What should my cleaning crew consist of?

iameeeyore

iameeeyore

Member
I'm trying to figure out what kind of critters to get for my cleaning crew, and was wondering what would be a good mix, and how many of each type of critter would be enough for a 29 gallon tank (with 2 damsels and a clownfish). Also, should they be quarantined before adding to my main tank? I've seen a lot of comments about putting fish in a QT, so do the same rules apply for invertebrates as well?
 
fishmamma

fishmamma

Active Member
I have a 29 gallon with 9 or 10 hermits (no reds/scarlets), one cerith snail, and maybe 5 astreas. They do a pretty good job of keeping the place clean, but I also like a little green algae growth on the sides of the tank for my fish to nibble on. I also have a zebra stripped turbo that I rotate between my 29 and 16 gallon tanks since I worry about it starving if I leave it in just one.
 
iameeeyore

iameeeyore

Member
Is there a reason you don't have reds/scarlets? Wax says not to add the blues or conches from the reef package offered here, is there a compatability problem or are they just unnecessary?
 
fishmamma

fishmamma

Active Member
I had a queen conch but she died after 5 months. The system may have been too small to support her so I have not gotten another. As for the hermits it is just my preference, I find the blues to get around the rock better and they are hardier in my experience. I have purchased the 10 pack of hermits from this site, no reds in the bunch, only lost one in 9 months. The reds I started with in another tank are no longer alive but I have heard they are better algae eaters.
 
wax32

wax32

Active Member
iam... I just suggested leaving off the ones most ppl find not as pretty.
I personally would choose blue over scarlets. Scarlets at my LFS are 3 bucks and blues are 1 buck. You do the math!
 
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