cleaning up?

[salt one]

ok, i keep hearing about a clean up crew. i have a 75 gallon reef tank with 4 fish and i plate coral and 55 pounds of live rock, and i want to know about these packeges, where you get Ex. 20 turbo snails and stuff, but when i read what i am getting it seems so much, do i need these creatures to keep my tank running good?

 

[mattborn]

I have about 25 turbos, 35 hermits, 3 emerald crabs, 2 brittle stars, and a Sally Lightfoot in my 30 gallon tank. I had an algae problem before, but not since I added those little critters. It really doesn't even seem like there are that many in the tank, and I actually really enjoy watching them work around the tank. I think they're a great asset to the tank.
[This message has been edited by mattborn (edited 07-13-2000).]

 

[hermit]

I am going to go out on a limb and say that all these little critters are one of the most important things in a reef tank.. I am sure that someone is going to disgree with me but that is OK... I have a 15 gallon micro reef with lots of these little guys in it.. Yes originally it was to control algae but now that I have a protein skimmer that has helped a great deal with the algae as well as keeping my phosphate levels down.
Even it you don't have much algae in there for them you can always drop a piece of krill in there for 'em. I know that when I feed my anenome they always are there cleaning up the last little bits of stuff that it drops to the floor.. I would much rather have more then less of these invaluable critters.. They help keep the glass clean (astea, or turbos) and the blue legs that I have keep the live sand nicely turned up on an ongoing basis...
Good luck.. With regards to your question about where to get them.. I never ordered a cleaning kit persay but I just went down to my LFS and bought what I need.. There are all sorts of "Rules of Thumb" to guide you through how many to have in your tank..
Bill

 

[salt one]

thanks for the help...i might just order a kit from this site. what is a sally light foot, i keep hearing people talk about them?

 

[hermit]

A Sally lightfoot is a small sized (traditional) looking crab... Center style thorax with the legs off to the left and right.. I had one in my tank for a while.. I thought they were cool looking in the begining but it got to be a pain after awhile.. Mine seemed to get territorial and push some of the other criters around.. Not one of my best purchases....
It's up to you though..

 

[krazzydart]

its your choice..... if you know anyone in the area that might need some critters you can split the order with them.....