cleaning crew?

[tim_coville_]

well hey everybody.... my tank has been cycling and going for about a week now.

right now i have 2 cleaner shrimp, my clarki, and a couple of reef chromis

they all look helathy, there all eating (the cleaner shrimp even comes out to grab food floating by)

well my tank isnt fully cycled, but surprislingly my fish/shrimp are fine

anyways, when do i add my clean up crew and what kind and how man ywould i need for my 90 gallon?

i would prefer to do as less clean up work as possble...what are your suggestions? :razz:

[Doctor_Reef]

You need to add your clean up crew slowly after your tank has completely cycled...Don't over do it add what you need.... If you go to fast they will likely starve to death...so take your time and add as you see the need to do so.... :)

[tim_coville_]

kk, but in the end how many should i have? like how many crabs, how many snails? etc. etc?

[Doctor_Reef]

I don't tell people how many...I think you will be able to know by seeing how they do if you add a few at a time...but if the food supply is not there they will die...They sell clean up crew packages…the stores will give you a certain number per gal of water and I think they supply way to many critters for what people need....Just watch the tank if you still have lots of algae add some snails, if there is lots of debris add some hermits...etc...

[tim_coville_]

well i think im getting hair algea, a peice of liverock has all these little (quarter inch long) purple hairs on them. you have to look real close to see em so

is that what hair algea looks like in the early stages?

[Doctor_Reef]

Sounds like it...You need to make sure that your tank has cycled before adding any verts...as they are real sensitive to ammonia and nitrites...and the nitrates also....

[tim_coville_]

yeh thats what i find funny, my cleaner shrimp are doing great and i do have levels of ammonia (i had it tested by my fish store, boss said it was ok to put in inverts, so i got 2 cleaner shrimp, i test my water, fud ammonia)

but my cleaner shrimp are ok which surprised me...abd there molting.

[Doctor_Reef]

That is good...I wouldn't risk anymore life - wait until the cycle is finished!!! :)

[tim_coville_]

aligthy, i havnt check my levels in a couple days so. hopefully everything is working out.

oh and dont worry, im not risking everything, 1 clarki clown was tragic enuf to loose, i dont want to put in 20 snails and find 20 emtphy shells in the morning hahaha.

[NaH2O]

As stated, wait until your ammonia and nitrites have dropped to zero. I personally like a variety of snails, but don't particularly care for the packages offered online. I feel a lot of them put too much emphasis on hermit crabs, and too many snails. I'll have to look back and see how many of each type I added to my 120. For variety I like: Astraea, Nerite, Trochus, Turbo, Cerith, Nassarius (for sandbed only), Fighting Conch or small Queen Conch (sandbed - I tried fighting conch in my BB tank, but they didn't fare too well - I moved the second one to my nano with sand). I know I added 5 scarlet hermits to my 120, and they have done reasonably well - I've only lost 2. I also have 2 Emerald crabs, 2 cleaner shrimp, one Peppermint shrimp, and one Diadema urchin. A lot of folks don't care for urchins because they eat coralline, however, I look at it as they spore the coralline out....and you wind up seeing more growth.

Hope this helps a bit

[tim_coville_]

thanks for your guys help, hopefully my ammonia and levels balance out soon :)