Cleanup Crew Misnomer ??

fragNplug · #1 03-07-2009, 05:19 PM

I have had a number of reef tanks for a very long and have always been setback at the so called experts and their recommendation of 1snail and 1crab per gallon of water.

I have one 45 gallon tank with 4 crabs and 3 snails, and everything seems inplace.
My other ones have more but i still have wondered if there was every a reasoning for this other then retailers trying to make a forutne.
Considering a hermit crab is 5$ and a 90 gallon tank would require 90 thats 450$ in crabs, say the same for snails your looking at 900$ for a basic cleanup crew.
Your ideas?

mark · #2 03-07-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fragNplug

I have had a number of reef tanks for a very long and have always been setback at the so called experts and their recommendation of 1snail and 1crab per gallon of water.

Your ideas?

that expert wouldn't happen to be a LFS sales person

fragNplug · #3 03-07-2009, 05:27 PM

Chances are it could be but almost every place on the internet that sells crabs recommends it, so im wondering how they got to decide what is the recommended amount and become the norm.
This site that is more informations say on averge 1 per 2 to 5 gallons
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0305/medprod3.php

Mrfish55 · #4 03-07-2009, 05:25 PM

1 per gallon, Ha! I would be in for over 6K just in clean-up crew, I have about a dozen hermits and maybe 2 doz asst snails, my tank looks good but I do not run an overly high bioload either.

Leah · #5 03-07-2009, 05:30 PM

That is news to me, I always panic when I don't see any more than 2 doz. in my 72 gal
and order more. Never actually put a price on it. Huh, now I know. Thanks

Tom R · #6 03-07-2009, 05:46 PM

The reason you need all of the snails is they become food for the crabs. The crabs now well fed on snails ignore the algae they were supposed to control.

Tom R

Leah · #7 03-07-2009, 05:54 PM

HAHAHA, You can say that again. Oh so true!

fragNplug · #8 03-07-2009, 06:13 PM

That makes the most sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom R

The reason you need all of the snails is they become food for the crabs. The crabs now well fed on snails ignore the algae they were supposed to control.

Tom R

Drock169 · #9 03-08-2009, 06:13 AM

I always say start with less and add more as you need them.