Reef Janitors

[BigC]

OK

Tank size 24"x12"x18"
20kgs Live Rock

How many critters and what sort shall I be able to keep to do an effective job.

How many, Common Name, Latin Name

Please include species that I will be able to get hold of readily and not have to spend a lifetime sourcing such animals.

Thanks in advance
BigC

 

[poo-tang]

imho most of my "critters" are there for display and do little to keep my tank clean. the most effective member of my clean-up crew, after me, would be my serpent star. he basically eats all uneaten food i put in which is nice. most websites hav clean-up crew packs but the numbers of snails and hermits they say a given tank needs seems way high. i have a 40 gallon with only 2 turbo snails and 2 bumble bee snails and an asterea. the hermits do an okay job but i would need hundreds if they were to actually be effective.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, if you ask me, the backbone of a good cleanup crew is made with Cerith and Nassarius snails. Cerith's for algae, and nassarius for detritus/carrion. And both will do some work sifting sand. I'd prolly have about 10 of each to start as you'll have some mortality even with painstaking acclimation. Then I'd add a couple larger snails (Trochus, Margarita, or Astrea) and finally consider a larger turbo. After that i'd add a couple mexican redleg hermits, and if you want, a cleaner shrimp or peppermint shrimp

 

[BigC]

Gotcha Fletch,
All the snails and hermits I can source with no problem.
I was hoping for 2 shrimp actually, or is it better to go with just the one.
Is the true pepperment shrimp the best shrimp to opt for and is it reef safe as they say.
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, tbh, I wouldnt order a shrimp right away. I'd get my LR in first and then see if I had any aiptasia that needed removing. If so I'd prolly opt for a few peppermint shrimp. If not, i might opt for cleaner shrimp. You can get a pair or trio of either peppermint, skunk cleaners, or blood/fire shrimp if you like as all are communal in the wild. In this case though try not to mix different species of shrimp in such a small tank just to avoid territory wars.

 

[BigC]

Hi Fletch,
Yeah I got your drift on the order of things, Liverock etc. and the Aiptasia anemones would be a big problem if they presented themselves. The pepermint shrimps seem the way to go in this regard and not the common skunks. As long as I can keep them as a pair and they don't squabble. do they like being with their own kind.
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, skunks, blood shrimp, and peppermints all get along very well in captivity. Other shrimps like pistols and mantises are the ones that won't play nice with each other

 

[BigC]

Thanks again, Fletch!
Regards
BigC