Various newbie questions

[Socram]

Hey there,

So I've had my tank for 1 month, since I bought it from a lady who had it and it's contents for the last 4 years. It's a 55 gal tank with a built in filter (Ducth Aquarium Systems). The tank contains 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 flame hawk, 3 yellowtail damsels, 1 desjardin's tang and 2 turbo snails, plus a bunch of tonga LR with a couple of small anemones. There was no substrate when I got it, so on Tuesday I added 60 lb of argonite sand (sugar size).

So, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to need a clean up crew. I had some random alge (green grass like) growth that my new tang has nicely removed. I wonder now, what kind of clean up crew I should get. And when? How long do I give the sand before I add cleaners to it? Can I buy this all at once, or should I be introducing it over time? And if so, how much time?

Here's the clean up crew makeup I had in mind:
45 Blue Legged Hermits
6 Red Scarlet Hermit
15 Astrea Snails
15 Margarita Snails
15 Cerith Snails
1 Fancy Serpant Sea Star, Tiger-striped
1 Sand Sifting Sea Star

I've also read a lot about Sea cucumbers, but they kinda scare me. Is there anything out there that's as good at what these do that aren't as dangerous to its tankmates? Should I shy away, or are the risks kinda low with them?

On a completly different note, I'm also looking for an anemone for my clowns. What kinds will get along with them? If they haven't had one for 4 years, will they take to one now?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance,


Socram

[Brooke]

Originally posted by Socram


Here's the clean up crew makeup I had in mind:
45 Blue Legged Hermits
6 Red Scarlet Hermit
15 Astrea Snails
15 Margarita Snails
15 Cerith Snails
1 Fancy Serpant Sea Star, Tiger-striped
1 Sand Sifting Sea Star

Definately do not get the blue leg hermits, red leg hermits or the sand sifting star. The sand star will eat all of the valuable critters that live in the sand bed and make it "live". Blue legs are known as snail murderers. Red legs are also a bit aggressive. The scarlet hermits seem to mind their own business and leave the snails alone. I like the margarita and trochus snails. The ceriths are long-lived but they seem a little lazy. The serpent star is a fine addition and fun to watch when they come out to feed. One thing you definately want to add to your list is nassarius snails. I'd probably get about 30-50 for your size tank.

You can get this all at once, but you need to carefully acclimate the snails and starfish over a good length of time. Follow the acclimation procedure outlined from wherever you order from. Here are a few places that have a very good variety of clean-up critters: http://www.ipsf.com They also have amphipods, bristleworms, etc. that will help clean up the tank. Their trochus snails are awesome. http://www.premiumaquatics.com has a very good selection of snails and crabs including the nassarius at very good prices. http://www.inlandaquatics.com has detrivore kits that include all kinds of flora and fauna for your sandbed and tank.

A good detrivore kit and a mix of algae eating and detritus eating snails is a very good way to go at this point.

I've also read a lot about Sea cucumbers, but they kinda scare me. Is there anything out there that's as good at what these do that aren't as dangerous to its tankmates? Should I shy away, or are the risks kinda low with them?

I've never owned a cuke for above reasons. Many people do keep the drab brown cukes will no ill effects

On a completly different note, I'm also looking for an anemone for my clowns. What kinds will get along with them? If they haven't had one for 4 years, will they take to one now?

Anemones require a mature tank and intense lighting to really thrive. There is no guarantee that the clowns would accept an anemone. They can live happily without one and will often times adopt a coral like a frogspawn to live in instead.

HTH

Brooke

[Mrs Smith]

Brooke hit the nail on the head (of course.) I also encourage you to skip the anemone. They are a heck of a lot of work, and can be very frustrating, as most often, their needs aren't met and they die within a few months. Your clowns will find something else if they feel the need.

Good luck,
Danielle

[Jeremy1973]

My 2 cents here... I have two percs, and even though I have 2 bubble tips and one purple long tip anenome, my percs have chosen to host in my toadstool coral. They love playing in it. Occasionally, the male will swim over and host/play in my giant green stripe mushroom. Another bad thing about anenomes (don't get me wrong, I love them), but the reason I have two bubbletips right now, is cause the original decided to take a stroll and got partially sucked into my filter. Which tore a chunk of him off. Talk about feeling guilty... like a parent baby proofs a house, I had to anenome proof my tank! But, bubble jr as I call him is doing well, and has fully healed. But anyway...long story short...your clowns will be just as happy hosting in a number of corals as they would anenomes. Heck, at first they were hosting in my feather duster! heh heh

[Jeremy1973]

Just thought I would post a pic of my perc and toadstool. Don't mind the algae on the glass. I haven't cleaned it lately.

[Socram]

Thanks for all your help guys!