Clean up crew (#)

[White Hair]

i have a 3-4 month old 30 gal reef tank, was reading that you need 1 clean up crew per gal, first is this an accurate figure, if so could you guys give me a breakdown on what kind and how many of each. My chemistry is pretty good but getting green algae on the glass.At the present i have 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 emerald crab, 2-3 hermit crabs, 4-5 snails not sure what kind, they are the ones that right themselves, also heard if there no hair algae the emerald crab will bother your corals, just bought 3 zoanthids today, thanks in advance for any help or advice that you may provide.

 

[stanleo]

i have a 3-4 month old 30 gal reef tank, was reading that you need 1 clean up crew per gal, first is this an accurate figure, if so could you guys give me a breakdown on what kind and how many of each. My chemistry is pretty good but getting green algae on the glass.At the present i have 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 emerald crab, 2-3 hermit crabs, 4-5 snails not sure what kind, they are the ones that right themselves, also heard if there no hair algae the emerald crab will bother your corals, just bought 3 zoanthids today, thanks in advance for any help or advice that you may provide.

I think you have the right amount. If you get too many they could end up starved for food and die off causing a nutrient spike that will feed more algae causing you to get more cleanup crew and the cycle starts again. Algae at this stage is normal and eventually rights itself. I have a 120 and started with ten snails, ten hermits, a couple conchs and later 3 emeralds, sand sifting starfish and a long spine urchin. 11 months I only lost four hermits and my tank is algae free. But in the beginning that wasn't the case.

 

[Zach W]

Check out Reef cleaners website. I’ve gotten my original CUC and refreshes through them and it’s been great! You pick your tank size and they have selections right there!
@reefcleaners

 

[lapin]

Green algae can be controlled somewhat with pods. They like film algae.

 

[Wolf89]

1 per gallon is largely considered inaccurate nowadays. 1 per 5-10 gallons is recommended

 

[Jwoott]

I would say you are fine with that. I have the same size tank and about the same amount of snails and crabs that do the job perfect. 1 cuc per gallon always seems way too much imo. Put too many in and they end up starving and dying and contributing the wrong way to any algae problems.