Good Clean up Crew?

daredevil

Member
I have a 29 gallon tank that has been set up for about 3 weeks. I just got a clean up crew of 3 hermits, 1 turbo snail, and 1 brittle star. I am gonna get a cleaner shrimp in about 2 weeks. The diatoms were starting to come. I wanted to know if this is a good clean up crew or do I need more snail, hermits, suggestions plz. I have a few more questions. Do hermits molt? One of my hermits molted right after I got him. I woke up and saw an exact replica of him with color and everything. On the end that was supposed to be in the shell it looked like cotton. Did he just molt? My Turbo snail is cleaning my Lr and it looks real clean but is he eating all of the beneficial bacteria? Thanks alot.:D
 

goldenboy

Member
The best cleaners for hair algae are scarlet hermits. They aren't as good as blue legs, but they won't kill all the snails in your tank and laugh about it. You won't be able to have more then 2 or 3 in your tank, but mexican turbo snails are awesome to have. They're the size of golf balls and they move around and eat a lot. Nas snails are good and cheap and if you have plant life they'll multiply like crazy. Last but not least are the conchs wich I think do the best surface work. Best of luck!
 

goldenboy

Member
You will need more, but your tank has only been up for 3 weeks. If you think you have enough algae to support more then do so. Diatom cleanup is best served from snails and conchs. Hair algae is best with some crabs. Search around for snails. You can "bid" on lots of them for only a few $$.
 

sweetdawn

Active Member
hermits do molt i have a large hermit and one day i thought he was dead out of his shell i got the body out it was heavy had claws and everything but i didnt take out the shell. imagine my surprise a week later when i see him walking across the front of the tank. and no it couldnt have been a different hermit in his shell cause he is 10 times bigger than any other hermits in the tank.
 

sweetdawn

Active Member
and for number in your cleanup crew my tank is a 25 and i have two brittle stars, one large hermit, ten small hermits, a cleaner shrimp, two peppermint shrimp, one snail. when you go to the lfs just buy one and it gets the wanting to but something under control without rushing your tank
 

daredevil

Member
Thanx. Do u name ur clean up crew? I mean hermits and snails. Kinda stupid but just wonderin'. I am gonna get a fighting conch and another snail. Is this ok? Do snails eat off helpful bacteria and what not off your rocks when u clean them?
Sorry about all the questions
 

goldenboy

Member
Thanx. This is kinda a stupid question, but do u name ur snail and hermits crabs?
If you find yourself naming your snails and crabs, you should sell your tank NOW!!! Enter therapy and get a girlfriend....
 
My girlfriend makes me name my saltwater creatures ...
But hey, its fun :) ... Now if you start naming pieces of your Live Rock ... Find another hobby !!!
 

daredevil

Member
I named my three hermit crabs the 3 stooges, Moe,Curly, and Larry. I named my turbo snail Gary(spongebob) and mt brittle star Mr. Brittle. I only have a few but I think the deserve a name for cleaning up our tank.
 
Top