Hermit Crab and Snail for Refugium

[beehive124]

Could/Should I toss a cleanup crew in my refugium?

 

[Lavey29]

Why do you need it? I thought about a snail or two to clean the glass maybe.

 

[1fastfxr]

I have a couple trochus snails in mine. They're basically there to keep the film algea off the glass since I don't scrape it on a regular basis.

 

[beehive124]

Why do you need it? I thought about a snail or two to clean the glass maybe.

Pretty much. The glass is getting a bit dirty

 

[WheatToast]

Could/Should I toss a cleanup crew in my refugium?

What else are you planning to grow in your refugium/will it contain any rocks or substrate?

 

[Spare time]

Could/Should I toss a cleanup crew in my refugium?

I keep a giant turbo snail or two down there to keep out pest algae.

 

[shakacuz]

i personally have a "small" CUC in my fuge.

i have 3 astrea snails, 1 bumble bee, about 6-8 very small blue legged hermit crabs, 1 cerith snail, 1 trochus snail, 1 lettuce nudibranch, and an emerald crab. i predict the hermit crabs will compete with each other for shells/food since there is only chaeto and hair algae down there. snails are for film/HA/cyano, crabs & nudi are for detritus or any unwanted complex algae that comes up (i was battling bryopsis previously but have since won the battle.)

3 chambers(skimmer, fuge, and return.) the hermit, and emerald crab freely go from the skimmer chamber to the fuge chamber due to their size.

 

[beehive124]

What else are you planning to grow in your refugium/will it contain any rocks or substrate?

I have chateo and live rock rubble in there.

 

[beehive124]

I keep a giant turbo snail or two down there to keep out pest algae.

That’s what I’m thinking to do

 

[Tim McLellan]

I have some hermits in my HOB fuge. I ordered a sexy shrimp with the intent of having it in the DT, but it was so tiny I was afraid it would get gulped up by my watchman goby, so I threw it in the fuge. Seems to be doing fine in there. Every once in a while I squirt some pellets in the bottom so everyone has enough to eat. Reading this thread I think I'll add a few snails to clean the walls. It's almost like a little pico tank attached to the display.

 

[beehive124]

I have some hermits in my HOB fuge. I ordered a sexy shrimp with the intent of having it in the DT, but it was so tiny I was afraid it would get gulped up by my watchman goby, so I threw it in the fuge. Seems to be doing fine in there. Every once in a while I squirt some pellets in the bottom so everyone has enough to eat. Reading this thread I think I'll add a few snails to clean the walls. It's almost like a little pico tank attached to the display.

I have an HOB fuge as well. How big is yours?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Could/Should I toss a cleanup crew in my refugium?

You can but not necessary

 

[Jeffcb]

I am going to add a couple snails to the fuge. Excellent idea!

My banned from the tank coralline eating pencil urchin craws over the filter socks trying to get to it. I let him in there yesterday. Wonder how that will work out. I better check on him lol.

 

[Tim McLellan]

I have an HOB fuge as well. How big is yours?

It's holds maybe 2 gallons or so of water.

 

[WheatToast]

I have chateo and live rock rubble in there.

Thanks!
A wide variety of CUC could work out, though I would add Dove snails (Columbellidae) since their small size helps them clean macroalgae fronds and small crevices. However, they are prolific breeders (though there is high demand for these snails, so you could sell them as they multiply).

Link to purchase:
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/tank-cleaners/lightning-dove-snail-detail

My banned from the tank coralline eating pencil urchin craws over the filter socks trying to get to it. I let him in there yesterday. Wonder how that will work out. I better check on him lol.

I am curious to see what will happen. From what I have seen and heard, urchins will readily eat almost any macroalgae, so I would proceed with caution (assuming you have macroalgae in your refugium).

 

[beehive124]

Thanks @WheatToast