Cleaner crew recs

[rbaldino]

First, I'm wondering if I can't get opinions on the ideal number of crabs/snails for a 29 gallon tank, and if anyone can recommend particular species that seem to do a real good job. My biggest problem at the moment is brown algae (and yes, I'm doing everything I can to control it). I currently have a dozen hermit crabs (red leg, blue leg, zebras) and ten small snails (not sure of the species, but I know they're not turbos). Invariably, some of these guys just don't seem to work a whole lot, and others don't seem up to natural selection (they die off too easily). Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[frankthetank]

I'll say this right now, my opinion and experience is that blue legged hermits will kill your snails and scarlet hermits one by one. They are a bold hermit crab that doesn't mind destroying your other clean up crew.
If I were you, I would rid yourself of the blue's (like I did) and go straight with scarlets.
Otherwise, you'll probably just continue to rebuy snails and other hermits.
Some emerald crabs are a great addition... they eat algae like crazy.
A queen conch works really good too.

 

[chadman]

get some turbo's...i have a 29g myself...i prolly have fifteen hermits three to five turbos and a few nassarius'...queen conchs i have heard are good but i think they may get very large for this size tank i could be wrong though....

 

[rbaldino]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
I'll say this right now, my opinion and experience is that blue legged hermits will kill your snails and scarlet hermits one by one. They are a bold hermit crab that doesn't mind destroying your other clean up crew.
If I were you, I would rid yourself of the blue's (like I did) and go straight with scarlets.
Otherwise, you'll probably just continue to rebuy snails and other hermits.
Some emerald crabs are a great addition... they eat algae like crazy.
A queen conch works really good too.
Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for that.