Clean up crew

[mraysberg]

What are some of the best cleanup crews you have in your reef tank? Thinking about adding some into the tank to combat the ugly phase or at least help out when I’m not cleaning things myself

 

[tzabor10]

That depends on what is going on with your ugly phase. I had tons of green hair algae. Got about 8 turbos and it was mostly gone. Blue legged hermit crabs are good all around. I like a deep sand bed, So sand sifting starfish, and lots of conch roam my tanks.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

My top pick for a clean up crew, is a cleaner shrimp. While they don't really help the ugly phase, they help in many other ways. Some great options for a CUC that help with the ugly stage are:

Nassarius snails
Blue legged hermits
Tiger conch
Sand sifting starfish
Turbo snails

There are many other options, but these are some of my favorites. These all depend on tank size, and features. Do your research, and best of luck!

 

[Red_Beard]

I am the other way round kinda. I don’t much care for hermit crabs, but turbos are great for hair. Astraea are great for smaller crevices that some turbos can’t reach, cerith too. I also like tuxedo urchins

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Copepods help.

 

[lostmojo]

my favorite crab, scarlet hermit crabs, they clean well and look awesome. I love turbo snails for snails and my newest favorite general helper is a tiger conch, they are amazing and really funny how they move and eat.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I was dealing with some long green hair algae in my 40 gallon softie tank. Got a single small emerald crab and it is mostly gone now. It’s amazing how quickly he’s made it happen too. Yes, you have to be careful with emeralds and sometimes they do go rogue but this has been amazing.

 

[EricR]

My personal votes:
- Nassarius snails for sandbed (detritus)
- Trochus snails for general/broad areas (algae)

*Blue legged hermit crabs are great for GHA in rock pockets but I don't keep hermits for other, specific reasons anymore

Honorable mentions:
- Tuxedo or pincushion urchin but there's some CONs, especially if you ever have loose frags
- Conch for silly/fun factor (I like tiger sand conch but others are cool too)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I've had trochus snails in mine and they got rid of my algae issues

 

[kevgib67]

For rock, in order of the best, tuxedo urchin, turbo sails, trochus snails, emerald crabs, dwarf red and blue legged hermits, ceriths snails and ninja star snails. Remember you need to manually keep gha short for them to eat it.
Sandbed, tiger conches and nassarius snails. Also a big shout out to my diamond watchman goby!