What, when and how much clean up crew to add to your reef tank

Ever wondered what type of clean up crew to add? When to add it or, how much you should be adding?
Wonder no more! In this video I'll share my approach to clean up crew in a reef system. It is by no means the only approach, but it is the approach I've used over the last ten years and it has worked well for me.
In short - never underestimate the power of snails!

[@aleksploskov4489]

Sam you're a legend. Good to have an Aussie doing such informative videos. Had the pleasure of talking to you for about 5 mins at Reef Stock 2022. Still haven't given dad the shirt I bought from you. You're a genuinely nice guy. Thank you for all the content you provide to us Aussie reefers. We really appreciate it. Keep up the good work.

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks so much Aleks, appreciate it mate!

[@ianawesome4875]

Every time I watch your videos. I end up buying the product! Mp60. Mastertronic.! And now a bunch of snails!..

[@ParkersReef]

Hahaha sorry mate!!!

[@johnbrand1893]

Great 👍 video Sam, a subject not many reefers go in depth about, they usually just say what clean up crew is in their tank whatever size it is. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks mate, I appreciate that :)

[@victorfreij6381]

As always great video!

[@ParkersReef]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shahedhossain133]

Nice video and tank also looking great 👍

[@ParkersReef]

Thank you!!

[@petermoorhouse1823]

Top advice sam,man your tanks looking good buddy cheers 🍻👍

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks Peter!

[@aussied723]

Yep, Underrated little critters love their work, very informative, cheers 👍

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks mate :)

[@IMGbaugher]

Great video as usual.

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks mate!

[@naokibreger5239]

Love the outlining of what types of snails are used for rock or sand. Looking to slowly introduce some Trochus' and Nass' to my tank in the coming weeks thanks to your advice! Subbed!

[@ParkersReef]

Glad it was of use! Enjoy the new clean up crew :D

[@emilvergara4776]

Another great video Sam.. really appreciate it. ✊🏿

[@ParkersReef]

Thank you!!

[@ParkersReef]

Thank you!!

[@PracticalReefer]

Great video! 👍 Sounds like the perfect crew! I've gone all snails and no hermits too, with the exception of ceriths instead of trochus just because of what was available and an Urchin too, hes a machine! I remember Mike's point about the glass to so obvious but so clever! 😅

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks for watching mate! Yep certitude will work just fine :)

[@goldennomad1022]

Great Vid Sam. One addition to the snails in my system is a long spine urchin. Its an absolute beast on algae. I rate it better than the Trocus.

[@ParkersReef]

Ah yes fair point too!!

[@richardportelli1983]

I just got more snails this week! Added another 6 trochus, 10 turbo and 2 gold ring cowries delivered from Geemarine.

[@ParkersReef]

Ooooh very nice!

[@joseglafargue4746]

HI. as alway the best info. for my point of view . cheers 👍

[@ParkersReef]

Glad I could help!

[@tonycloseukreef3799]

CUC are a must have snails ect I also have a scopas tang stary blenny for algae and yellow coris, melanurus, and a ornate wrasse for any pests cheers Sam 👌👍

[@ParkersReef]

yes, some wrasse to pick off pests is key too!

[@umar]

Awesome.. 👍🏽

[@ParkersReef]

Haha getting in early!!

[@gertjan2212]

Great video! Agreed with all the snails, they AR all work horses. I would personally add some small hermids if only becouse they are cool. As regard to the starfish.. Altough I do not have any experience with them I have heard from melev and read at reef builders that a sand shifting starfish is a bit too good in its job. The starfish eats detritus but also the microfauna like pods and worms and they can even eat the beneficial bacteria and biofilm in the sand. So in most small to medium tanks the starfish could strips all detritus and life from the sand bed and than starve to death witch is bad.. So I would only add a sand sifting starfish in a veary big tank like yours 😊

[@ParkersReef]

Thank you! I personally don't like hermits much as I find they eat more snails than algae, but that may just be the ones I have access to down here :) Sand sifting stars certainly are very effective and you do not want to overstock them. I personally not had issues with them stripping out microfauna - but everything does have to eat!

