View Full Version : cleaner pack questions
bethkira2000
12-09-2007, 8:10 AM
I was on Drs.Foster and Smith website trying to figure out which cleaner back I wanted to get, I have a 55g with live rock and sand, I will be running two pwer heads a 200w submersible heater, and can't tell which back would benefit my tank greatly. I will be having soft and some leather corals as well as anemones. Any thoughts would be great.
Go for a good mix of snails. A lot of people use hermits but you will hear mixed stories of hermits killing snails etc. I have Ceriths, Trochus and Turbo snails and 2 babalonynia snails that do a fantastic job
bethkira2000
12-09-2007, 8:42 AM
okay but do I need anything that cleans the sand too?
okay but do I need anything that cleans the sand too?
I think the Ceriths will do that for you. Mine bury themselves in the sand and move about under the sand until I put food then they shoot above the sand looking for stuff, the babylonia snails are like mini JCB's, they shift huge amounts of sand, rubbish at climbing the glass though, they get half way up and always fall to the bottom:)
Also, have you read the sticky about clean up crews:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84749
Good things in there
Grins
12-09-2007, 10:38 AM
I'm not a fan of the cleaner packs. In my opinion they typically come with far too many for a new tank which causes them to starve, and they often include species that I'm not particularly fond of in a reef or in captivity period.
I recommend starting with a few snails to address deitrus first. Then as you see different types of algae add slowly to the crew to address those specific types of algaes and clean up needs. This way you'll not starve out your crew and you'll be sure to have the types you need to address your tank's specific needs.
clown-lover
12-09-2007, 11:36 AM
:iagree: I think cleaning packs need to be tailored to what is happening in the system. I think Cerith and Nas snails are a good start (Grins won't agree to this because of her killer crab issue) and some atlantic red hermits. Amounts to be tailored to your system. If you have something like a 55 I'd start out with 20 of the small ceriths, 10 to 15 of the smaller nas snails (4 to 6 of the tonga nas) and 6 to 8 of the crabs.
Be warned though as crabs grow larger they get more aggressive and may need to be removed to a sump or completely.
bethkira2000
12-09-2007, 11:56 AM
if I dedided that I didn't want crab is there something else that could take there place, and yet still be just as effective?
Grins
12-09-2007, 11:59 AM
Sure, snails, brittlestars (avoid the green), etc.
bethkira2000
12-09-2007, 12:12 PM
is there anything that I absolutley should not get in the tank?
bethkira2000
12-09-2007, 12:46 PM
:rofl:oh thats funny, thank you I needed that today.
But seriously is there like a worm, or starfish, or something?
Well you don't want to get anything that won't have enough food, or that will be uncompatible with planned tankmates, or that will outgrow your tank. What are you planning again?