Clean up crew!

[Teemingtank]

was looking for some cleanup crew ideas. 20 gallon hex tank, 25lbs live rock, sun sun canister (570 gph), and a Walmart powerhead :p. Was hoping to maybe get a shrimp or two.. any thoughts?
Current stock:
2 ocellaris clown juvies
1 six line wrasse juvie
2 emerald crabs (one hitchhiked in to my tank)
2 tulip snails

 

[Oscaror]

was looking for some cleanup crew ideas. 20 gallon hex tank, 25lbs live rock, sun sun canister (570 gph), and a Walmart powerhead :p. Was hoping to maybe get a shrimp or two.. any thoughts?
Current stock:
2 ocellaris clown juvies
1 six line wrasse juvie
2 emerald crabs (one hitchhiked in to my tank)
2 tulip snails

#Welcome to R2R! I just get whatever snails my LFS has, but maybe #reefsquad can give an actual informed suggestion

 

[Idoc]

I really like trochus snails, but you need some algae for them since they eat a lot.

Astraea snails also clean well, but they cannot right themselves so you must flip them over if you find them in the sandbed. I have several and the only ones I have had to flip over are ones that I knocked off a rock!

Cerith snails are smaller and can get into rock crevices very well.

Nerite are great, but can leave the tank and wander...i have quite a few and have not had this happen yet.

Nassarious snails do not eat algae... they are carnivores. They eat extra food pieces and dead or dying animals in the tank. They won't attack healthy tank inhabitants, though. I have several and they do great cleaning up.

Dont get margarita snails...they are not adapted to our tank temps and may die in a couple months.

Bumblebee snails look cool, but they are hunters and will feast on your other snails.

Check out reefcleaners.org ... this site has a lot of options and good descriptions.

 

[saltyhog]

Very good advice by @Idoc.

I prefer conchs to nassarious anyway because they also eat algae off the sand bed. Ceriths are a great choice for a smaller snail, Nerites are ok...don't be freaked out when they hang out during the daytime above the waterline. They are also prolific egg layers but I've never seen any raised in my tanks. Trochus are great algae eaters, are very hardy, can right themselves if knocked over and even breed successfully in our tanks.

The only other snail I would recommend are turbos. They get really, really big so probably not the best for a nano tank, but they are great algae eaters in a larger tank.

 

[rkpetersen]

You could put a fire shrimp or scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp into that tank. Scarlet skunks have more personality and will frequently attempt to 'clean' your hand and forearm or that of a friend if stuck in the tank.

Trochus, cerith and nassarius snails I like quite a bit.

Not a fan of nerites; they are intertidal and most species need a period when they are out of the water to survive. Thus you will find them at the top of your glass and if you don't have a lid you may find their dried out carcasses on the floor all around your tank from time to time.

Ninja star astraeas are super cool looking but as mentioned they aren't ideal for rocky environments as they can get stuck and can't right themselves if they happen to fall or get knocked upside down (I still keep them though).

Do you like hermit crabs? I hesitate to recommend them because like most crabs they can get aggressive, but they are fun to watch; red-legged hermits are probably the least likely to attack other animals although even they will go after snails especially if they need a new home. Also having a few hermits is a good way to guarantee against problems if something should die and you can't get it out, as they will consume it quickly.

Another critter to consider is a serpent sea star; these are great scavengers of any dead animal or uneaten meaty food.

 

[Idoc]

I prefer conchs to nassarious anyway because they also eat algae off the sand bed.

Hmmm... I'm going to definitely take a look at a conch then!

 

[rkpetersen]

Hmmm... I'm going to definitely take a look at a conch then!

The sadly misnamed Fighting Conch (although males will fight with each other) is great to have on the crew. :)

 

[saltyhog]

This one of mine grew so much he managed to get stuck between a rock and the glass.

This one decided the smaller snails shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy film algae off of the glass.

 

[John3]

I think shrimp are overrated. Small blue leg hermits, nassirus snails, and trochus or turbos work well.

I also have the benefit of a million tiny brittle stars and a few chitons that keep things pretty clean under the sand.

 

[Teemingtank]

I think shrimp are overrated. Small blue leg hermits, nassirus snails, and trochus or turbos work well.

I also have the benefit of a million tiny brittle stars and a few chitons that keep things pretty clean under the sand.

Ended up adding 1 peppermint shrimp to my CUC in Addition to my 2 emerald crabs and 2 tulip snails!