Clean up Crew for 90 Gallon

msujohn · Dec 28, 2014

My tank has finished it's cycle and I'm looking into adding my clean up crew. I currently don't have alot of algae (but I know that it is coming). Based on what I've read, I will get a snail only crew (plan to have a reef/fish tank - mostly LPS corals). Here are my questions:

- Should I wait until I get algae before I start adding the CUC or should I plan ahead and get them now?
- Below are the snails I plan to get, any words of advice on them? Any of them that I should eliminate?
- Should I get any other snails?
- How many of each should I start out with?

- Cerith
- Nerite
- Fighting Conch
- Naissurus
- Trochus

vic67 · Dec 28, 2014

-You could start adding your CUC now. A thin film of algae is probably forming on your glass already.
-Your snail selection is fine but I would add 2 or 3 Mexican Turbo snails.
-You could go with a reef cleaner package from one of the sponsors. I like reefcleaners.org; CUC packages come Priority or Express.

msujohn · Dec 29, 2014

How many of each should I be adding?

vic67 · Dec 29, 2014

If you check the reefcleaners.org website he should have a predetermined amount of particular snails for your tank size.

tigerdragon · Dec 29, 2014

I havent used reef cleaners but i do like liveaquaria they ship overnight

wangspeed · Jan 15, 2015

Don't get nerites. They will litter the place with eggs, and you will have to scrape them off the glass. Ceriths are meh. Stick with trochus, nassarius (if you have sand), and maybe 2-3 turbos.

rosieosieee · Jan 15, 2015

I love my ceriths! they keep the sand bed clean and climb the glass at night.

the only problem with nerites is they are not afraid to climb out of you don't have a lid.

trochus are my favorite, but they seem to die the easiest.

rosieosieee · Jan 15, 2015

oh, and as for quantity, I have about 10 ceriths, 5 trochus, and 2 nerites in an 8gal. :)

wangspeed · Jan 16, 2015

rosieosieee said:
trochus are my favorite, but they seem to die the easiest.

Mine are very hardy. Maybe they are running out of things to eat since you only have a pico. They are one of the toughest snails. Generally even immune to hermit attacks, and very strong suction, so they almost never fall.

rosieosieee · Jan 16, 2015

wangspeed said:
Mine are very hardy. Maybe they are running out of things to eat since you only have a pico. They are one of the toughest snails. Generally even immune to hermit attacks, and very strong suction, so they almost never fall.

this was not only my personal experience, some friends
experience, and what I have happen at work. there's definitely enough algae growth for them in my tank. who knows though.

I think they're the best as well though.