[@richardportelli1983]

Amazing, yep snails are the bomb!

[@ParkersReef]

Smell like a bomb when they die too 😅

[@ryshimc]

i usually end up with mixture of trochus, turban, turbos, mexican turbos and astrea over the years, disadvantage of having to get stuff shipped from other side of planet lol i like adding brittle stars(non-green) or serpent star, love seeing their arms popping out of rockwork grabbing leftover food/fish poo

[@ParkersReef]

diversity really is key!

[@richardbroun]

In battling algae in my tank, sounds like I'm buying snails this weekend!

[@ParkersReef]

yep snails will go a LONG way to help it out :)

[@Kenny_Edmonton]

Great video. I’m just about to get a 50 gallon waterbox wet here over the next couple days and will be cycling it and the info on when and how many snails really is informative. No shrimp for your cleanup crew?

[@ParkersReef]

shrimp are very expensive here in australia, so we tend to find alternatives. If you have access to affordable shrimp, please do add!

[@mattdiscus]

awesome video mate. After watching this video the first time, I ordered a large clean up crew for my 2ft cube. Was little nervous adding a sand shifting starfish.. Does cleaning your glass really work? I always thought snails etc just roam around.

[@ParkersReef]

Yeah I have found that if I don’t clean my glass all that often, the snails are all over it. But when it’s clean, they take off in other directions 😅

[@adamcrisp4443]

Hi Sam, helpful video as always. Do you put your new snails through a QT process or do you put them straight in the display?

[@ParkersReef]

After acclimation, straight in the display for me.

[@marioguillen9141]

Excellent video like always me and my son enjoy your videos very much just a quick question is there a reason why you don’t add any type of hermit crabs !

[@ParkersReef]

Thanks mate! Yes, I don’t add hermits as I find they kill too many snails.

[@MJSGHK]

Another great and informative video. I also have some stromb snails, but lately they stop eating the algae and bury themselves in the sand. Is that normal?

[@ParkersReef]

That is normal. They will often do a mini hibernation and become more active in a couple weeks

[@DanMirkz]

Very happy with the work my snails do. Only have trochus and nassarius snails currently (don't think I've come across strombus or turbo snails yet). Probably due to add some more in there to up the numbers. Currently having a bubble algae outbreak that's slowly picking up... looking to get a little foxface soon to hopefully help that out. Have you had any issues with that algae and how did you sort it if you did ?

[@ParkersReef]

Bubble can be tricky… I have heard of fox face eating them though, so would try that option

[@peterbws]

Another good vid Sam. Just on the sand sifting starfish. I have one myself and think it does a good job. But I recently saw some vids from Melevsreef on youtube and he was saying that they are bad for reef tanks. Basically because they kill too much life in the sandbed like pods. Whats your view? I was thinking of removing it now because I'd like to get a mandarin in the future. Sorry for the long post !

[@ParkersReef]

Keep the numbers as described and don’t siphon your sand bed - all will be fine :)

[@chriscarey5728]

great video, do you have any tips for dipping or treating snails or seastars for additional hitchhikers?

[@ParkersReef]

I don’t bother.. if there is something suspicious on a snail snail, I’ll take it off - but haven’t been too bothered with hitch hikers on clean up crew

[@theoriginalgiz]

Great video Sam, many thanks for the info, I see from the comments that you directly add post acclimation, my query is that I have suffered from the dreaded vermetid snail, on 2 tanks and these thing need nuking to eliminate, anyway, if one were to QT any recommendations for best feeding in a Frag QT tank? oh ya, checking out the Moonshiners guide as well, looking to start that once i get rid of my dino outbreak... It never ends with reefing....

[@ParkersReef]

Yes, I do not concern myself with Vermatid snails. I have never had bad outcomes from them in any of my tanks, seems peoples experience varies greatly - but for me, they are no trouble at all.

[@mc_hammer_reefing1087]

Totally agree with this approach Sam but I think snails are way overpriced here in Melb...I would almost go broke if i added this amount! 😂 BTW, is there any chance you could do a video on maintaining your RODI system if you haven't already?

