Clean up crew

Mikeman · 03-09-2002, 02:26 PM

I'd like to add a clean up crew after a power outage killed everything in my tank, (long story) here's what I'm thinking:

20 nassurius
1 queen conch
5 scarlet hermits crabs or 2 peppermint shrimp(I've learned that you can't keep these guys together)
1 lawnmower blenny
1 cleaner shrimp
15 baha snails
3 trochus snails

Would this be over kill? Thanks in advance.

29g tank
bak/pak skimmer
3" cc sandbed
25lbs of liverock
2 55pc lights

thanks

Mikeman · 03-09-2002, 02:34 PM

oops forgot

15 bubble bee snails

Northman_with_reef · 03-09-2002, 03:25 PM

With so many snails in your tank, I think your lawnmoer might starve.

How about some hermits???

mrok12 · 03-10-2002, 12:43 PM

I agree. try a sandsiing star or cucumber though.

MROK12

**scubadude** · 03-10-2002, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrok12
I agree. try a sandsiing star or cucumber though.

MROK12

BAH!!! Im surprised to hear this from you MROK...theres not that much SB room for a cuke....I wouldnt go w/a cuke or a sandsifting star unless you are sure it wont deplete SB fauna. I think his stocklist is fine, I personally would ditch the crabs though and convert the CC to a fine SB.

eses · 03-10-2002, 05:03 PM

I had a 29G reef for a couple of years, and was unable to keep a Lawnmower blennie healthy in it. Not enough algae, and they require too much continual feeding that my nitrates were always high. I wouldn't recommend it. Mine was eating everything too, brine shrimp, shrimp pieces, nori, and all of the algae in the tank. I kept him well fed, but it required alot of food.

From your list your thinking of a total of 44 snails. You should be able to do this okay, but with so much life in that small of an area expect to do frequent water changes.

I would also get more hermits than 5. More like 15-20. 5 will dissapear in your rock and you'll rarely see them. They do a better job of keeping the surface of the sand clear if you keep them in higher numbers. The crabs will be far more worthwhile than the shrimp IMO.

You would probably be happier with a brittle star instead of a sand sifting star or cuke of any kind. From experience I've found it is best to avoid anything that is going to have to depend on the tank itself for food in a reef that small.

Mikeman · 03-12-2002, 05:06 PM

A bought 4 black and white hermits, and a trochus snail(came as a hitchhiker on a rock, only 2.40) yesterday

I've got 15 to 20 snail shells so the hermits should have good pickings, I plan on getting about 15 more hermits, hopefully I'll feed enough so they turn on the snails,

thanks for all the advice

Mikeman · 03-12-2002, 05:22 PM

what about this for a clean up crew?

1 white sand stirring starfish
12 cerith snails
6 turbo snails
12 left handed hermits
6 red legged hermits

If I feed pretty heavy will they still go after my snails you think?

thanks

03-09-2002, 02:26 PM	#1
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	Clean up crew I'd like to add a clean up crew after a power outage killed everything in my tank, (long story) here's what I'm thinking: 20 nassurius 1 queen conch 5 scarlet hermits crabs or 2 peppermint shrimp(I've learned that you can't keep these guys together) 1 lawnmower blenny 1 cleaner shrimp 15 baha snails 3 trochus snails Would this be over kill? Thanks in advance. 29g tank bak/pak skimmer 3" cc sandbed 25lbs of liverock 2 55pc lights thanks

03-09-2002, 03:25 PM	#3
Northman_with_reef Stonehammer Productions ™ Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Norway(Scandinavia) Posts: 461	With so many snails in your tank, I think your lawnmoer might starve. How about some hermits??? __________________ They said aquariums would be relaxing......(yeah right) Saltvannsforum My LFS

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03-09-2002, 02:34 PM	#2
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	oops forgot 15 bubble bee snails

03-10-2002, 12:43 PM	#4
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	I agree. try a sandsiing star or cucumber though. MROK12

03-10-2002, 05:03 PM	#6
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	I had a 29G reef for a couple of years, and was unable to keep a Lawnmower blennie healthy in it. Not enough algae, and they require too much continual feeding that my nitrates were always high. I wouldn't recommend it. Mine was eating everything too, brine shrimp, shrimp pieces, nori, and all of the algae in the tank. I kept him well fed, but it required alot of food. From your list your thinking of a total of 44 snails. You should be able to do this okay, but with so much life in that small of an area expect to do frequent water changes. I would also get more hermits than 5. More like 15-20. 5 will dissapear in your rock and you'll rarely see them. They do a better job of keeping the surface of the sand clear if you keep them in higher numbers. The crabs will be far more worthwhile than the shrimp IMO. You would probably be happier with a brittle star instead of a sand sifting star or cuke of any kind. From experience I've found it is best to avoid anything that is going to have to depend on the tank itself for food in a reef that small.

03-12-2002, 05:06 PM	#7
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	A bought 4 black and white hermits, and a trochus snail(came as a hitchhiker on a rock, only 2.40) yesterday I've got 15 to 20 snail shells so the hermits should have good pickings, I plan on getting about 15 more hermits, hopefully I'll feed enough so they turn on the snails, thanks for all the advice

03-12-2002, 05:22 PM	#8
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	what about this for a clean up crew? 1 white sand stirring starfish 12 cerith snails 6 turbo snails 12 left handed hermits 6 red legged hermits If I feed pretty heavy will they still go after my snails you think? thanks

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