When to add clean up crew?

Slickbaby · #1 03/03/2007, 01:35 PM

Hey guys,

I was just wondering if there is an optimal time to add a clean up crew to a tank? I dont want to add them too early and have nothing for them to eat, but I dont want to wait until my tank is in dire need of them either.

I have a ~240gal system thats been up and running since Oct/Nov of last year. Not a whole lot in there, aside from sand and LR. few chromis, 5-10 turbos, 5-10 hermits, 4 nassarius, 1 emerald, and if he's still alive, 1 diamond goby...

I was looking at adding reeftopia's total reef care package #1 but I dont know if its too early to add that much of a cleanup crew to the tank? All levels are pretty decent, except nitrates which are at about 15ppm.

Thanx in advance!

Trekkie · #2 03/03/2007, 02:35 PM

I'd shoot the folks at Reeftopia a note and see what they say, but I'd think you might want to get about half the crew you need for your size of tank until you get the bioload where you want, otherwise the snails will get eaten by the hermit crabs and then they'd probably starve a few off before you balanced out.

alan214 · #3 03/03/2007, 02:36 PM

It's probably okay to add them now seeing as you already have fish.

alan214 · #4 03/03/2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trekkie
I'd shoot the folks at Reeftopia a note and see what they say, but I'd think you might want to get about half the crew you need for your size of tank until you get the bioload where you want, otherwise the snails will get eaten by the hermit crabs and then they'd probably starve a few off before you balanced out.

You can actually feed the hermits flake food in the meantime.

Slickbaby · #5 03/03/2007, 02:49 PM

Ok, I'll shoot them an email and see what they say. I'm starting to get some cyano and little patches of hair algae on the sandbed, which is why I'm concerned.

I'm only feeding the tank twice a week...flake and cyclopeeze.

Slickbaby · #6 03/03/2007, 02:51 PM

While I'm waiting for a response from them, would adding all of that stuff at once cause havoc with my tank? Seems like a ton to add all at once?

Trekkie · #7 03/03/2007, 03:21 PM

I had no issues when I did it a year or two ago after my tank had been running for a few months. No noticeable spike in water chemistry, and they chugged along just fine. a few of the snails expired but the hermits and others took their shells and kept going.