Clean Up Crew

hey guys got a 4 foot 90 gallon tank i just ordered 20 snails and 20 hermit crabs will this be enough to clean it effectively

 

I'm pretty new but judging by what I[ve seen in other peoples tanks and the cleaner packs I see online and through the LFS I'd say you would probably need more.

 

how much more and what do i put in

 

Well that would all depend on what you're cleaning up. I know some people that use starfish and some don't like to. Some crabs will eat GHA if that's what you're trying to do. Some snails, crabs etc usually make a good foundation. It all depends. Some of the more seasoned veterans will chime in on what and how many as I do not want to throw around info being new to SW myself.

 

well im that new that i dont know what any of those abreviations mean lol what is GHA im guessing SW is Salt Water am i wrong

 

GHA=Green hair algae. I'm sorry for using acronyms.... i use them all day at work too and have to catch myself often when I get puzzled looks!!

 

well i got a big black star fish came in on the rock i bought its pretty huge like 25 cm i dont know what that is in inchesdo they eat your fish

 

I was looking for a thread I thought I'd seen at one point with all of the common acronyms used here but I cannot find it.

 

The size of the clean up crew that you will need depends on lots of diff factors.

eg size of tank, amount of rock, number and types of fish, type of lights, how long they are left on for etc etc

Everyone here will have slightly differing ideas as to how big your CUC should be and what it should be made up of. (your other thread asking people to list their tank specs and CUC is a great idea).

As far as I can tell there are 2 diff ways of geting the right crew for your tank. Either you can start small and gradually add more, or you can start with a CUC that is too large and let them naturally adjust to the correct level.

With regards to what your CUC should be made up of it depends on personnel preferences. Hermits and snails are generally a good idea, I like shrimp, some people swear by urchins and starfish. Your fish and corals will also have some bearing on choice of CUC.

Good luck and have fun

PS We need lots of pics;D

 

I don't think so, no.

You'll need a variety of snails for different jobs.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/whats-your-clean-up-crew-61780.html#post585843