Minimalist clean up crew

mikellini · Dec 30, 2014

I'd like to get some ideas from people about what the minimal clean up crew requirement should be. For me, algae is not an issue due to low nutrients and a tang/foxface combo. My sand is regularly cleaned and sifted by a diamond goby. I have a melanurus wrasse eating pods and other potential pests (none imported yet); in short, I think I have my bases covered. What am I missing (if anything)? I'm thinking maybe a detritivore like a brittle/serpent star or bristle worms (don't really like those guys), but I'm dosing carbon so I feel the bacterial biomass should be able to decompose most things pretty quickly.

Any suggestions?

jgalen0025 · Dec 30, 2014

mikellini said:
I'd like to get some ideas from people about what the minimal clean up crew requirement should be. For me, algae is not an issue due to low nutrients and a tang/foxface combo. My sand is regularly cleaned and sifted by a diamond goby. I have a melanurus wrasse eating pods and other potential pests (none imported yet); in short, I think I have my bases covered. What am I missing (if anything)? I'm thinking maybe a detritivore like a brittle/serpent star or bristle worms (don't really like those guys), but I'm dosing carbon so I feel the bacterial biomass should be able to decompose most things pretty quickly.

Any suggestions?

If your melanarus is like mine, when he gets to maturity, he will eat or harass all but the largest turbo snail

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

mikellini said:
I'd like to get some ideas from people about what the minimal clean up crew requirement should be. For me, algae is not an issue due to low nutrients and a tang/foxface combo. My sand is regularly cleaned and sifted by a diamond goby. I have a melanurus wrasse eating pods and other potential pests (none imported yet); in short, I think I have my bases covered. What am I missing (if anything)? I'm thinking maybe a detritivore like a brittle/serpent star or bristle worms (don't really like those guys), but I'm dosing carbon so I feel the bacterial biomass should be able to decompose most things pretty quickly.

Any suggestions?

How big is your system?

mikellini · Dec 30, 2014

100 gallons net water volume, 30x30x24 with a sump. Only 30lbs rock I'm the display

143MPCo · Dec 30, 2014

I would do this...

10 to 20 Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab
1 or 2 Brittle Sea Star
20 to 40 Cerith snail

The first number is the low end, I think this is "Minimalist" approach, you can always add more if the need beckons.

mikellini · Dec 30, 2014

Can you explain the rationale for your choices? I do kind of like hermits, but haven't had any for years due to their murderous and destructive tendencies. However, I guess as long as I glue all the corals down they should be ok. But won't they wipe out all the ceriths?

143MPCo · Dec 31, 2014

Sure...

IMHO Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab are less opportunistic feeders, they seem to stick to scavenging more and do little to almost no damage to other reef inhabitants.

Brittle Sea Star are great for getting into and under live rock something other clean up crew members can't do... I have seem them dig right under my live rock, and the mini brittle do an even better job at keeping thing nice and tidy.

Cerith snail are one of the more ideal scavengers, quickly devouring detritus, uneaten food, decaying organics, fish waste, and reportedly several types of nuisance algae.

You don't seem to have a lot of dry rock (not a bad thing) so I would air on the side of caution with the amount of the inhabitants you pic, if you truly have an ULNS (not questioning it) you might have to supplement their diet to keep them from starving.

As for them wiping out the ceriths, if you provide empty shells that not an issue, least not that I have seen.

Saltwater on the brain · Jan 9, 2015

Hermits kill for fun. I've seen it.

Cerith snails are definitely a good idea.

ERROR on the side of caution

mikellini · Jan 9, 2015

Sounds like the bare minimum is a cerith-only CUC? Any rules for how many per gallon or pound of rock?

mikellini · Jan 12, 2015

Still looking for some more feedback on this. Rock is right on the glass, very open aquascape, so I'm not sure a brittle or serpent star is needed (although maybe not a bad idea). Goby cleans the sand more than sufficiently. I was thinking about starting with just 15 ceriths... maybe one or two scarlet hermits (probably a bad idea). Is there anything better, anything else I should consider?