Clean up crews (a civil discussion)

So... I have looked around a bit and noticed that many people keep many different types of cleanup crews. So I want to gather some examples and information for new comers and starter-upers with regards to this topic. Specifically tank size and stock count (roughly... Let's call it a floating count)





So I will start her off here:


75Dt (150 gallon system wide)


Snails: I keep a combo of snails to both lift substrate and clean glass. I have three Turbo snails (that are enormous at this point) three Astraea snails, two bumble bee snails (great for cleaning up in between rock space) four margarita snails, and 10-15 nassarius snails to stir up the substrate.


Crabs: I have two Emerald crabs, and one 'strawberry shortcake' boxing crab. And three hermits


Stars: Sand sifting star


Shrimps: I have a fire shrimp and a coral banded.


Alternates: none in this tank





SO in the 75 the only thing I would change is to add a group of 4-5 candy cane shrimp, two cleaner shrimp and two peppermint shrimp. But the coral banded prevents this (as a note, Coral banded shrimp are, yes, very active and make a great eye catcher esp for those new to the hobby. But they are seriously harmful to a reef tank. Eating not only other inverts and clean up crews but picking at soft corals, actively hunting fish and so forth. I would never purchase one again. And considering this one is three years old I hope to be rid of her soon.





40 DT(110 system wide)


Snails: two margarita, one turbo and 8-10 nassarius


Crabs: I have an Emerald crabs. And two hermits


Stars: Sand sifting star


Shrimps: Three candy cane shrimp, Two cleaner skunks, two peppermint shrimp (and a clutch or two of babies yet to be ident'ed in the sump.


Alternates: None





One thing I want to point out for all tanks, the amount of hermit crabs that the online 'clean up packages' will sell you is seriously detrimental to you if you want any copepod or amphipod populations or plan to keep any dragonettes. The shear number even after die off is so huge! So keep an eye on that.




So whats your set up for a clean up crew, and do you have any guidelines that you follow?