clean up crew

[asmiley73]

I am in the 3rd week of cycling a 75 gal FOWLR (w/ 30 lbs LR)(unfortuantey l have 6 damsels and 4 are real nasty lit'l buggers). All looks good though. Can't wait to add the BIG expensive stuff. Ha, ha
2 questions though:
1- should I add a clean-up crew now or just wait till after cycling(leaning towards just waiting)
2 - is this 2 many for clean up crew:
Kit includes: 35 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs, 35 Red Leg Hermit Crabs, 60 Margarita Snails, 10 Turbo Snails, and 3 Emerald Crabs
by the way: luv the posts

 

[jacksonpt]

I would wait, and IMO, that's too much for a 75g FOWLR. I'm runnign a 75g FOWLR and I'm keeping 15 turbo snails, 15 scarlet reef hermits, a few micro hermits (small bluelegs), 6 nerite grazers and 6 strombus grazers - they seem to keep it pretty clean. Occasionally my sand will get a brown film on it (diatoms) so I'm considering adding some cerith snails and/or fighing conchs (I'm debating which will have the lowest chance of getting eaten).

 

[hondo]

definitely wait until the cycle ends before adding any clean up crew. also you might want to consider removing the damsels after the cycle as they are real mean and will cause you lots of problems. Better to remove them now then after you get everyting just the way you want it as most likely you will have to remove the rock to get them out.
For the clean up crew I would stay away from the blue legs as they will kill your snails for their shells. The red legs are fine. for snails I would add some of the following.
Trouchas - all around best cleaning snail and they can turn themselves over if they fall on their back unlike the margaritas which will die
Cerith - good cleaner and with snails diversity is the key. They also breed readily in your tank so you always have a new supply.
Nassarius - great sand bed snail. they will bury themselves in the sand bed and come up when they smell food.

 

[steve40]

I added my cleanup crew like the first week and didnt experience any problems. Cleanup crews tend to be pretty hardy. I added them to help with the cycle, I had LR but then i fed the cleanup crew ,which did include nausarius snails, ( they are awesome and i highly recomend them) i fed them shrimp pellets and I think it helped the cycle get started a little faster.