[hjmtv]

What do you all use for a clean up crew? I have a crushed coral substrate (waiting for SD to come to MI) and none of my snails (Turbo) or crabs (Hairy, Blue-legged & Red-legged) will clean the crushed coral. They only clean the LR.[-banghead] Pls help.

 

[Will C]

how old is the crushed coral? did you seed it with live sand? if so i could sell you a tiger tail cucumber. i have 4 now it keeps splitting in my reef.

 

[hjmtv]

The coral was installed when the tank began 12/02 and I did not seed it with anything. I did add approx 50 small hermits as soon as the cycle was over but they won't clean the coral, just the LR. I added 3 turbos 1 week ago but they also stay only on the LR. Is a cucumber the only critter that doesn't mind the irregular surface of the crushed coral? I thought cucs were difficult to keep and if they turn south, the whole tank goes. What is your experience and asking price? Thanks.

 

[Rook]

I had one cuc and will not get another for just that reason. Also, when you switch to sand, you don't want to have blue-legs as they like to eat the pods and worms in the sand which you need. Don't you vaccume the cc? That should be all you need to do. Or buy a sand star, but you don't want a sand star once you get sand, as they too eat the good critters.

 

[hjmtv]

I vacuum but also a bit of a neat freak so I would need to vacuum every 3 days or so. No thanks. Looks like I'm in a catch 22 since I do want to change to a dsb ASAP. Thanks for the input.

 

[Will C]

i wont get a star for the simple reason they eat most corals and anemonies. i have had these cukes for a long time and have never had a problem with them. i have heard of them dying in tanks with no ill effects as long as you get them out in time (the same day). the tiger tail is one of the most hardiest cukes out there. i do have other kinds of cukes also (the filter feeder kind) and they also so just fine. as long as your prams are good i dont see a problem. i would want $20 for him. there about 6-10" long depending on which one i grab lol. they just spilt last night again so i do have a smaller one available now.

 

[Rook]

There are stars that don't eat corals or anemone. Such as sand stars, brittle/serpent stars, linkias.

 

[Will C]

i know but once you have a star eat a 12" seabae anemonie you just dont trust any of them anymore.

 

[hjmtv]

I guess I don't have a strong feeling either way at this point. Would either a star or a cuc climb on the LR? I think if they physically can't get up or stick on, they will have to clean the substrate. Thanks.

 

[Rook]

hjmtv,

Do you have any cerith or nassirious snails? Those work well on my sand. Not sure about cc. You could get a sand star for the cc and then sell it if you switch to dsb. Make sure you have a lot of critters for it to eat though or it will starve. Cleaner shrimp will mess with substrate looking for food and sort of clean it.

Will, what kind of star did you have that ate your anemone?

 

[Will C]

this guy ate him. and my choclate chip wanted some also. so i sold them both. also my tiger tails live in the live rock untill it gets dark then they venture out into the sand. i have even seen them on the glass eating algea.

Download Attachment Bigstar.jpg
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[hjmtv]

I've heard that conch (queen or fighting) do a great job on keeping a sand bed clean. Any one have one on CC? Maybe this is just going to force me to switch to a dsb.[D]

 

[Rook]

Fighting conch like to bury themselves so I don't think they would like cc. Queen though, I would think would be good. They can get very large though, and bluelegs like to kill them.

 

[hjmtv]

Sounds like Tropical Buff has 8 bags of SD for me anyway so this thread is now mute. Thanks for everybody's input[D] Maybe we all see a new thread on clean up crews for sand here pretty soon (wink wink)[^]