Underrated Clean Up Crew members?

chris85 · May 9, 2018

Molly Miller's will eat hair algae and macro, but they wont touch cyano either just wanted to let you know so you didn't waste your money.

JBKReef · May 9, 2018

My tuxedo urchin... an army of snails cant compete with the one urchin I have. I moved him to an island that the snails were not doing a good job on, it was amazing to watch him mow it down. So far no problems with him, I'm more than impressed with how well he cleans.

Sump Crab · May 9, 2018

Conch - these guys are true workhorses and keep the sand bed and lower rocks spotless. Mine is a Tiger Conch.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/invert-spotlight-conch.295453/

Sallstrom · May 9, 2018

We've started up two large tanks at work with a couple of Ctenochaetus surgeons, tuxedo and diadema urchins. They do a great job as the base of the CUC.

/ David

mitch91175 · May 9, 2018

CoralNerd said:
Sand Sifting Stars don't seem to last very long even in my mature tank.

What amount of time do you think they last in your system?

Dburr1014 · May 9, 2018

chris85 said:
Molly Miller's will eat hair algae and macro, but they wont touch cyano either just wanted to let you know so you didn't waste your money.

Found this on advanced aquarist

Diet and feeding behavior

S. cristata exerts an enormous influence on the trophodynamics of the habitats in which it occurs. It feeds heavily on epilithic (especially filamentous) algae; nevertheless, it is best regarded as an omnivore, rather than an herbivore, for the reason that in the course of grazing it ingests a very wide variety of items included in the epilithic algal matrix (e.g., detritus and microorganisms). Further, it may target certain small sessile invertebrates (e.g., Aiptasiaspp. anemones). It has even been observed feeding on fish carrion. In one gut content analysis, 41 different food items could be identified.

chris85 · May 9, 2018

Dburr1014 said:
Found this on advanced aquarist

Diet and feeding behavior

S. cristata exerts an enormous influence on the trophodynamics of the habitats in which it occurs. It feeds heavily on epilithic (especially filamentous) algae; nevertheless, it is best regarded as an omnivore, rather than an herbivore, for the reason that in the course of grazing it ingests a very wide variety of items included in the epilithic algal matrix (e.g., detritus and microorganisms). Further, it may target certain small sessile invertebrates (e.g., Aiptasiaspp. anemones). It has even been observed feeding on fish carrion. In one gut content analysis, 41 different food items could be identified.

I have been studing and keeping them for about six years and have never see them touch a aiptasia.

Not saying not to get one they are awesome and I love them... I just didn't want you to get one to do something and it wind up not helping in the way you thought they were going to.

They do love the company to a certain extent but I found stocking densities to be about two fish per. 20gallons.

Just so we are talking about the same fish do you have a scientific name?

CoralNerd · May 9, 2018

Say 3 to 6 months

Dburr1014 · May 9, 2018

chris85 said:
I have been studing and keeping them for about six years and have never see them touch a aiptasia.

Not saying not to get one they are awesome and I love them... I just didn't want you to get one to do something and it wind up not helping in the way you thought they were going to.

They do love the company to a certain extent but I found stocking densities to be about two fish per. 20gallons.

Just so we are talking about the same fish do you have a scientific name?

Scrartella christata

chris85 · May 9, 2018

Yep the same fish... I could be wrong but i have not see them eat or even pick at aiptasia!!

Dburr1014 · May 9, 2018

I have read about a test done with them. 2 tanks, lots of aptasia, these fish in 1 of the tanks. Cleaned it. They put them in the other tank, samething.
Maybe they were just hungry? Seems documented tho.
We will see. I'm fighting a same outbreak, keep kalking them and still more. Hope it keeps the aps at bay.

Reefin Dude · May 9, 2018

being a BB person.

Trochus, Stomatella, and Ceriths as they self populate. i am also a big fan of ghost shrimp. great at getting left overs. small claws, so they do not bother other shrimp.

G~

Ferrell · May 9, 2018

A good pod population. Since the DT has been fallow (4 wks) the pods have gone nuts. Munch on the algae on glass all day

wannaheli · May 11, 2018

Turbo Snails for the rocks.

Fighting Conch for the sand bed. Sand bed is super clean since I've add them.

RobertN · May 11, 2018

savetheocean said:
Do I have to worry about them climbing walls into my powerheads?

It's a possibility. Not frequently or often happening, but it has happened to some folks. Best to use some plastic mesh over the powerheads if you get one.

savetheocean · May 13, 2018

RobertN said:
It's a possibility. Not frequently or often happening, but it has happened to some folks. Best to use some plastic mesh over the powerheads if you get one.

They're very slow, I've been watching them. They're doing fine. Thanks

125gSW · May 13, 2018

Ferrell said:
A good pod population. Since the DT has been fallow (4 wks) the pods have gone nuts. Munch on the algae on glass all day

I cant seem to get a good pod population going, I've tried adding from Algaebarn numerous times, it has not worked yet. Any tips?

wannaheli said:
Turbo Snails for the rocks.

Fighting Conch for the sand bed. Sand bed is super clean since I've add them.

Are conchs safe with blue hermit crabs and a pistol shrimp?

SDReefer · May 17, 2018

Reefin Dude said:
being a BB person.

Trochus, Stomatella, and Ceriths as they self populate. i am also a big fan of ghost shrimp. great at getting left overs. small claws, so they do not bother other shrimp.

G~

Hi @Reefin Dude,
How do you acclimate ghost shrimp to saltwater? Do most of them survive the transition? I'm trying to do this with my tank too.

Thanks!

Ferrell · May 17, 2018

125gSW said:
I cant seem to get a good pod population going, I've tried adding from Algaebarn numerous times, it has not worked yet. Any tips?

Are conchs safe with blue hermit crabs and a pistol shrimp?

First I don’t have algae in my refugium where most people grow them. Just some rubble that my hermits pic over.
Only thing I did was use a pvc pipe to pour them near the sand bed after lights out and fed them ocean magic every night. Took about 2 months before I saw visible signs of a population. Gotta think fish were eating them too since going fallow they’ve exploded. I don’t clean my side glass often and my back only occasionally and they’re all over it eating daily. Good luck too you hope this helps