Clean Up Crew : How Many???

[cdmsoc6]

I have 20 gal tank with about 30 pounds of live rock and recently added two clownfish. I have sand and crush coral at the bottom of my tank.

I have started to see the crush coral developing a black film. I believe this is from the clownfish waste.

What is the best CUC that I can add to make my crust coral look white again??How many should I add.


Thanks for your help!!!!

[crvz]

snails and crabs are the general consensus, but you'll want something that plows through the substrate if you're worried about a covering on the crushed coral. I may suggest nassarius snails, as they tend to borrow in the sand (though not having crushed coral experience, maybe others have better advice). I'd also highly recommend siphoning the fish wastes and black film if possible, as manual removal is considerably more effective than any biological treatment. Good luck!

[WaterKeeper]

I vote for the snails. I'm no longer keen on hermits or cukes as they tend to eat a lot of good cleaner organisms in the sand.

[dkh0331]

Another vote for snails only. I haven't had crabs for quite some time.

[spw4949]

I have an emerald crab but have recently become anti hermits!I loved my conch(a blue legged hermit took him out yesterday)he was great on my substrate. I also have nassarius & cerith,they both do a good job.HTH.

[xskyzx]

i have snails to but with 2 scarlet hermitcrabs, them seem to be more calm then the other crabs..

[cdmsoc6]

Thanks for all your input.

[tmz]

A few turbo or trochus snails will help. Nausarius will have hard time burying in crushed coral as will other sand sifters. Siphon it out from time to time and/or periodically puff it up with a turkey baster.

[sohal1025]

What about a Goby, as long as the crushed coral is small enough to sift, mine sifts almost non stop, and I have arragonite as a substrate.

[WaterKeeper]

With a Goby it is nice to have a refugium. That allows pods to breed without being eaten. The goby will appreciate it as they like eating pods.

[reefworm]

check out these guys...
http://reefcleaners.org

[LulusMoogle]

My hermits haven't imposed any problem and do a fantastic job. I've got 5 in my 29g along with an emerald crab. No snails, but I'm picking up some this weekend.

[reefworm]

Looking back at your first post, you might consider removing the crushed coral as it tends to be a detritus trap, and the sharp edges discourage the benthic life [worms, etc] that clean it up.