Clean-up Crew help...What, how many, and when to add??

NewSaltWaterGirl · 05-01-2008, 08:59 PM

Ok so I started a 55 gallon aquarium a few weeks ago. Cycling is going splendidly.

50-55 pounds of live rock
56 pounds of live sand
Ammonia is at 0pp
Nitrite is a .25ppm
Nitrate is at 20ppm
pH is around 8.1

So my question, well questions are..

When should I add a clean up crew?
What should I add for a clean up crew?
And how many of each species should I add?

ETA: Does this sound like a good setup?
Does this sound like a good set up of snails?
6 Nassarius,
6 Cerith
7 Nassarius
2 Cats Eye Turbo Snails
2 Margarita Snails....too much? too little?

**leebca** · 05-02-2008, 09:40 AM

Details about some of your questions are found here: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium

I would start with about 100 snails, if they are small. Most should be algae eaters including, but not limited to:
Turbos
Cerith (a lot of these)

Not sure why you listed Nassarius twice.

Make sure they are tropical snails and not caught around Florida or cooler waters. In our tropical aquariums, the snails from cooler water just slowly cook.