Appropriate CUC (Clean up Crew) for 33 Gallon Tank?

Goonsack Steve

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So I have just won a 'Clean Up Crew Package' from a LFS and was wondering if it is smart to accept it given the size of my current CUC (see photo below).. 🫠

Screenshot_20250906_212150.jpg


They are wanting to add roughly the following;

5x Turbo Snails
3x Nassarius Snails
3x Crowie Snails
2x Astraea Snails
2x Trochus Snails
3x Stormbus Snail
2x Peppermint Shrimps

The tank is roughly 3 months old and is still currently going through the 'Uglies'. The lights run mostly white during the 6 hour peark period (which I suppose encourages algea growth).

I currently do one heavy feed per day with Flaked food for the 3x Fish (I plan to have 3x more) to make sure there's enough detritus for the CUC to get their share.

I do not have a proper sump as I am running a Red Sea AIO system, so sumping them isn't really an option (I've heard people have issues with CUC in the back of AIO units).

TLDR;

So honestly my question is: should I turn down the prize I won? Is my tank large enough to have that many CUC? Are there changes I can make to further help sustain that size population?

Any help with be greatly appreciated. 😭
 
Reefcleaners.org is my source for CUC.
They recommend for your 33g tank, This is Snail Only...

1757159212513.png


Of if you like the Crabs, which I do enjoy watching:

1757159304272.png



I have over 400 snails/hermits/mithrax etc with Fire Shrimp, Peppermint Shrimp, Harlequin Shrimp, and a couple of Sea Cukes in my 300g.
 
It is way more than I have in my 33gal..turbos get giant and 15? I don’t ever have one, get to big….
 
That’s heaps more than you’ll need. Why not accept them and sell some to your fellow hobbyist or swap for frags?

I have a tank about that size and have one Strombus, two nassarius and one turbo. But, I still have a lot of Stomatella snails and lots of other clean up crew like small worms that eat algae and some kind of tiny pistol shrimp and pods.
 
I think its really overkill, I mean, 4 peppermint shrimps + 2 skunks lol? Cowrie snails IME are not reef safe, I had a couple that killed 2 large zoa colonies.

I've got 5-6 snails and 2 hermits in my 32 gallon.
 
Also, my strombus is over 13 years old. They are long term friends and have character.
 
It is way more than I have in my 33gal..turbos get giant and 15? I don’t ever have one, get to big….
No turbos at all? That's surprising. Don't think I've ever met anyone who hasn't had one before. As for getting too big, you might be referencing the Mexican variant, which gets much much bigger.
I have a turbo in my 300g that is about the size of a tennis-ball, and a Mithrax Crab larger than a silver dollar.
You're probably talking about the Mexican variant of the Turbo snail. They get 2-3 times as large as the ones we have here in Australia.
I think its really overkill, I mean, 4 peppermint shrimps + 2 skunks lol? Cowrie snails IME are not reef safe, I had a couple that killed 2 large zoa colonies.

I've got 5-6 snails and 2 hermits in my 32 gallon.
Yeah I have gone a bit over board with the Peppermint Shrimps. I keep thinking they "die" on me as I can never find them, turns out they're very good at hiding.

I wonder if the Cowries are what is causing me issues with my Zoa atm? Haven't seen them around that area of the tank, but who knows.
 
What about some more Nassarius Snails? They have some Moo Cow variant which might be better off getting as they're more expensive and will use up the $150 credit I have much quicker. What would be the appropriate number if I got more?
 

WHAT KIND OF TANKMATE DYNAMIC STANDS OUT MOST IN YOUR REEF?

  • A fish pair or group that sticks together

    Votes: 3 30.0%
  • Some other kind of symbiotic pairing (fish & shrimp, crab and anemone, etc)

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • A cleaner shrimp or fish with regular clients

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • A fish that has adopted a coral or anemone

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • An unexpected friendship between different tankmates

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • A persistent rivalry or territorial feud

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No standout tankmate dynamic yet

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 1 10.0%
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