Clean up Crew

ckusnierek · 03-17-2007, 05:41 PM

Well it appears that my cycle is almost done. I am going to be cautious when adding fish a corals (I'll wait another week or two). I have a thick coat of ditris all over everything. I've heard of "Clean up crews" Do the species depend on what is going to eventually be in the tank? If so I plan mostly soft corals and perhaps LPS down the road. What would be the best "clean up crew" for me? I really do not like the look of snails on the glass.

-Chris

Fly Guy · 03-17-2007, 05:43 PM

Snails are your friend. Astreas, ceriths and margaritas IMO. Thats all i keep...no crabs.

If you have a thick layer of detritus all over everything you would be doing yourself, and your sandbed and future of the system a favor by siphoning out as much of it as possible. jmo

ckusnierek · 03-17-2007, 06:18 PM

how many for a 75 gallon with 100+lbs LR?

Fly Guy · 03-17-2007, 06:24 PM

Number is kind of subjective. If you dont see a bunch of algae growing on the glass and in the rocks it will take less or you can get too many and simply starve them.

If it were me i would start with 20 astreas, 10 ceriths and a dozen margaritas. See how that goes. Add more if needed.

Gilraen Took · 03-18-2007, 01:04 PM

I was curious, so I'll slightly hijack this one, I've still got a bit of detrious(no clue how to spell it) stuck to my rockwork, I've scraped at it with my airline, but it doesn't pull much off, and what it does seems to just get into the water column instead of suctioning out. I really can't pull all of my rocks out to scrub them, and it ticks everything in the tank off when I'm trying to madly scrape the rocks to get it all out. What should I do?

Fly Guy · 03-18-2007, 01:09 PM

Got a pic??

It doesnt sound like detritus. Detritus is the light stuff that easily blows around and as well is fairly easy to siphon out.

know-it-all · 03-18-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckusnierek

how many for a 75 gallon with 100+lbs LR?

I'd start with at least 1 per gal
mix it up between the different type of snails
ceriths and astrea's keep the rocks/glass clean
nassarius's keep the sand clean

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

I was curious, so I'll slightly hijack this one, I've still got a bit of detrious(no clue how to spell it) stuck to my rockwork, I've scraped at it with my airline, but it doesn't pull much off, and what it does seems to just get into the water column instead of suctioning out. I really can't pull all of my rocks out to scrub them, and it ticks everything in the tank off when I'm trying to madly scrape the rocks to get it all out. What should I do?

sounds more like an algea build up
astrea's do a good job at cleaning that off

Phishy · 03-18-2007, 01:16 PM

I was curious, so I'll slightly hijack this one, I've still got a bit of detrious(no clue how to spell it) stuck to my rockwork, I've scraped at it with my airline, but it doesn't pull much off, and what it does seems to just get into the water column instead of suctioning out. I really can't pull all of my rocks out to scrub them, and it ticks everything in the tank off when I'm trying to madly scrape the rocks to get it all out. What should I do?

Maybe diatom, it is alittle more stubborn, I have it. Looks like rust and is gritty feeling.

Astrea, Trochus and netrite will take care of it.

leveldrummer · 03-18-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilraen Took

I was curious, so I'll slightly hijack this one, I've still got a bit of detrious(no clue how to spell it) stuck to my rockwork, I've scraped at it with my airline, but it doesn't pull much off, and what it does seems to just get into the water column instead of suctioning out. I really can't pull all of my rocks out to scrub them, and it ticks everything in the tank off when I'm trying to madly scrape the rocks to get it all out. What should I do?

get a turkey baster, and puff at it, or put a small powerhead in and try to blow it off, if it doesnt come off with either of those, its not det.

EMX002 · 03-18-2007, 04:01 PM

Just a quicky people.

Ive got an 80 Gallon Tank.

Ive got

1 yellow tang
6 Blue Green Chromis
2 Fire Shrimp
12 Turbo snails

Ive noticed a green hairy algae growing only on the over flow box to my sump. Obviously the snails will not get to this area. Should I remove this by hand with a quick clean or brush ?

Should I add more snails ?

Infact from the picture u can see the hair algae in the top left of the pic

Fly Guy · 03-18-2007, 04:08 PM

EMX, your tank is aperfect example of why the old wives tale rule of one snail per gallon is a farce. Could you imagine how well your snails woudl be fed if you had 1 per gallon in there?? They would starve.

Im not saying that 1 per gallon, and even more than that may make sense in some tanks, but its something that needs to be answered on a case by case basis, and i believe peopel should start out with less and add as needed

I would just remove the stuff out of the overflow with a brush, as well as the little bit in the top left of the tank...it doesnt appear to be a tankwide problem for you

know-it-all · 03-18-2007, 04:08 PM

to answer quickly, my friend throws 2-3 snails in his overflow when it gets nasty
they clean it up and then hang out on the top when they are finished

if you don't have a problem with algae in the rest of tank, no need to add more

EMX002 · 03-18-2007, 05:24 PM

lovely advise chaps. Ill stay put for the time being and when I get around to it do

Quote:

my friend throws 2-3 snails in his overflow when it gets nasty
they clean it up and then hang out on the top when they are finished

YLChik · 03-18-2007, 08:51 PM

I have a 55 gallon and a clean up crew of:
10 nassisurus
6 astrea
5 bubmmble bee
5 cerith
and 10 hermit crabs - i know some folks don't like em, but i htink they are funny lugging those shells around- i think adding pleny of empty shells keeps the snail killing to a miniumum....

hth