Cleaning Crew for 55 gallon reef tank

[COOLJOSH]

Started 55 gallon salt water reef tank 7 weeks back. Is there a thumb rule for number of cleaning crew ? I have been reading numbers like 1 (either snail or a crab) per gallon. What would be an appropriate number of snails and crabs for a 55 gallon reef tank ?

[demonsp]

55 sounds high. I would say about 10 of each then adding more if needed. But there are other cleanup critter sthat work better like stars cucumbers sifting gobys. So its best to balance with variaty.Remeber to add some empty shells cause crabs will kill other for there shell if none available or he like it heeh.

[tk1360]

I would say try 10-15 snails and the same number of crabs. Also consider adding a starfish which will work to eat all the left of detrius. Personally I have a few types of hermits and some turbos/astreas. Also as mentioned add a few empty shells to the tank. I learned the hard way. I had a massacre of turbos when I first added them to my tank and got to watch as the hermits happly paraded their new houses.

[Scuba_Steve]

Ya the 1 per gallon rule is pretty far off. You will just have a bunch of dead starved snails. I would get about 15 snails and 5-10 hermits, or about 20-25 snails and no hermits. Id also get 2 emerald crabs, and a conch to keep the sand clean.

[dime079]

it also depends on what type of snails josh. different snails for different jobs. my turbos are on the glass all day while the nas's and ceriths are always under the sandbed, until dark or feeding at least. i would go with no hermits to start off, ive always had problems with hermits even when keeping extra shells in the tank for them to "move" into. they always pick on the snails.

ps. pick on means kill :(

[demonsp]

Yea a good variety is best. i agree :)

[COOLJOSH]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

[Medaka]

Yeah it depends allot on your tank.

I only have 15 snails in my 75
and 10 of those are ceriths :)