Clean up crews

[flutterby]

I'm cycling my first tank. It's 150 gal. it's going to be mostly fish. I have some live rock I'm wondering when the clean up crew is added. After the cycle is complete? What type of "cleaners" do you advise getting.

There's soooo much to learn. I'm having a great time reading through all the info here.

 

[OrionGirl]

What fish will you be adding? That will determine what cleaners will be appropriate for your setup.

 

[Kabong]

The clean up crew is added after the cycle.

Most Decent LFS's will have some packages deals for these guys. In your case where its going to be more fish then rock id guess you'd base more off the pounds off rock rather then the gallon's of the tank, IE if you get 50# of rock get a clean up crew for a 50 Gal tank.

The usual round up of cleaners are.
Blue legged hermit crabs (General scavangers)
Red Scarlet Hermit crabs (General scavangers)
Astrea Snails (Turf Algae/Glass)
Bumble Bee Snails (Detritus
Cerith Snails (Diatom/Detritus)
Margarita Snails (Turf Algae/Rock)
Nassarius Snails (Detritus/Sand Bed)
Turbo Snails (Turf Algae)
Cucumber - Tiger Tail (Detritus/Sand Bed)
Peppermint Shrimp (Aptasia)

definatly find some place that offers packages though otherwise youll end up paying way more.

 

[OrionGirl]

Just about everything listed there will not survive in with triggers, puffers, or many other fish that show up in a FO.

 

[axepilot]

Yup,
Be sure that the custodians ARE NOT on the menu for your fish. I've made that mistake in past tanks. Triggers, eels, and puffers love dining on those wily crustaceans.

 

[flutterby]

Thank you, I'm not sure what type of fish I want yet. Just taking things slow trying to get my LR stocked up. Very expensive hobby This is my first tank so I will probably be looking for easy maintence fish to start until I get the hang of this.