clean up crew

[jawfish177]

thinking of getting more clean up crew...
currently have 2 camel shrimps, 2 mexican turbo snails, prolly 6-7 blue legged hermit crabs...
thinking of getting 2 cleaner shrimps, 5-6 scarlet hermit crabs, 3 emerald crabs, i'm thinking of getting a conch to stir the sand bed but don't know which one.. any suggestions? i would like to spend around $80 from the U-Build-It package from this site...
do you think i'll have enough clean up crew?
thanks in advance...

 

[salty rick]

I have read that it is suggested to have 1 to 1.5 per gallon. For your 55 that would be 55 to 85 critters (blue legged hermits, red legged hermits, snails and the like).

 

[ed r]

Mine is another point of view. I recommend the "claws free" approach. I would not use any crabs or shrimp. Snails are good, but don't go overboard on the quantities or they will starve in a few weeks when the algae is gone. Fighting conchs are good for the sandbed surface. The Queen conch is more likely to go on rocks or even the glass. The Fighting conchs seem to be sand only. They often bury themselves the first few days and most times when the lights are out. They eat a lot of diatoms and none of the critters. Sand-stirring stars eat the critters you want in your sandbed. I would avoid them.

 

[clarkiiboi]

I agree with Ed R. I had a Coral Banded Shrimp that I swear was only there for destruction...but that may have been mine only and its attitude (its hit or miss). Once I got it out the tank is peaceful. I AM going now with the no claws for cleanup, still figuring out what to do, but no way would I have anything with claws again--killed my "baby'. So I am biased. Its all in the attitude, some are nice and others...... That is just my experience, others I am sure will have different opinions.

 

[jawfish177]

thanks for the replies.. i will be ordering next week..