Clean Up Crew?

timsedwards

Active Member
Hi Guys,
I have a 72g potential reef with a clean up crew of 5 red legs and 12 super turbs, and I realise this isnt enough, so how much do i need? What is the ideal number of each?
Thanks for all your help,
Tim.
 

nm reef

Active Member
There really is no etched in stone answer....each system differs in what it needs.
Plus each individual reefkeeper differs in what he/she prefers to keep.
Myself I prefer a large assortment of crabs(scarlets/blue leg/emeralds/even a sally)...plus a large assortment of snails. Anormal clean-up crew order for me is 20-30 blue legs...10-20 scarlets...20 or so turbos. Then maybe a few individual items like emeralds or various snails.:cool:
 

hairtrigger

Active Member
Hey, I would look at getting some regular astrea snails, maybe some nassarius or whatever. I hear people mentioning those a lot. I was a big fan of the large trochus snails, but they always seem to fall on their back and die. I ordered 20 of them from here and none are alive anymore. However, all my astrea snails are working hard and living.
I'd say your clean up crew depends on your feeding, detritus, and algae issues. I like to use the recommended invert per gallon scale as a reference. But, I think if you don't have enough food, detritus, and algae, etc, that you can starve the inverts that feed.
Keep in mind this is just a culmination of what works for me, advice, and what I hear.
Your tank is just big enough for a fighting conch. I don't know about two, but one would work I feel. They are aggressive detritus and algae feeders on the sand bed. That's where they stay. But, since they are such aggressive feeders they can starve easily.
I would stick with scarlett, red legged hermits instead of others. They are the more passive, peaceful hermits yet they are aggressive detritus and algae eaters also. Mine are always scurrying around the tank cleaning up. I would say for your tank, with the conch, you could throw in 10-15 maybe.
Astrea snails... man you can probably throw in about 20 or so of them no problem in your tank. Im sure you know what they do.
Now, it's tough because I am just kind of speculating here. I have soooo many of these things in my tank. But it's a pretty large tank and I have some clean up issues. But, I hope this helps. Its a start. Let me know if I can offer more. Some other folks might be able to help. Plus, if they agree/disagree on what Ive said, it might offer a base of info. :cool:
 

salty rick

Member
I recntly puchased some red-legged hermits and some Cenith Snails. I have been really impressed with these. The crabs have been constantly doing their thing on the LR and sandbed. The Cenith Snails have been doing a good job with the sand bed. They will climb on the glass also. I currently have about 8 Turbo Snails, 8 Astera Snails, 20 Cenith snails, 10 redlegged hemits, 10 blue legged herints, 5 scarlet hermit crabs and two emerald crabs as my janitor crew in my 55 gallon. I may be wrong but I think that you can'y have too many janitors plus their cool to watch.
 

timsedwards

Active Member
Hey Guys!
Thanks very much for all your help! I am going to stick with red legs because they are great to watch and work so very hard! :D
I will try and get another 6 red legs and 12 super turbs, because that is a package at my local LFS for $50. I have a few algae issues on my substrate but mainly due to introduction of new lights.
Out of curiosity, how does Coraline algae form? On my back glass i am getting greenish algae, does that turn into coraline?
Thanks for all of the help,
Tim.
 

hairtrigger

Active Member
I think the green may be a form of cyano, but doubtfully coraline as far as I know.
Coraline grows with great water params, good calcium levels, and good light. :cool:
 

timsedwards

Active Member
OK is it best to leave the green or scrape it off?
Well i ahve very good light and im working on the params and calcium!
All the best,
Tim.
 

hairtrigger

Active Member
When I had similar algae, I scrapped it off and let my skimmer clean it up. That way the more beneficial algae like coraline has more space to grow, form etc.
Oh yeah, as for the coraline... you need to have a source of it in the tank first. Like some existing on LR or such. I have heard some lighting like MH might be too much for coraline depending on how powerful it is. But, when I used to have halides, and am returning soon, my coraline grew. Thats when I had a 400 watt halide on a 4 foot 110 tall. :cool:
 

timsedwards

Active Member
Hey there,
OK i will see what it grows into then probably scrape it!
yes I have some beautiful corraline at the moment on LR that i bought.
All the best and thanks for the help, any idea on my other posts?
Tim.
 
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