After around three weeks or so my tank cycled, ammonia and nitrites hit zero, nitrates spiked so I did a 75% water change the other day.
As my tank was now covered with diatoms and green hair algae, I purchased a small clean up crew today, this was its composition.
x2 Scarlet hermit crabs
x2 Blue legged hermit crabs
x1 Trochus snail
x1 Cerith snail
x1 Emerald crab
I drip acclimated the hermits for around forty minutes, the emerald for an hours, and the snails for an hour and a half. So far the scarlet hermits have moved slowly on the sand eating detritus and algae, while the blue legs are much more active, moving around the tank and climbing up on the rock work. The cerith snail has mostly been crawling on one piece of rock, and the trochus was on the sand before moving up the glass.
I would have to say that the emerald crab is the most entertaining member of the CuC so far, its been climbing around the rock work, through caves and crevices eating hair algae like a beast. Interestingly enough it appears to be missing one claw.I know some people have problems with emeralds, but i'm very impressed with mine.
Here are some pictures