Do I need more in my clean up crew?

[corally]

I have a 55 gallon and my sand always looks dirty. I don't think it's algae, it just looks like pieces of fish waste. I have about 12-15 hermits, a brittle star, and about 20 snails (ceriths, astrea). Should I get a sand sifting cucumber maybe?
I also have 2 cleaner shrimps, a fire shrimp and 3 peppermints...

 

[dbalkema]

Hello,
I always try to have a Blue Leg Crab per gallon and a snail per gallon. I think you need more of a clean up crew. Just my 2 cents......
Dan

 

[corally]

bump

 

[biohazard]

Get you a serpent starfish

 

[ktsdad]

Originally Posted by dbalkema
Hello,
I always try to have a Blue Leg Crab per gallon and a snail per gallon. I think you need more of a clean up crew. Just my 2 cents......
Dan
I agree!

I have always tried to keep the same ratio as Dan and I have had good luck with the tank keeping clean.

 

[corally]

Originally Posted by biohazard
Get you a serpent starfish
What is a serpent starfish? Is it reef safe?

 

[ktsdad]

Originally Posted by corally
What is a serpent starfish? Is it reef safe?

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
Not sure if the link worked or not.
Scroll up and select "inverts" from the menu on the left.
Scroll down to the "Starfish" listing and select the Serpent Star.
You will get the information you are looking for.

 

[vanquish]

Thats a very interesting starfish!

 

[corally]

Originally Posted by biohazard
Get you a serpent starfish
So its okay to put with a brittle star?

 

[biohazard]

It`s an awesome starfish they are mild mannered. They chill out under the sand sometimes and leave their arms out to search for food. They will also eat the fish waste that sits on your substrate.

 

[eyebedam]

A horseshoe crab may also work for you.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by eyebedam
A horseshoe crab may also work for you.
I heard these don't do well in our systems, not in a small one anyway!! :happyfish

 

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by eyebedam
A horseshoe crab may also work for you.
You don't want to put a horseshoe in a 55 gallon. Have you ever seen how big these buggers get. They would take up plenty of room in a 55 gallon.
After growing up walking around them on the beach I for one wouldn't put one in my tank if my life depended on it.
Denise M.

 

[milomlo]

Now I am confussed. I was told not to get a serpant star. Is it the size of my tank - 29 gallon?? I have a reef set up as well.

 

[oceanists]

serpants are awsome i have a banded one and i dont see him alot , he chills under a rock where i can just barley see him