Alright guys, it's coming up on 2 weeks since the tank has been up and theres some significant algae starting to show up (nothing major, yet, and I'd like to keep it that way ). Ammo/Nitrite is 0 and theres still some trates.

So, I figured, might as well get a CuC going in there soon (maybe this weekend, if not then next.. due to work sched the weekend is all I get ). Here's the starter list that I've come up with. Let me know what you think.. any input/suggestions/life experience is appreciated It's a 20H.

2x Asterea
5x Trochus
4x Nerite
4x Ceriths
1x Turbo (small, mazatlanicus \ argyrostoma)
1x Nassarius
3x scarlet hermit (tiny)
1x blue hermit (tiny)
1x Emerald crab (perhaps, still not sold on this one... maybe further down the line)

Shifts will be made based on availability at LFS. This is probably a bit much eh? If so, what path would I want to start from.

IMO, you would do better with either zero or one or two hermits. Astraea have a hard time righting themselves if they fall upside down. Nerites are okay, but many are intertidal and will stay out of the water (sometimes crawling out of the tank) for a while. Trochuses and the smaller Turbo species are great. Nassarius are kind of okay, but bristle worms are a more effective scavenger. If you do get an emerald, try to get a smaller individual; not all individuals are reef safe. In general crabs are not to be trusted. CUC info:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/cleanupcrew.html

I've read that page a dozen times. However, I've read many others as well.. no one source is ever gospel. Especially online.

From all I've seen, the scarlet hermits seem to not be a problem, but the blues are a bit more dangerous. I figure there needs to be something eating meaty watse, molts, etc in there and the rest seem to be herbivores (red hermits included).

The scarlet hermits are also the only option I've seen for hair algae. Combined with their generally minimal level of disruption and small initial size, I think 2 will be ok.

thanks for the tip on nerites climbing out of the tank.. I'll keep an eye out for that. And, so far, no bristleworms to be seen.

I've got an invert only 7.5G plumbed to a 5.5G sump. It's not a particularly long running tank, but I've got probably 3-5x the CUC you do.


Yes, mine is overdone, a lot of the reason for the size was freebies with the order, but i've got:

Close to a dozen hermits, blue and white leg
5 nassarius snails (will be adding more)
More than a dozen ceriths
5 dwarf ceriths
5 nerites
2 red mithrax crabs
brittle star (4" max)
serpent star (3" or so)


I've got some extra hermit shells to keep them from killing all my snails and a peppermint shrimp and a cbs to round out everything but corals and hitchhikers. In my time observing I've not seen any of the somewhat 'notorious' members of my CUC pick on any corals other than stepping on them or trying to climb them.

Turbos get big, their size means they can and will knock over frags and smaller rocks, but they also plough through algae. I think I shied away from asterias because they are somewhat known to crawl out - I've got an open top tank.

All in all you've probably got enough and you probably won't have problems with what you have listed, but as always your experience will vary.

P.S. any crabs that eat algae(s) will eat GHA. Nerites and turbos will too (and probably most of the larger snails) as well as urchins.

If you really want hermits, read this (title is misleading).
http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwater-aquar...ius-snails.aspx

So basically, they boil it down to there are 5 key things that a hermit-replacement would have to do.. then say nothing can do it (except various worms, which I don't seem to have yet). Now, the title was about Nassarius snails.. is that saying they will fit this role?

Also, the article focuses mainly on the blue hermits. Like I mentioned above, I would prefer to get the reds over the blues as most of the time it's the blues that are causing problems.

that was a really good read though, made some good points. Seems like it can be handled by making sure to not over-stock the CuC and maybe dropping some pellets or something meaty in from time to time to make sure the crabs are happy, a little treat for them to keep them away from the snails.

Also updated the list.. thinking about not getting a turbo unless they have one of the smaller species