Cleanup crew recommendation for 12 gallon JBJ NanoCube

[sharkie]

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for a cleanup crew for a 12 gallon nano-reef. (i.e. types of snails/crabs/stars and quantity). Since, I want to add corals, they also need to be coral friendly.

And also, where would be the best place to buy this in Austin?

Thanks!

chiu

[cpreefguy]

Hmmm...astrea vibex (2 per gallon), (1) lettuce nudi's, and a couple of regular astreas should do the trick. Fin-addict here in SA has awesome prices on that kind of stuff

[alexwolf]

nassarius vibex, i would go with 12-15 of them. 24 will be too much for that tank. A few cerith snails, and prob 10-15 astreas. Also, a harlequin serpent star would be good, they are kinda small and very reef safe.

[Tim Marvin]

I'll go with either one of these choices, although the nudibranch are difficult to keep out of pumps, overflows, and other such death traps.

[alexwolf]

yeah i lost many to powerheads. I wont even try to keep em now.

[Tim Marvin]

When I used to bring them in I'd set up a ten gallon tank for them with low flow and big sponges on the powerhead.

[cvonseggern]

They *might* survive in a nanocube if you seal the stock "overflow" grill and cut teeth in the top of the bulkhead like a lot of people do. But yeah, it's iffy. I won't keep them anymore either.

[MikeDeL]

I have 3 astreas, 6 nassarius, 3 hermits, an emerald crab, and 2 porcelin crabs. Im probably going to get a couple more astreas and hermits soon, but what I have does a pretty good job.


Mike

[Reef69]

Sharkie, you could also try bumblee bee snails..they are pretty cool..

[Tim Marvin]

Bumblebees are harder to find, but very cool shells.

[Reef69]

I have a few, can give you a cpl for your nano

[sharkie]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all the replies.

Now, I have even more questions. :)

It seems like a lot of you are recommending astreas. I read on the net that seem to be a little more fragile than other snails, in the fact that they may flip over and can't right themselves. In your experience, have you noticed that?

I was also told that it would be better to get a variety of snails instead of one type. How many varieties should I go for? I really do like the bumblebee snails. If I went with a few of those, and a few of the astreas, could I go with another type? And what type should that be?

How about crabs? Are there better small crabs to get over another? Or are they all the same?

I apologize for all the questions, but I want to make sure I get all the correct information before I start building up my cleanup crew...

Thanks again!

chiu

[Andrew]

Astrea do a good job on the glass, IME the astreas have the most trouble when in the first week after they're added. After this period, they seem to not fall over. Many of mine are now approaching 1 1/2 years in captivity.

I also like the large tongan nassarius, they eat more meaty foods, and stir up the sand very well.

cerith snails seem to do pretty well cleaning LR, as do (black shell) turbos, and astreas.

Mexican turbos (very large) do a good job on many algaes, but tend to knock things over, especially small frags, so I only employ the first three types I mentioned, in my reefs.

HTH

Andrew