Clean up Crew Question

[thejiro]

Currently in my 30 gallon FOWLR soon to be reef tank I have about 3 mexican turbo snails and 15 assorted hermits mostly blue and scarlet leg. I also have 1 large peppermint shrimp. My tank is full of algae what would you all suggest adding in there for a really good cleanup crew.... I was thinking of adding
1 cleaner shrimp
15 blue leg hermits
10 turbo snails
any suggestions??
thanks
Ken

 

[emmitt2]

The crew you have should be pretty good for that size tank. You should try and figure out why you are getting so much algae. How long are your lights on and what type of water do you use?

 

[thejiro]

my lights are usually on 10 to 12 hours a day.... I need to get timers..... work gets me so I cant really enjoy my tank during the day....... I have been using water that I make myself but when I go reef I am going to be using RO only water
Ken

 

[thejiro]

bump any other suggestions

 

[am3gross]

if your using tap water now that is why you have the algae problem. using ro water now will greatly reduce your algae problelm and make for better things in the future when you do go reef. keep us posted and good luck

 

[thejiro]

thanks I will start using RO only water than and Ill post some pics when I go reef
thanks for the help
Ken

 

[chadman]

i have a 30g reef...i have about 10-15 hermits, about 5 snails two of which are mexican turbos, i have three emerald crabs, a lawnmower blenny and a mandarin goby,oh and i also have a lettuce nudibranch which munches away all day at algae

 

[pyro]

I'd suggest going heavy on the snails. Larger (1" or so) turbo snails really do a good job of mowing down algae, especially keeping the glass clean. I'd suggest 5 or 6 of them.
From there, I'd suggest making the move over to a reef (after solving your algae issue) and figure out what you need from there. If you see any bubble algae or macro algae growing through you rocks you don't want to grow there, pick up an emerald crap - I really like mine and seems to help mow down a good bit of oddball algae. Throw in more hermits if you see food or anything sitting around for a while.
I have a 30g reef and currently have 2 larger turbos (2 or 3 died off over the past year and LFS is out), about 10 blue leggers, about 10 random red legged reef crabs the LFS had, an emerald crab, and probably 15-20 (don't see 'em much, sand bed stuff) snails that look like they have snorkels - nassarius or similar I beleive - if sharkbait is around he could help me out. Also, a coral banded shrimp if you want to count it in there.
Do you run a protien skimmer? I recently bought a used AquaC Remora (thanks engineer) and it pulls brown sludge outta the water; helps a lot in a 30g cause it's enough water you can't do large water changes easily but not big enough for huge ones - I'd suggest some 5g buckets.
Good Luck!

 

[debbie]

In my 25 gal I have "one" large turbo snail "one" blue leg hermit crab "one" algae eating cowrie. My glass is spotless and so is my rock. Between these three and my Coral Beauty Angel there is no problems with algae in my tank.
***)