Clean up Crew

[bradsark]

I am in the process of cycling a new 150 gallon tank. I have 150 lbs live rock, some live sand, skimmer, and the usual other equipment. When looking at the "Clean up Crews" they seem to be sold according to tank size. Will adding a "150 gallon clean up crew" to a new tank raise ammonia levels too quickly? It is obviously cheaper to buy them all at once, but not if you are going to kill everything.

 

[kparton]

If your tank is done cycling, don't worry about the size of the cleanup crew. Since the clean up crew is there to clean up more detritus than they will create, they really don't contribute greatly to your bio load. If you have plenty of cured live rock, adding the right size crew will be OK.

Acclimate them very slowly to the new tank and still be ready to remove dead snails from the tank if they can be reached easily. Although they will be eaten by the crabs, it's still a good idea to get out the ones that you can reach.

 

[bradsark]

ok thanks. no the tank is not done cycling yet. I need to wait until it is before I add the clean up crew, right?

 

[kparton]

Yes, some of the invertebrates in your clean up crew are quite sensitive and your ammonia and nitrite levels definitely need to be down to 0. Some people on this list have recommended at least 1 100% water change after your cycle too. This sounds like a good idea to me, because you're definitely getting rid of some nitrates.

Also, from my experience, I would recommend not adding any starfish in your initial clean up crew. I was shipped 6 starfish by mistake (they sent me someone else's clean up crew). I did everything by the book for acclimation, but I didn't know about the special needs of the starfish for slow acclimation. I killed 4 of the in the first week and the other ones didn't last over a month.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes it is cheaper to puchase the Package but I prefer not to.........it is much more fun to shop for your own crewmembers. Do not add your crewmembers till your Nitrates are Zero. This includes any livestock, Starfish are very sensitive to Nitrates. When I acclimate them I leave the bag in the water for 15 minutes then add one ounce of aquarium water every 5 minutes till the water in the bag has doubled........pour out half the water and pour in an equal amoount tof aquarium water wait 5 minutes then releaase the starfish. I use the same method with all my livestock and have had no problems except with Angels. I refuse to purchase anymore Angels....at least for now. Have Fun!

 

[kparton]

Do you like this better than drip acclimating? I usually float the bag for 15 minutes, then put some tank water in a five gallon bucket (just enough to cover the bottom of the bag, maybe up 2 inches to keep the tmeperature regulated. I then put the bag in the bucket and start a slow drip (~1 drip/ 2 seconds) until the bag is about double its original fullness. then i dump half the water out and repeat.

I either have 2 gallons of water mixed up to replace the water in the bucket, or I just pour the excess water from the bag into a waste water bucket and return the water I initially took out to the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you like this better than drip acclimating? I usually float the bag for 15 minutes, then put some tank water in a five gallon bucket (just enough to cover the bottom of the bag, maybe up 2 inches to keep the tmeperature regulated. I then put the bag in the bucket and start a slow drip (~1 drip/ 2 seconds) until the bag is about double its original fullness. then i dump half the water out and repeat.

I either have 2 gallons of water mixed up to replace the water in the bucket, or I just pour the excess water from the bag into a waste water bucket and return the water I initially took out to the tank.

Why use a bucket? Why not just place it in your tank?..then the temp will not be an issue.

 

[kparton]

I use the bucket so that the level of the bag will be lower than the tank so I can use siphon action to get the drip from the tank going. i just hang air tubing from the tank down into the bag.

 

[Anonymous]

I use the bucket so that the level of the bag will be lower than the tank so I can use siphon action to get the drip from the tank going. i just hang air tubing from the tank down into the bag.

Ok I got it! Dah! LOL. I never used that method. I say use the metod that gives you the most success. I an happy with the method I use and it is very easy. Have Fun!