cleanup crew

[JDVC]

I'm getting ready to order my cleanup crew. I will probably wait until next week when Premium Aquatics will hopefully be restocked.

Anyway.. what would you guys recomend for a 40gal tank?

-John

[DaveJ]

I recommend a "build your own" method. For a 40 gallon, new tank I assume? Start with 12 tiger trochus, 12 nassarius, 12 nerites, 12 strombus, 1 reef turd (cuke) and of course a detrivore kit with worms, pods etc. You might also toss in 3 or 4 hermits (scarlets or blue legs).

Some people don't like hermits since they can eat snails from time to time, but I think they add some color, activity and interest to the whole thing. Look upon your cleanup crew as both a re-newable resource (snails may reproduce) and a replenishable one(snails will die or be eaten).

You may also consider margaritas but I would forgo the astreas and turbos since they can't right themselves and the turbos could knock things over.

Think about a few shrimp too, or maybe an emerald crab or two as well. A peppermint will help any aptasia and cleaners are alwyas colorful and active additions.

[FishDaddy]

John,
I agree with Dave almost 100%! The only point I would differ would be as to the Cuke. They are fine waste removers, but can complicate things if they should die.....i.e., release toxins.
Many keep them without problems but I tend to be cautious, especially with a new setup that is still undergoing the maturation process.
Here is an article of interest re: Cukes:
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen2.html
And a few about snails:
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/li...e&RecordNo=166
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/a...wb/default.asp
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/a...wb/default.asp

As for shrimp, a couple Peppermints (Lysmata wurdemanni) would be a good idea as Aiptaisia is most likely to appear as hithikers on new live rock.....I also like the Lysmata amboenensis (Scarlet Cleaners); I always keep a couple of them.
Emerald crabs can help with certain algae, such as Valonia, but can be more opportunistic feeders, snacking on coralline algae or other tender morsels. I've had a couple different ones; one did his job and left everything else alone; the other loved to strip coralline and stuff his cheeks!!!

That should about cover it!
Dick

[JDVC]

Yes, new tank... I was thinking already about a couple pepermint-- i think i see what could be aptasia starting to grow in several places.

Whats a good place to purchase a detrivore kit? I don't think Premium Aquatics has one.. also, I can already see a number of pods and worms on the LR.. will those be sufficient or should I get more?

Would you consider a star-fish to be part of the clean-up crew? or should I wait a while to get one.

-John

[FishDaddy]

John,
PA doesn't sell "kits" as such but offers the inverts seperately, mix-n-match. You can get other detrivores from one of our other sponsors, Indo-Pacific Sea Farms.
As for starfish, I'd wait on those. Stars need to be carefully acclimated and are quite sensitive to water conditions. Some are entirely unsuitable, such as Chocolate Chips. Some will deplete your sandbed critters, such as those sold as sand-sifting stars.
HTH,
Dick

[bill-e]

John,

DaveJ's recommendations if fine but I'd go with 24 nassarius and if I got the hermits, it would be the scarlet reef hermits.

Here goes my standard shrimp statement. If you are going to get coral that you have to feed, like many LPS where you have to feed them meat once a week (plate, meat, welsophyllia, etc) then the shrimps will be a real problem. They will steal the food right out of the stomachs of the corals. I would never do shrimp with LPS again.

[DaveJ]

I think PA does sell them, as does Indo-Pacific. Those are the two primary sources. You can get the snails for a variety of places like www.paragonsales.com or seacritters.

As far as stars go, it really depends on the type you are referring to. Some people keep bristles as part of their crews, but they will hunt occasionally if not feed well. If you don't mind the occasional loss, they are neat additions. Most other stars are either predatory on corals or the sand bed itself. Only the linkias (sp) are truly reef safe.

Do you have a DSB installed? If so, then the ministars might be a good addition. You can get those from Indo-Pacific as well as speghetti worms.

As with anything, there are risks, drawbacks and such. I will fall back on a statement I frequently use... The reef is not a safe place, there is always something that will look upon something else as a food source. Just keep the obvious things in mind and you will be okay. Try things out and see how they work, you can always take things back if you deal with a good source.

[DaveJ]

Which shrimps did that Bill??? I have a wide variety in mine and haven't had a problem with them, other than them stealing the occasional tidbit if it sits too long or I don't stand guard until the coral has eaten it. I have heard of crabs doing that to anenomes before as well.

[bill-e]

Dave,

peps. I have better things to do with my time (like writting software that nobody buys ) than to stand by my tank for 30 minutes fending off the shrimp while my slow eating corals eat. I found my peps to be very irritating and I wont have them again.

As for starfis, I like my serpent stars and my linkias.

[DaveJ]

Well those brutes!! heheh.. I usually toss a piece or two in their general direction anyway.. keeps them and the nassarius happy. Maybe I just have a well behaved bunch of shrimp.