[@ParkersReef]

Deer park do decent prices on clean up crew, plus if you can get them breeding you’ll save some dollars :)

[@mail2kaushik]

Great video, CUC are the so silent essentials of any reef tank. Am I seeing some new green chromis roaming around or is it just my eyes ?

[@ParkersReef]

Thank you! No new chromis, but perhaps some more anthias :)

[@fishstix1988]

for torches snails, how are they around anemones? I plan on having my rock work covered in rock flower anemones and wondering if they'll work around them

[@ParkersReef]

Should work around them just fine

[@78matt]

Thanks strobus is what I need have a small tank and need a clean sandbed but I cant have another fish and starfish die on me.

[@ParkersReef]

See if you can find a small strombus 👍🏻

[@andrewstrutt6048]

Thanks for the video Sam. I finished cycling a coupe of weeks ago but I’ve left it a bit late adding CUC and have hair algae starting to appear on my rock work, along with heaps of tiny bubbles. CUC are turning up soon. What are the draw backs of adding a heap at once? I’ve gone a bought a bulk pack.

[@ParkersReef]

I wouldn't say you've left it too late - waiting until there is something for them to eat is a good move. Downsides to adding a heap at once is it is a decent shock to the system. They may be small, but do add a bio load and a freshly cycled system may not be ready to cope (should be fine though). The bigger downside is you won't know exactly how many you need if adding heaps at once, normally you just add a half dozen or so at a time till the algae eases :)

[@andrewstrutt6048]

@@ParkersReef Thanks mate, assuming the bio load can handle the hit, having too many may result in them running out of food and dying? Also mate, about all the bubbles I’m only guessing but I think they may be nitrogen as an end product of bio load getting established on my man made rock?

[@ParkersReef]

Yeah, starving is a risk. The bubbles should settle, not unusual for a new tank :)

[@just0215]

How do you attach the coral to your rock work ?

[@ParkersReef]

I normally just sit it in place (wedge it in the rock) and wait for the coral to encrust. But a little super glue or epoxy can be used if no suitable spot on the rock is available

[@fishstix1988]

How often do you find yourself replacing snails, what is their average life expectancy and how can you tell if they're dead?

[@ParkersReef]

They definitely don’t live forever, so you might need to top up there numbers now and then. Most obvious way to see if they’re dead is when their shell is upside down :)

[@peterperez4493]

What about a conch, any thoughts

[@ParkersReef]

Strombus snails are a type of conch :)

[@panthereyes2009]

covid has affected getting these at present, my local cant get them and shipping is a no go , due to long delays

[@ParkersReef]

ah bugger that is a pain :(

[@tompage8674]

What do you think about strawberry conches? I have a 25g and no cuc yet. Was thinking one trochus and one conch.

[@ParkersReef]

we don't have access to them down here, so I couldn't really comment!

[@tylercalhoun1636]

Do you quarantine your CUC?

[@ParkersReef]

I do not, but I don't QT anything :)

[@eillyacostandinides3344]

Excellent video. I always struggled with snails and CUC always find tons of dirt under them as if they poop more than they clean . Do these impact Nirate and phosphate since they eat and poop?!

[@ParkersReef]

I wouldn’t think they would reduce nitrates and phosphates much, but they will disrupt detritus before it builds up - so I guess indirectly they will.

[@eillyacostandinides3344]

@@ParkersReef appologies for my English my question was if they raise nitrate and phosphate since they eat and pop like fish

[@gertjan2212]

They don't necessarily add any No3 or Po4 I think.. They eat algae and detritus witch is a by product of feeding your fish.. When they eat this they poop some out but also bind some in their biomass as they grow.. So if you remove them when they die or becouse they breed to mutch you basicly removed some nutrients and if u leave them to rot the nutrients used to grow get released.

[@eillyacostandinides3344]

@@gertjan2212 makes sense thank u

[@bensimpson4091]

you forgot cowries which have done more than all my trochus and turbo combined

[@ParkersReef]

Wow really?

