Cleanup Crew. Cheapest on the Net?

[TomToro]

Anybody have a line on the best prices online for cleanup crews? Specifically:

Trochus snails
Cerith snails
Cleaner shrimp
peppermint shrimp

Here's the best I've found in large lots:
http://www.reeftopia.com/completecatalog-a.htm

Any ideas are appreciated,
Tom

[catpicklesdog]

To be honest Tom I'm not convinced with these cleaner packages or similar.

I have 182 gal tank and all I have in there (clean up wise) is

20 hermits (various)
6 Astrea snails
2 turbo snails
2 Nas snails
2 cleaner shrimps
2 peppermint shrimps
1 Reef lobster
and a few stometellas.

That's it!!!

And if I were to follow the recommended CUC per gallon rule, I need about 140 more!!! I really would start out with a small mixture of what you fancy and see how they get on. If they're not cleaning to your satisfaction add a few more and take it from ther.

JME

[oscar83]

check out www.saltwaterfish.com thats where i got my clean up crew from and it was quite reasonably priced

[AnnetteG]

I 2nd what CPD said. I'm not sure how many I have of anything, but it's no where near what they advise and I can't imagine having any more than I have. It already seems like there are little guys at work everywhere - my neighbor said it looks like Fraggle Rock in there. Hee My tank stays really clean too. All I've done is buy critters that I like and some of them have come with live rock I've gotten from established tanks.

[TomToro]

You gals are probably right on the quantity they recommend being too many. If I reduce my total nutrients, I probably won't need as many. I'm working on it.

Saltwaterfish.com is very good and I've ordered from them a number of times. I just don't need anymore hermits. Just snails. Seems like the hermits feed on the snails and don't work on the algae enough so I'm going to try all snails for once.

Thanks, Folks,
Tom

[Grins]

I'm completely in agreement with CPD. My clean up crew is sparse in comparison to what most packages list that I'll need. Part of that is I think they are trying to cover whatever algae issues might be in the tank and dying due to what might not be in the tank and the things dying because of starvation.

You're knowledgable enough to know what algae issues are in there Tom, better to address those with specific creatures rather than the toss a bunch of stuff in there and see what works method of the packages.

[TomToro]

I'm completely in agreement with CPD. My clean up crew is sparse in comparison to what most packages list that I'll need. Part of that is I think they are trying to cover whatever algae issues might be in the tank and dying due to what might not be in the tank and the things dying because of starvation.

You're knowledgable enough to know what algae issues are in there Tom, better to address those with specific creatures rather than the toss a bunch of stuff in there and see what works method of the packages.

Thanks for the support, M, but I'm stumped on this one. Ever since I killed the two tangs and whatever else died that I never saw, I've had a slime algae build up that I can't shake for more than a couple of weeks. Always comes back.:confused:

I've tested, changed salt, vacuumed, added carbon reactors and phosphate reactors, added twice (yes 2x) the flow, reduced my light time by 2 hours. I even stooped to something I never do and that's add chemicals as in chemiclean. That fixed the problem (bandaid) initially , but of course it came back. My next avenue is to replace the mh bulbs. They're coming up to a year old this May and the slime does completely go away when the lights are off. And finally, replace the cleanup crew. I think most of them died in the carnage.

Whew, I really got off topic so sorry about that, folks. I needed to vent for a second there.:cry:

[AnnetteG]

wow Tom, that stinks. Is this in your ginormous tank? Anyway, this site: http://www.reefcleaners.org/ has really good prices. I found them thru my local reef club. Hope this helps!

[TomToro]

wow Tom, that stinks. Is this in your ginormous tank? Anyway, this site: http://www.reefcleaners.org/ has really good prices. I found them thru my local reef club. Hope this helps!

Thanks for the link, Annette! I'll check 'em out.:)

No this is the 100 gallon tank that's been up and running for 10 years. I've had different types of crisis' over that time, but I've always found a solution. Not this time...yet. I won't give up 'til I do.

The Big tank is doing well, so far. I don't think I could take it if both were in trouble at the same time.:wall:

I edited this for Annette...Those prices are awesome! I can't believe and am ordering today. Thanks very much!
Regards,
Tom

[FeatherDuster]

That site has some great prices Annette. I will have to keep them in mind if I ever need to order a large cleanup crew.

Tomtoro, I see they have chitons on that site. You should try at least one. I love those little guys. They come out at night and do a great glass clean sweep.

[AnnetteG]

cool, glad I could help! Tell them you heard about them from a MARSHian! :)