Clean up Crew!

[Cambridgereefer]

I have a 65g reef tank, has about 200lb of live rock, 4 inch deep sand bed, different corals, a yellow tang, a Percula clown, bumblebee Goby, Cleaner shrimp, Serpent Star and about 10 turbo snails, and 10 blue leg hermits, and just got 3 bumblebee snails. I am running a 250w MH 6500k, 2 55w 10000k PC's, and 2 30w actinics. I need something to control the algae in the tank, I've been getting some red slime, but very little, some green hair, and a very bright green on the glass. What should I get that will clean the tank well?? I also want something that will mix the sand bed up abit. Please help!!

[Mitchell]

How old is the system??

For the sand you could go with some sand sifting snails, a sand sifting star or as a last resort ( I personally do not want to take thge chance, even though they are to be safe) a tigertail cuke.

I would prefer the snail Idea.

As for the bummblebees, you know they are meat eater's and will probably end up being really pretty shells for your hermits.

I need some more details as to the age of your tank, what type of water is used, feeding habits, age of bulbs, blah blah blah.

It would be best to try and tackle the cause of the outbreaks instead of dealing with them.

If your tank is not that old then you can expect algae blooms.

Give some more details and we shall see what we can do.

Mitchell

[Cambridgereefer]

The system is around a year old. I buy my water from the store in the 5g containers. All my lights are new, running now for one week. it's not that I have a really bad problem, I maybe get my hands wet once a week for about 10 min, I just want something to clean the rock really good, and to mix up the sand bed. Bummblebees are meat eaters???? what are they going to eat??

[stephane]

Originally posted by Cambridgereefer
Bummblebees are meat eaters???? what are they going to eat??

Other Snail!!!!!!!:help: :help: and maybe a good fleshy clam Hmmmm!!!!! $$$$$$ meals.:bigeek:

[Ocean Images]

Clean the rock??? The easiest way, go to your LPS and get 100 or so blue legged hermit crabs, they will seem small but will work day and night picking/ cleaning at your rock.
Say good-bye to unwanted algea on the rock anyway :dance:

[ajx22]

Do watch yourself with the bumblebee's - as you can loose anything in the tank from coral, other snails, crabs, CLAMS....any other MEAT can become DINNER!!!

A Fighting Conch or two would help out with the algae issues too...

Dr. Ron Shemik is a STRONG advocater of them for sand clean-up and cyano removal.

More info about them can be found by doing a search for conches or conch in the "Ask Dr. Ron" forum @ Reef Central.

They just arrived today!!!

Let me know if you would like any...we only have 30 that aren't spoken for (as of 10:30am - these will sell-out FAST)!!!

Cheers,

[stephane]

Yeah! I have 3 conch and they are awsome algea eater they perfectly clean my bottom sand by there own in a 130 gal.!!!!!

[djbh]

Mind you This is my opinion but here goes.
Bumblebees will feed off of other snails,and can actually turn on corals,once the other snails are gone they will compete for food against the hermits,this will be a losing battle,I have actually seen hermits gang up on snails,4-5 hermits on a single snail,they will eventually put the snail on its back and feast on the insides.
Once the snails are gone thet will turn on each other and again compete for food.

Get rid of the hermits and bumblebees,get nassarius snails and 1-2 fighting conch for the sand bed,your tang will take care of algae control and a lawnmower blennywill get rid of hair algae.

This is the ultimate clean-up crew.
AJ can get everything for you.
Good luck
Dan