[@insanity4224]

Hey Sam great video once again. I have trouble keeping my sand bed clean, it has hair algae on it even though I vacuum is once per month a d stir it weekly. My rocks and back wall are super clean as I have 3 (in XXL750) 2” trochus snails destroy any hair algae or detritus. However my 7” Tuskfish kills any smaller snails and I’m worried he’d rip the eyes off a strombus snail. Do you think a Tuskfish would attack sand sifting stars? I’m not sure what to do

[@ParkersReef]

Strombus are pretty tough snails, I’d be surprised if a tusk would get them - but then again, I’ve never had a tusk… I’d imagine the stars would be easy picking too

[@insanity4224]

@@ParkersReef hard to say about the strombus, they are big enough but their eyes and snout are vulnerable and tusks are intelligent. Stars would be easy pickings for sure but I just don’t know if they are appealing to tusks or not.

[@craigreid7672]

You mentioned you had cyano Sam. How did you get rid of that? I have purple & green going on currently.

[@ParkersReef]

Covered in previous videos, but basically addressed it flow, live phyto and Aquaforest life source

[@i2eef]

Have you ever tried black cucumber for your sand and sand gobies? What are your thoughts on them?

[@ParkersReef]

I haven't, but that isn't to say they don't work.

[@ericgasparro2545]

My sandsifting star is the laziest thing going. Only does a patch around the front of the tank. I’ve tried placing him at the back of the tank or around the sides but it moves right back to its favourite spot.

[@ParkersReef]

Oh no!!! Hopefully just taking it easy for a little bit 😅

[@ericgasparro2545]

@@ParkersReef he’s been there a year 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ParkersReef]

Hahaha ok, that’s just cheeky!!

[@crs290]

Not sure how often you check older videos, but what are my chances of success of just keeping a clean-up crew? No fish, no corals, just shrimp, crab, snail, etc. Any changes in water parameters, maintenance, etc?

[@ParkersReef]

Yeah it is entirely possible, you’d just need to feed accordingly :)

[@fishstix1988]

What are your thoughts on cerith snails?

[@ParkersReef]

I find them ok, bit like nass, not massively effective

[@mrcovert011]

Great vid so on my 250 liter with your calculation ill add 3752 snails? Jk its its a little overkill and they'll all starve if i put as many as you say. Good video though.

[@ParkersReef]

lol not sure you you got to that figure… In a 250l tank I’d look for about: 1-2 Strombus 20-25 turbo or trochus snails

[@mrcovert011]

​​@@ParkersReef the post said ( jk ) to sum things up a good rule of thumb is about 1 per gallon of clean up crew depending on size and add a veriety.

[@ParkersReef]

Sweet 👍🏻

[@Morpheus_input]

What do you think about sea cucumbers and mini hermit crabs? (As shrimps are for decoration purpose mostly)

[@ParkersReef]

I don’t like mini crabs as they will pick off snails. Cucumbers are amazing, but can be toxic when they die, so i consider them to be too much of a risk

[@Morpheus_input]

@@ParkersReef thanks for the response!!

[@ParkersReef]

My pleasure :)

[@Dani004able]

I don't think you need to add so many Nessarius snails. Not sure if there are different species out there but I got mine captive bread and found that they reproduce so fast that you don't really need much more than the first batch of them. I think they are great to keep the Sandbed aerobic and healthy and they quickly eat any leftovers.

[@ParkersReef]

Wow never heard of nass breeding in captivity! That’s amazing

[@Dani004able]

@@ParkersReef so your don’t breed? Well so probably a different species you’re getting. I think I have like over 100 in my small Nano, they are just 6mm to 10mm and they breed just like fresh water snails 😁

[@Dani004able]

I would send you some, but getting live animals from Germany to Australia is maybe a little tricky.

[@ParkersReef]

Haha yes indeed

[@markomatt33]

Hey Sam, where do you get you WA trochus snails from?

[@ParkersReef]

Deer park aquarium had a bunch in, reach out to them and see if they still do :)

[@Wiljuchi]

I personally prefer sand sifting sea cucumbers to sand stars, they don't seem to eat as much of the microfauna.

