Adding the the cleanup crew

[Michael Gentile]

i can’t seem to keep snails alive. They always die within a couple months or less. It’s hard to keep up with. I was wondering if you guys had recommendations for a cleanup crew that would last. It’s a mixed reef tank sitting at just under 60 gallons around 60lbs or rock. Small bio load of two clowns and a 6 lined. Decent amount of frags and colonies. Keep getting film algae on rocks and glass. Sand bed gets slightly brown along with rocks. I wanted to add a tiger conch. I would love to add any odd cleanup creatures as well. Tank is well established for 3 years as well. Can provide more info or pics if needed!

current crew

1. 2 nassauris snails
2. 1 big sand sifting star
3. 1 tiny tiny serpent star
4. 1 quarter sized tux urchin
5. 4 nerite snails
6. 3 hermits (moving into the sump)
7. 1 fire shrimp

 

[DrMrSir]

i can’t seem to keep snails alive. They always die within a couple months or less. It’s hard to keep up with. I was wondering if you guys had recommendations for a cleanup crew that would last. It’s a mixed reef tank sitting at just under 60 gallons around 60lbs or rock. Small bio load of two clowns and a 6 lined. Decent amount of frags and colonies. Keep getting film algae on rocks and glass. Sand bed gets slightly brown along with rocks. I wanted to add a tiger conch. I would love to add any odd cleanup creatures as well. Tank is well established for 3 years as well. Can provide more info or pics if needed!

current crew

1. 2 nassauris snails
2. 1 big sand sifting star
3. 1 tiny tiny serpent star
4. 1 quarter sized tux urchin
5. 4 nerite snails
6. 3 hermits (moving into the sump)
7. 1 fire shrimp

maybe try a fighting conch? i've never had one but i have heard good things about them.

 

[StlSalt]

Bumble Bee and trochus snails last the longest for me. I have 3 trochus snails that are turbo snail sized right now.

 

[sp1187]

I also have issues with snails. some last, some don't (of the same type).
except for my tiger conchs. had 3 for over 2 years now. keep the sand clean.

 

[Michael Gentile]

maybe try a fighting conch? i've never had one but i have heard good things about them.

that was my first choice! they seem awesome paired with the urchin

 

[Michael Gentile]

I also have issues with snails. some last, some don't (of the same type).
except for my tiger conchs. had 3 for over 2 years now. keep the sand clean.

yeah i really like them i think i will pick one up tomorrow so it looks like these couple hermits will have a new home in the sump

 

[Michael Gentile]

Bumble Bee and trochus snails last the longest for me. I have 3 trochus snails that are turbo snail sized right now.

i do have a couple bumblebee in there as well i forgot to mention them since theyve been there for awhile, they actually helped me with a spirorbid snail problem theyre great!

 

[Jamesmost]

U have wrasses?

 

[Michael Gentile]

U have wrasses?

just one 6 lined about a year old or so

 

[Hermie]

Personally I had a bunch of snails die because my salinity was way too high, I had to "calibrate" my hydrometer and found it was -6 ppt salinity off.

 

[Michael Gentile]

Personally I had a bunch of snails die because my salinity was way too high, I had to "calibrate" my hydrometer and found it was -6 ppt salinity off.

same thing happened to me! upon switching from the gravity to the hanna checker i was @1.021 and thought i was @1.026. My theory so far is it may just be my LFS, just got a pack of some turbos and astreas and a conch from another LFS and will see how it goes with them

 

[Hermie]

same thing happened to me! upon switching from the gravity to the hanna checker i was @1.021 and thought i was @1.026. My theory so far is it may just be my LFS, just got a pack of some turbos and astreas and a conch from another LFS and will see how it goes with them

mine was the opposite, so it would show 1.026 but it would be 1.031 so all the snails and stuff were exposed to high magnesium and yea... only the cowries survived long term. astreas, trochas and littornids (some) all died

 

[Michael Gentile]

mine was the opposite, so it would show 1.026 but it would be 1.031 so all the snails and stuff were exposed to high magnesium and yea... only the cowries survived long term. astreas, trochas and littornids (some) all died

those types of problems are horrible because you would never guess the equipment is faulty