New Reef Tank

[mperez]

I just started my 1st reef tank and everything seems to be working ok after some hard work. I currently have a 55 gal tank with 50 lb of LR and some LS. My clean up crew consist of 40 hermit crabs, 30 turbo snails, 4 emerald crabs, 1 cleaner shrimp and 1 star fish. I also have a golden headed goby, yellow tang, 4 striped damsel, coral beauty, & a maroon clown fish. I recently purchased a Xenia and it is flourishing very nicely. I also purchased a bubble tip anemone and it too is doing very well. My problem is that I can not get my sand bed to stay clean. Any advice on what I need to keep it clean. The star fish does a great job but not enough. Is my clean up crew short of what I need? :thinking:

 

[beth]

When did you set this tank up?
See about finding a new home for all those hermit craps. They will kill off most of your snails. Once you get rid of the hermit craps, you can a add a few more snails for the sandbed...a FEW, not so many as you have now.
Also, the tank is too small for a tang.
What is the problem that you are experiencing? Of hand, I say overstocking may be a problem and a cleanup crew can't solve that.

 

[salty cheese]

Originally Posted by Beth
hermit craps

 

[escape2thewater]

Originally Posted by Salty Cheese

"hermit craps"
ditto!
:hilarious
Escape

 

[smoney]

I would get some Nassarius Snails, they like bury in the sand bed and come out of the sand and stir it up. With that many hermit crabs they should stir up or move the sand bed a bit. Most people wouldnt recommend it, but you could stir up the sand bed everyonce in a while.

 

[unleashed]

a few hermits wouldnt be too bad but with that many in that sized tank thats going to create more problems than that is worth .I would knock that down to about 10.as for the emeralds yes they are cool looking, but as with all crabs they are known eat smaller fish when the chance is given.if the sand is your biggest issue try finding a sand sifting gobie.they are not the prettiest of reef fish but they are very effective in cleaning substrate

 

[funkyman]

Beth, will hermits kill Nassarius snails too? I know they spend most of the time under the sand, but still come out as soon as food's in the tank. :notsure:

 

[mperez]

So are you guys saying that it would be best to have Nassarius snails rather then hermit scrabs????. I thought that hermit crabs were a most for a reef tank. The emerald crabs that I have are to take care of some bubble algae that I had. I really don’t have small fish besides the damsel but he stays at the top of the tank far away from the emerald crabs. Sorry I’m new to this. I already have a godi (a golden head godi) and he does sift though the sand but I don’t know if the tank is too big for him. Should I remove some hermit crabs???.

 

[tinmanny]

When did you set this tank up?
See about finding a new home for all those hermit craps. They will kill off most of your snails. Once you get rid of the hermit craps, you can a add a few more snails for the sandbed...a FEW, not so many as you have now.
Beth I thought that hermits only bothered the snails when they need a new shell and there are none available that is why you should keep an assortment of different shells in the tank for them to change without conflict. Please advise I would not want to buy anything that is going to have to go in a week and all reef kits come with hermits in them.

Bummer
plz help

 

[smoney]

Originally Posted by funkyman
Beth, will hermits kill Nassarius snails too? I know they spend most of the time under the sand, but still come out as soon as food's in the tank. :notsure:
I have one nassarius snail and like 15 hermit crabs, and they havent touched him.