Clean-up crews....How many of what kinds?

[CHILL]

I finally got the set-up under control; temp stable, water params all good, most all the LR that I'm gonna put in is in. It's been running for about a month and a half, and I'm starting to see some brown diatoms and some small bits of brown algae on the sand and such. Seems like the perfect time for a clean-up crew.

So, how many and of what should go in? The tank is 180 gallon acrylic with a 32 gallon sump and 180 lbs LR. I bought yesterday:

40 Blue Leg Hermits
20 Astrea Snails
3 Fighting Conchs (Large = 1+" shell)

So what's next and how many? I've heard 1 snail/crab for every gallon, is that about right? I saw some sweet looking Scarlet Reef Hermits - are they any different than the Blue Leg other than color and price? What about Margharitta (sp) Snails or turbos or Nassas?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Brian5000]

My LFS told me the scarlet crabs are 3 times as effective (1 per 3 gallons) hense the price. I just have normal hermits and coneheads at about half the 1/gal rule of thumb, and the little guys are just barely keeping up. Hope that helps.
_________________
Mercedes Benz CLC Class

 

[Anonymous]

I think you have more than enough already. I think people generally recommend way too many janitors.

Oh, I would leave out hermits all together - but too late! :mrgreen:

 

[ChrisRD]

What Righty said.

One nice thing about hermits is that if they start getting on your nerves they're easy to remove, so you can just wait-n-see on them.

As for other snail species, so far some of my favorites are Ceriths, Margaritas, Trochus and Mexican Turbos.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I am a big fan of nassarius and stomatella!

 

[hillbilly]

I really like Trochus snails. But I agree that you have enough already.