Inverts for 20gal Nano

[xzebra007]

Hello - I will be building a 20gal Nano tank with a 11gal sump and am very new to all of this.

Was looking at some advice on when to start my cleanup crew and peaceful recommended tank mates? I also heard some add these at the beginning of the cycle and others do not add until they discover a small problem like algae and only add enough to address. What do most hear recommend with timing?

 

[lapin]

Until algae grows there is no need to add a clean up crew . Kinda like washing a clean car over and over.

 

[xzebra007]

Until algae grows there is no need to add a clean up crew . Kinda like washing a clean car over and over.

Thanks lapin

This is kind of how I viewed it, but like I said I am very new so thought I would get some good help like here like from yourself. What about for the bottom waste? Should I and anything to assist with keeping the bottom sand clean and if so when or what would you suggest?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Yep! Agreed with above. You don’t need to add hermits or snails until you’ve got algae and stuff for them to eat. If you wanted to add in a large shrimp (fire, peppermint, skunk, etc) and feed it (just pinch some mysis and put you hand underwater, the shrimp will naturally come over to clean your hand and it’ll take the food) then that’s cool. I’m not sure how well pom pom crabs or sexy shrimp would do so early on since they’re mainly very small particulate feeders but the large shrimp is definitely fine as long as you feed it. I have a fire in my 20 gallon and he’s super sweet, albeit a little reclusive if my hands aren’t inside the tank. The skunk cleaner in my 25 gallon is much more active for regular viewing, I always see him skittering around

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thanks lapin

This is kind of how I viewed it, but like I said I am very new so thought I would get some good help like here like from yourself. What about for the bottom waste? Should I and anything to assist with keeping the bottom sand clean and if so when or what would you suggest?

If you start seeing cyano, detritus buildup, hair algae, film algae, etc then that’s a sign you’re probably ready to start to CUC. Start small, maybe 3 hermits, 2 nassarius snails (sand bed cleaners), and 2 or 3 rocks/glass snails (astrea, turban, or stomatella snails are my favorites). If you find that this isn’t enough after a week or two then bump it up a little based on the problems you’re still having, so if your rocks are getting cyano and there’s a lot of detritus happening you should get a couple more hermits, dirty sand bed means more nassarius, etc

 

[PicassoClown04]

I would also give this handy dandy article a read so you can figure out which snails would be most beneficial for your tank and the problems you encounter. There’s also one for crabs if you feel like you need it

Best in Shell: Snails for the Reef Aquarium

A summary of the good and bad snails that you may run into with a reef aquarium.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[xzebra007]

Yep! Agreed with above. You don’t need to add hermits or snails until you’ve got algae and stuff for them to eat. If you wanted to add in a large shrimp (fire, peppermint, skunk, etc) and feed it (just pinch some mysis and put you hand underwater, the shrimp will naturally come over to clean your hand and it’ll take the food) then that’s cool. I’m not sure how well pom pom crabs or sexy shrimp would do so early on since they’re mainly very small particulate feeders but the large shrimp is definitely fine as long as you feed it. I have a fire in my 20 gallon and he’s super sweet, albeit a little reclusive if my hands aren’t inside the tank. The skunk cleaner in my 25 gallon is much more active for regular viewing, I always see him skittering around

Thanks a lot footgal
Certainly appreciate all the details. Was thinking of starting with (2) clowns, then adding a watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. Will this shrimp help keep the bottom clean or would I need more clean up later?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thanks a lot footgal
Certainly appreciate all the details. Was thinking of starting with (2) clowns, then adding a watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. Will this shrimp help keep the bottom clean or would I need more clean up later?

The shrimp and goby plus one or two nass snails should be more than enough for 20 gallons

 

[xzebra007]

The shrimp and goby plus one or two nass snails should be more than enough for 20 gallons

Including the clowns or without?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Including the clowns or without?

The clowns won’t do anything CUC wise, they’re just pretty