Clean up crew for 13 gal reef tank.

[FireHouseReef]

Does the attached photo look like a good clean up crew for my tank? I wanted an emerald crab too but I guess they need something to eat and my tank it too clean.

 

[reefinatl]

I would avoid hermit crabs in a small tank, even with empty shells they will tend to eat a snail because they are like that sometimes.

My suggestion is
3 nassaurius
2 trochus or one turbo
10 dwarf ceriths
1 emerald, just give it some food.

 

[FireHouseReef]

I would avoid hermit crabs in a small tank, even with empty shells they will tend to eat a snail because they are like that sometimes.

My suggestion is
3 nassaurius
2 trochus or one turbo
10 dwarf ceriths
1 emerald, just give it some food.

any suggestions on food for the emerald?

 

[pandaparties]

any suggestions on food for the emerald?

Mine always ate pellets that the other fish missed but ymmv

 

[reefinatl]

any suggestions on food for the emerald?

What ever you give the clowns send a bit his way. Pellets, shrimp, etc. Won't take long to get life humming along in there and you won't need to target feed for more than a few weeks.

 

[FireHouseReef]

Updated list from recommendations.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I have one Halloween hermit in my Evo. It's...fine, but still knocks over anything that isn't glued down and makes a mess of things. One hermit crab is more than enough in a tank this size.

I'd double down on the trochus snails. Ceriths are great, but trochus snails are much better algae vacuums. I'd consider an urchin if you can afford it as well. I have three (one in a 4g jar), and they're great.

 

[Mikedawg]

Doesn't look to me like your tank needs "cleaning up" - what are you trying to manage? IME the #1 reason cuc members die is lack of appropriate food, so I would wait until you see more algae, etc.

 

[FireHouseReef]

My tanks only a little over 2 weeks old and I just added fish so I figured the algae is coming eventually with more waste now. I see what your saying and don't want to over do it with the CUC if there is nothing to clean. Based on the advice I will start slow with just one hermit and snail. I would enjoy a tuxedo urchin if I see one for sale.

 

[davidcalgary29]

My tanks only a little over 2 weeks old and I just added fish so I figured the algae is coming eventually with more waste now. I see what your saying and don't want to over do it with the CUC if there is nothing to clean. Based on the advice I will start slow with just one hermit and snail. I would enjoy a tuxedo urchin if I see one for sale.

#mikedawg is right, though: your CUC needs to eat. You might have to feed them algae pellets to tide them over until algae growth starts.

What are your water parameters like? When did this tank finish its cycle? You can't add inverts if NH3 is still a problem.

 

[Mikedawg]

My tanks only a little over 2 weeks old and I just added fish so I figured the algae is coming eventually with more waste now. I see what your saying and don't want to over do it with the CUC if there is nothing to clean. Based on the advice I will start slow with just one hermit and snail. I would enjoy a tuxedo urchin if I see one for sale.

Yeah tuxedos are a favorite of mine and will eat nori if you need to supplement

 

[FireHouseReef]

#mikedawg is right, though: your CUC needs to eat. You might have to feed them algae pellets to tide them over until algae growth starts.

What are your water parameters like? When did this tank finish its cycle? You can't add inverts if NH3 is still a problem.

I did an active bacteria starter. Cycle completed in about 10 days. I added fish week 2 and planning on adding inverts week 4.

Temp: 76
PH: 7.8
Salinity: 1.025
Alk: 80 ppm
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20