Need help with clean up crew

[oreocookie]

My 12g AIO has entered the ugly stage and I am beyond due for a clean up crew. I’ve got a layer of brown over everything, so I’m thinking diatoms and some cyano. Based on what I’ve read, I’m thinking some combination of trochus and cerith snails, and blue leg and scarlet hermits, but my big question is numbers. I’ve seen recommendations going heavier on snails, and I’ve seen starter CUC packs going heavier on hermits, or snails, depending on the seller. One of the LFS near me is advertising a starter pack with 3 trochus, 4 blue leg hermits and 2 scarlet hermits … this is kinda what I’m looking for but I don’t know if the numbers/division make sense for my tank size.

 

[lapin]

My 12g AIO has entered the ugly stage and I am beyond due for a clean up crew. I’ve got a layer of brown over everything, so I’m thinking diatoms and some cyano. Based on what I’ve read, I’m thinking some combination of trochus and cerith snails, and blue leg and scarlet hermits, but my big question is numbers. I’ve seen recommendations going heavier on snails, and I’ve seen starter CUC packs going heavier on hermits, or snails, depending on the seller. One of the LFS near me is advertising a starter pack with 3 trochus, 4 blue leg hermits and 2 scarlet hermits … this is kinda what I’m looking for but I don’t know if the numbers/division make sense for my tank size.

I would opt for more snails than hermits. More variety of snails than just 1 species.

 

[Idech]

If you have corals, I wouldn’t recommend hermits. They get on everything and can make your corals fall off the rocks by climbing on them.

 

[oreocookie]

I would opt for more snails than hermits. More variety of snails than just 1 species.

I’m also looking at suggestions for quantities of each… I’ve seen different recommendations in different places, and it’s a bit confusing. If I use the LFS’s preset pack as a starting point and modify it, do the numbers make sense for a 12g? I’m thinking 3 trochus, 3 cerith, 2 blue leg hermits and 1 scarlet hermit. I have seen suggestions of going all snails but I think the hermits might be fun to watch.

 

[oreocookie]

If you have corals, I wouldn’t recommend hermits. They get on everything and can make your corals fall off the rocks by climbing on them.

No corals yet, though I do plan to have some in the future.

 

[Reinboordt]

I’m a beginner also, I haven’t had a reef since 2008.ive been subsequently reading a lot and researching. I’ll be where you are in a few weeks Here’s what I’d do:

If you don’t have any corals you could reduce the photo period or intensity to try and help with the algal growth.

You could go for lower numbers and it would just take them longer to clear the issues. They have a very low bioload and will thrive on the “ugly” phase. Start with a few specimens of a couple different species of snails to get all the different areas clean.
Cerith, astraea, Trochus, turban whatever you can get a hold of get 2-3 of each for a balanced crew. Avoid huge species like turbos or the larger hermit crab species.
You can add more later if needed.

A single red leg hermit would work they’re small and quite easy to please.

If you do go with a hermit Provide some appropriately sized empty shells to prevent him trying to kill the snails for their shells as he grows.

Good luck!