[@ParkersReef]

Just gotta watch the cucumbers, they can be toxic when they die :)

[@Wiljuchi]

@@ParkersReef I think that's a bit of a myth, sea apples are really toxic but the black, pink/black and tiger tail sea cucumbers don't seem to be. Used them for over 20years as have lots of friends and never had an issue.

[@ParkersReef]

@@Wiljuchi yeah fair enough - I have heard of a few tanks crashing from them, that is enough risk for me!

[@PersianChristianity]

No hermits, or urchins or shrimp ?

[@ParkersReef]

Hermits are a big no for me, they just eat snails that would otherwise do more work. Urchins are great if you get to the point of needing them and shrimp I find to be more ornamental than much else

[@matsteel2292]

Hey Sam I have a question I notice you have a Naso Tang I got one this week and he keeps changing colour from pale grey to jet black is this normal? I was surprised after searching on here I could not find an answer? Hope you can help cheers Mat.

[@ParkersReef]

Hey Mat. Yeah they will change colour when scared or stressed. Hopefully will settle down once welcomed into the tank.

[@matsteel2292]

@@ParkersReef thanks Sam I was worried something was dramatically wrong ! Cheers

[@ParkersReef]

Na he’ll be right, just keep the tank as stress free as possible and keep the food up to him and he’ll be just right 👍🏻

[@Nicolaj89]

Arr, missed the premiere 😅

[@ParkersReef]

Ah haha all good, you can still watch it and I’ll reply to your comments here!

[@Nicolaj89]

@@ParkersReef I don’t have any comments, just trying to boost the algorithm 😂

[@ParkersReef]

Champion

[@opethmike]

Trochus snails and tuxedo urchins are far and away the best cleaners, imo

[@ParkersReef]

Nice one! How big do the urchins get?

[@opethmike]

@@ParkersReef My oldest tuxedo urchin is just about three years old, and only about 2" in diameter. They're non-stop munching on glass/rocks and do a great job, with the caveat that they have a habit of knocking over loosely secured frags.

[@freakygoblin3068]

Found it interesting that you haven't mentioned hermit crabs. Also consider your fish as part of the cleaning crew, the foxface being a great example, or an algae eating blenny. One piece of advice I would give is that people should inspect snails for signs of vermetid snails on snail shells before introducing them into the aquarium.

[@ParkersReef]

Yeah I don’t do hermits, find they are only good for killing snails :) Yes fish play a part too, although I don’t count them. Vermatids can come on snails, personally I don’t bother with vermatids - I have plenty in the system and don’t have any issues with them. I know others have had different experiences though!!!

[@borinvlogs]

if you live in australia can you not just drive to the great barrier reef and collect some corals yourself? love from the uk

[@ParkersReef]

Not sure if legal or not, but you need to make sure you get warm water variants :)

[@malgorzatakowalczyk8651]

It is illegal. In AU you cannot even take a sand from the beach. Cheers Piotr

[@ParkersReef]

Yes sand is not legal, water is fine though

[@kevinw7044]

No clean up crew for me whatsoever.

[@ParkersReef]

Interesting, how is it working out for you?

[@kevinw7044]

I have always had cuc except for my current setup which is a little over 40 gallons with SPS. I decided to go without cuc and my reef is 2 year old now with the SPS filling out nicely. I am really careful about the amount of food that goes into the tank and this obviously limits nutrients for algae to take a hold. A bit of a balancing act I guess, not wanting to strip all nutrients out of the water. Sand gets a good stir once a week to get detritus into the water column most of which is removed by a pre-filter cup in the sump and the floss is changed a few hours after the sand stir. I run a clean reef, even cleaner after adopting your sump vacuum method. 👍 I am not against cuc and agree they can play an important role. I am not against introducing cuc in the future if I feel the need to do this. What would be the best cuc for me, things that stir and consume detritus in the sand bed.

[@ParkersReef]

Nice work! Absolutely more than one way to approach it!

[@kevinw7044]

@@ParkersReef your system just looks better and better as the days go by mate.