Is it time to add the Clean Up Crew?

[goodfortune]

Based on my tank setup and latest water parameter test results (provided below), is now the time to add a clean-up crew, or should I wait a while longer? The algae growing on my Live Rock and tank glass is mostly brown diatoms now, but hair algae is beginning to appear.

Also, I would like to get some suggestions as to what type of snails and crabs to get, or not to get, for clean-up.

All comments, suggestions, and thoughts will be greatly appreciated; thanks!

Tank Setup:
- Oceanic 58 RR, 1.5 - 2" Southdown sand bed, 2 weeks into cycling
-75# Fiji Live Rock
- 66 qt Rubbermaid Sump w/ approximately 10 gallons
Unmodified Red Sea Berlin skimmer
Mag 7 return pump
250W titanium heater
Refugium to be built soon

- 2 Maxi-jet 600 powerheads in dispaly tank
- 2X96 W PC fixture, timed for a 5 hr total photoperiod
- 1 - 1.5 gallons evaporation per day, plain RO/DI water top-off the first week, Kalkwasser top-off since last weekend

Water Parameters:
PH 8.6

Temp 81 F +/- 1 F; bit on the warm side, but are as low as I can get them.

NH3 0 ppm

NO2 0 ppm

NO3 20 ppm; also high, but I am hoping my future refugium will help to hold nitrates in check

DKH 7 - 8

[Boxster]

im right behind you and was wondering the same thing, how many weeks are you into cylcing?

[WilyGuy]

2 weeks into the cycle, still depends on the rock. If it was cured vs uncured or somewhere in the middle.

You could get some clean up help though provided you start slow. The critters will increase the bioload of the tank.

I would only say I have Nassarius Snails, Astrea Snails and Blue Legged Hermits. They do an adequate job in my opinion. Others will have varying opinions.

WG

[georgiajams]

I'd say if your ammonia is 0, and you see nitrates, then you are done with your cycle.

Snails and crabs add an almost insignificant bioload. Go for it.

Go very slow with any fish though. In fact, I'd say wait a while and let the critters build up in the sand bed. Enjoy this very interesting time while your tank is new.

81 isn't bad on the temp.

Keep that pH in check

I like the mini-blue crabs, astrea snails, and cerith snails. I like the margarita snails also, but they are hard to find around Atlanta... at least for Eichberg prices.

I hate the larger blue crabs. In fact, I eradicated them from my tank. They terrorize the snails. The mini blues are great though.

[OodleyBoodely]

Scarlet-legged hermits are great, too, just make sure they are scarlets and not red reef. Scarlets have bright smooth red legs and bright yellow eyes. The rr have rough dull red overall. Mexican turbos and trochus snails are great for hair algae but both get large especially turbos which become real bulldozers. Small astreas, cerith and margaritas are also excellant. IMO, it is better to get a good mix of differant types as each specie will work differant areas in the tank. Emerald crabs are good but get small ones, they get big n bad soon enough. I don't recommend Sally lightfoot crabs. They are beautiful, interesting crabs, but, they get big and develop a real craving for fresh fish when they get big.

[Boxster]

do cleanup crews outlive their usfulness? at some point should they be removed from the tank or do they just settle-in as part of the community? ive read that crabs can eat fish and stuff like that....not cool

[georgiajams]

>do cleanup crews outlive their usfulness?

No, if anything, the cleanup crew actually needs to be replenished from time to time.

Keep the crabs relatively small and it will be fine. IMO, crabs get a bad name because when a fish dies for other reasons, they are the first scavengers there.... making people think that the crab somehow caught the fish.