[GoinSalt]

About ready to pick up my equipment and start setting up (100 gal FOWLR).

I know I'm nowhere near to being ready to add these things, but for research purposes:

- What types of cleaners and how many should I use for this tank? As far as fish, I'm thinking about flame angel, bicolor blenny, a bunch of chromis, clowns and tang (I'm not planning on using all of them. I will narrow down my list when the time comes.)

- Also, a detrivore? I'm assuming this is something that eats detrius? What can I use for that?

Thanks for any feedback,

Nate

[salttanker]

If you use a place such as liveaquaria.com you can buy a cleaning crew designed for your tank. They have Detritus attack packs, and algae attack packs that will do the job for you.

Since this will be a FOWLR, Tangs and Angels love the live rock, and IMO will thrive much better with it. It sounds like you have a good list going. HTH

Mike

[Reefland]

None of the fish you mentioned sound problematic with snails so I would definitely look for a nice mixture there; Astrea, Strombus, Nassarius, etc.

Scott Z.

[GoinSalt]

Originally Posted by Reefland

None of the fish you mentioned sound problematic with snails so I would definitely look for a nice mixture there; Astrea, Strombus, Nassarius, etc.

Scott Z.

Thanks for the input.

I checked out that website mentioned above and actually its a little expensive for my tastes.

I wrote down the number of each critter they put in each pack. Can I just by these individually as i go along? What should I start with first, snails, shrimp, hermit crabs? Do I really need upwards of 70 snails for a 100g FOWLR?

Nate

[salttanker]

It's really your preference on how many you want in the aquarium. They have a science down that determines how many cleaners per tank will be beneficial. You can purchase them a few at a time if you wish by going with the 30G suggestion. Then later, you can add more as you go. Here's another site you can check out that has pretty good deals on cleaners: www.saltwaterfish.com
HTH
Mike

[Reefland]

Sure you can put them in a bit at a time. Be cautious that snails can be sensitive to changes in salinity so acclimate them slowly. Also, I would stay away from hermits unless you don't mind your snails turning up missing often.

Scott Z.

[RayPollett]

I use the 9 for $99 at www.ipsf.com and the detrivore kits at www.inlandaquatics.com

I put them in AFTER THE CYCLE but before any fish. I feed the tanks for 3-4 weeks so the detrivores multiply to sustainable levels before the fish go in. This pays big dividends down the road. I also buy some sallylight foot crabs, some scarlet leg hermits, some conchs and some other types of snails. Investing in these animals help towards keeping a tank claen and healthy IMO.
Try www.floridapets.com for some of the clean up crew.

Ray

[Poseidon]

www.reeftopia.com

thats where I buy all my critters from....

Just say NO to crabs!!!

[GoinSalt]

Why no crabs? Does that include all kinds of crabs, hermit and otherwise?

If no crabs, what else, besides snails, can I use?

Nate

[Poseidon]

Yes that includes all crabs... But that is just my opinion. Some people like them others hate them. I don't care for them at all, because eventually they WILL eat a snail, or worse yet a FISH. Some will eat corals, others just irritate them by walking on the coral with those pointy little feet.

Do a search on this board for "crab" I'm sure you will find all kinds of opinions.

Wanted to point this out too, there are MANY MANY types of snails, some eat JUST ALGAE, others eat detritus and others are opprotunistic, just like CRABS!!!

I have a mix of: Astrea, Cerith, Nassarious, and Mexican Turbo's. That crew does a very fine job of keeping my tank somewhat clean.... ( I still have to scrape the glass once a week though )