndest to keep up with his clientele! It will be worth the wait! I do agree with all the above statements....Especially the Nassarius snails!....also when you order get LOTS AND LOTS OF Worms....get as many worms as you can afford to get...they are the best thing for your DSB IMO HTH

[Steve]

Here is what I was thinking of ordering:
1) 6 baby bristle worms
2) 6 baby trocus grazers
3) 6 adult strombus grazers
4) live sand activator (sand, 6 snails, 6 micro-hermits, tiny worms)
5) 6 nerite grazers
6) 6 micro hermits
7) hermit shell upgrade (12 shells)
8) reef amphipods
9) anthelia polyps
Super-size item) 6 mini-stars

I do not see Nassarius snails specifically listed on the site. Is this one of the other types of snails listed under a different name?

In my 120 I currently have: 4 percula clowns, 4 eel gobies, a mandarin, a cardinal, probably around 150 pounds of live rock, a peppermint shrimp, some soft corals, and a couple of anemones. Does anyone see any problems with what I am going to order and what I currently have? Will the peppermint shrimp go after anything from the order? I originally bought him to take care of the glass anemones. I believe they are all gone now. I could take him into the pet store.

There are worms in my order. Do you think that they are enough or should I get more? I do have some existing bristle worms in the tank(including one that is around 7 inches long). The mama mia worms are not listed as an option for the 9 for 99 special.

Do you think the 6 mini-stars are necessary? They don't sell them except in the super size package. If not I would like to get the two leathers.

Do the micro-hermits do a good job of cleaning? I was thinking of going hermitless and getting something else. But they would be cool to watch.

Thanks.
Steve

[scubadude]

I would change out all the hermits....maybe get 6 micro hermits...IMO i wouldnt get any of em. Change the shell upgrade and the microhermits...No. 6 and 7 for more WORMS!!! try and double up on mama mia or spaghetti worms and bristle worms if you can! even if it cost extra....You can probably buy the crabs and shells at your local fish store....you need to concentrate on the items that are hard to get locally and thats the WORMS and PODS....I would even consider not getting the anthelia polyps if you could possibly get them locally.....Remember you are paying for a little piece of Hawaii when you order this stuff....get the stuff thats HARD to get locally and most beneficial to your tank.....One other REAL important thing....YOUR MANDARIN!!! and MAYBE the eel gobies (not sure about them) it will eat the pods like No Tommorow!! you need to either quarantine him for a while (im not sure how long...until your system establishes the pod population maybe a month or two) or get rid of him....I dont know maybe a freind will hold him in their tank for a while...or maybe the LFS if you trust them to take care of them....when putting your critters in like the worms you can take a small shot glass and put it upside down on the SB with the worms under the glass so they have a chance to migrate into the sandbed b4 any fish mess w/them. IPSF does NOT sell nassarius snails....you will have to get them from Premium Aquatics....dont worry about them yet though...just concentrate on your IPSF order for now Yes the shrimp might take a stab at a free meal too on these pods or worms....The Mini Stars are GREAT for your tank

[Reinhold]

Like the others, I've ordered detrivores from IPSF and Inland Aquatics. I'd call them and speak personally with the staff, and you'll get some good advice for your tank.

I've had great luck with snails from Premium Aquatics. I'd concentrate on Trochus and Nassarius snails and forget about Baha snails.

I agree with scubadude that hermits aren't worth much as detrivores. You get much more organic conversion from worms, snails, and 'pods.

Does anyone know of a store selling bags of amphipods, isopods or other bugs? I'd love to increase my 'pod population.

[Steve]

Thanks for your help! I have no problem ditching the hermits and shells or the polyps. It says no duplicates. I have tried calling and never get anybody live.
The items listed in the special that I have not selected yet are: Coral Heaven Complete Coral Polyp Food, Tang Heaven Red, Tang Heaven Gold, WonderMud, N-Reducer, Feather Caulerpa, Tang Heaven Green, Tang Heaven Nori, 6 Baby Hawaiian Turbo Grazers

What would you replace the above items with?

[organicreefer]

i have ordered from ipsf three times now and i have been more than satisfied.if it was me i would defintitly add the wondermud for the hermit upgrade and KEEP the micro hermits.the shells you can get locally but not the hermits .they are the best reef hermits i have found,they are so tiny and seem completely harmless.everyone seems to be so anti hermit crab imo they are an important part of youre clean up crew ,especially if you like to feed youre fish.if you did that you look all set to me.next order get the mama-mias

[Mikeman]

you don't need hermits if you have nassurius snails, that's the hole point in getting them, also trochus are pretty darn expensive when it comes to snails, that's why I like baha(cerith) snails, they're cheap and they breed

good luck

[Neal359]

you should also look at reeftopia.com awsome prices and the best customer service and most of the pacage dells have free shiping and you can also add things to the order and the shiping is free

[Steve]

I sent my order into IPSF and was going to order the following:
1) 6 baby bristle worms
2) 6 baby trocus grazers
3) 6 adult strombus grazers
4) Live sand activator
5) 6 Nerite Grazers
6) 6 baby Hawaiian turbo grazers
7) Wonder mud
8) Reef Amphipods
9) I know it is not on your list, but could I get mama-mia worms? If not, please send me the 6 micro-hermits.
Super-size item: 6 Mini-stars
I also included the following:
I have a 120 gallon with a new deep sand bed. I have in it around 150 pounds of live rock, some corals, 4 percula clowns, 4 eel gobies, a mandarin, a cardinal, a sailfin tang, and a peppermint shrimp. I would like to verify that none of the items in the order will harm my current animals and vice versa.

Here was IPSF response:
Steve,

Every thing we list on our our web site is reef safe. However...

Your peppermint shrimp may prey on many sand dwelling invertebrates, such as
the worms we sell.

Your clowns may eat amphipods, and your gobies may consume a variety of sand
dwelling invertebrates. They are bottom feeders, after all.

Bottom line: the verification you're seeking is unrealistic if you want to
keep your present mix of inverts, plus establish a thriving sand bed. You're pursuing conflicting goals there.

Gerald Heslinga

So, do you think it would be a waste to order this stuff and it would just be chowed? I could split up the items and place some in my main tank and some in the Ecosystem filter which has the miricle mud sand and now a very healthy amount of caulerpa. Please help! Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.
Steve

[SALT ONE]

SALTWATERFISH.COM its great they have package deals where shipping is free and its overnight Fedex. great prices