Question on time for adding cleaning crew

[pseudoblond]

I'm in the process of setting up my 65g, and I have a plan for stocking with fish and inverts, but I'm not entirely sure when to add my cleaning crew. I know the tank must be completely cycled first, I planned to start adding inhabitants to the tank after 2 months or so. I'm sticking to the Berlin method, and I'll have approx 70lbs LR in the tank. Tank will be FOWLR for at least 6 months, then I'll start adding mushrooms and leathers. My question is, do I add cleaning crew right away after tank has cycled or wait until theres a lot of algae in the tank? Is it necessary to add the whole crew at once, or can I get a few hermits snails and a shrimp or 2 and add more as necessary? I'd like red legged hermits, a few different snails, and a coral banded shrimp.

[Reefscape]

yes, you can get the cleanup crew in there as soon as the cycle has finished...start off with 10 snails, 10 hermits ( 5 red, 5 blue legged ), couple of cleaner shrimps and you will be good to...

You can start off with just a few of each, what i have said above is like the base line for you to work towards though...

CBS - hmmmm...may harrass other shrimp in the tank, but "should" be ok in a 65g

Niko

[Germanman]

i would stay away form the cbs but they are ok with most fish but not other shrimp usually. i also agree to wait tell after the cycle and first water change. have fun with ur new tank!

[WeeNe858]

another tip is to try and get a variety of snails because they each have a special "skill"

Turbo Snail- walls (really clumsy)

Margarita Snail -all around the tank but mainly the walls (similar to the turbos but stay smaller and are less clumsy)

Cerith Snail -all tank (really agile)

Astraea Conehead Snail -glass walls (tend to fall off the walls for no reason)

Nassarius Snail - sand (by far my favorite, the bury in the sand and come out when its feeding time or will clean up dead stuff)

Banded Trochus Snail - all tank (similar to the astrea but are more able)



all snails will die when upside down EXCEPT for the Nassarius

[BIGgourami]

witht eh cbs i would buy a known pair just cause they'll be more active and you'll see them trolling around together.
also bumblebee snails just a few for deco and they kind clean the glass, but are too small to do much on their own.

[pseudoblond]

awesome - thanks guys!