This is awesome...I think I would have a blast with this clean up crew.

Thank you for the information. really works in my aquarium.

Just what I was wondering, keep up the good work.

I love when my arm is in my tank and my shrimp clean my hand and arm I have 2 peppermint and one cleaners shrimp in a 29 gallon I drilled and use a 20 gallo sump

Excellent video I love his video straight and to the point

so, I am super new to saltwater and stumbled onto your videos. followed to cleanup crew because I hadn't even thought about it, and coming from freshwater, this was interesting. mostly because my plan in my 40 gallon freshwater has always just been throw in 2-3 snails and its set... I was going to do that with my new 75 gallon saltwater but apparently I would be WAY understocking the cleanup crew!

Nice tips, thank for the info

Im shocked you dont have more subscribers man your content is great.. Keep up the good work!!

Hi Mark! Great video, cheers!! 😀

Thank you this is very helpful

this is sooo helpful!

My Clean Up Ceew is a Peppermint shrimp, one huge turbo snail and a blue legged hermit crab

That was a good and easily understandable tutorial for beginners keep it up

Thanks for sharing more great 👍 information

Woah! This was super helpful. Appreciate the frame of reference against your larger tank too

Great video, just subscribed, are the serpent starfish hardy? 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

Can't believe this guy only has 7.5k subscribers i would think 250k

Lawnmower blennies are a really overlooked cuc member. They'll just eat algae until there's hardly any left, and they've got really fun personalities. Hermit crabs I've found are great for those tiny spots nothing else can get, like those tiny rocks.

smaller species of sea hares are good algae eaters, and unlike the native ones where i live tend to do well and i have never heard of one nuking a tank, the native ones can ink , but its generally a nuisance not really deadly. i love the nature of sally lightfoot crabs, i have never had issues with them , and they are known to pick at algae as well, but bigger emerald crabs and sally light foots, could get quite aggressive ( generally males with larger claws) serpent and brittle stars can depending on the species catch and eat your fish at night when the fish are sleeping or even slower bottom dwellers like gobies (but i still use them), while i have luck with fromia and linkia, (but mainly fromia) sand sifters stars too, but they aren't really "clean up astrea snails need to be flipped over if they are upside down, trochus snails can right themselves most of the time so i prefer them, in larger set ups various turbo snails are also good, while i had nasarius snails try to eat other snails mainly smaller true conchs like fighting conchs. and true conchs themselves are great at eating algae around the bottom of the tank. most short spine urchins such as the 2 kinds mentioned, in my experience have done great at algae control, but they can eat your coraline algae as well, in my experience not to a detrimental amount. i have been in this hobby for approximently 15 plus years, i have years of experience and have done a large amount of research into the creatures for this hobby.

Hi Mark, I'm a subscriber and I've been watching your budget series for the past few days. I think they're one of the best out there. I'm planning to build my 5yr old daughter a budget saltwater/reef tank by following your step-by-step guide. For the CUC, my wife doesn't like the serpent star. My daughter might get scared with it too 😅. Any recommendations to replace it with that will provide the same cleaning service? Thanks in advance!

Excellent

Any of this cuc are compatible with brine shrimps?

hi, um for a 10 g coral tank

Great video! what do you recommend for a CUC for a 32 gallon coralife biocube? It has been running for 3 months 11 days. Last month I added 3 trochus snails, 2 blue legged hermit crabs, a ywg/tiger pistol shrimp pair. I have hair algae issues atm.

Nice video. Why do you avoid arrow crabs?

I have about 7 green spotted puffers in a 55 gallon. I have turbo snails but what else could I add that they wont kill ??

I have a 32 gallon tank, I really want a brittle star, a royal urchin, and a coral banded shrimp. would this be to much for my tank. Ive never had an algae problem but there is quite a bit in my tank.

Can you get your hermit crabs from the wild or do you have to buy them

I live in Indonesia and I have a tank that I have mostly stocked from tide pools. My problem is that the hermit crabs I've put in have tended to eat my corals so I end up having to get rid of them all. Is it fine to just stick with a few snails?

How do you feel about adding a goby or 2???

I have a single cleaner shrimp in my tank with only corals. But I enjoy him because he comes to the top of the tank to get food. I have to feed him specifically tho because there are no fish

What should you recommend for 120 gallon??

Im probably gonna stick to a couple of shrimps and make sure my lids are well covered.

I have a 40B setup but I have a fairly thin sand bed - just enough to go up to the plastic trim of my aqueon tank bottom so probably .75”. I just put enough to cover the bottom. Would a serpent star still work? Do you specific types you recommend? I heard some get very large and there are a ton of varieties at my LFS. Also - I QT everything that goes into my tank. How do you suggest I QT snails. I’m concerned if my coral QT is bare bottom food my be an issue for them.

I plan on having a snow flake eel. I would love to have a star fish, and hermit grabs. But I don't know if my eel would eat them.

Hi, I have a 125l saltwater tank and have I starfish, how many critters should I put in? I also have 5 fish, my first tank.

I want to do an invert only tank, with maybe only 1-2 fish if any, it’s my first tank and a 10gallon. Can I keep the inverts alive by just feeding them and leaving seaweed sheets out? And what’s the best temp for inverts to not just survive but thrive? because I’ve seen so much mixed info, Thanks in advance!

Hi Mark! Last Saturday I went to my LFS and bought 3 blue streak cardinals and a tiger tail cucumber for my 32 gallon biocube. What is your opinion on cucumbers in a biocube? Are they any good? If they die, will the y be toxic to my other tank inhabitants? On the day I got it, it managed to squeeze itself through the grate and into the back chamber where I have my protien skimmer. I am not sure if I will keep it or trade it for something else.

Which is better for clean up the cleaner shrimp or fire shrimp?

Hey just started a 30 gallon what would be a good clean up ratio so not over loaded

Why do you not recommend the long spine urchin?

What about sand sifting star fish, I do have one and he has been it there for a while. I have heard different controversies about them. Some say they do a great job others say there not good they destroy bacteria levels. Any thoughts?

I have hundreds of sea stars and never bought one as they are great hitchhikers… my 100 gallon tank is basic with a canister filter and the fish and coral have been thriving for years

Does it matter which serpent starfish I get?

Do nassarius snails affect microfauna in the sand? I'm noticing food resting on the sand in my refugium and figured tossing some in might be helpful

What about a 55 gallon tank.how many to add.

How many algae eating snails would I substitute a tuxedo urchin for? Love the look of the urchins but also don't want to overstock cleaning crew like you mentioned. You said when algae started showing up you added 5 Trochus snails. Would adding 1 Tux urchin and like 2 snails be alright?

What about a CUC for predator tank with Triggers

Nice video. Can we eat cleaning crew? Thats looks delicious 🙈

Should I quarantine my clean up crew?

Why avoid long spined sea urchin? I have one in my tank and it does a great job eating algae.

Why do i have to avoid spine urchins

Emerald crab are usefull for bubble algea why avoid what to do with bubble algea

"nassarius snails don't do much so I avoid them..." ..."I love these guys and I use them in my tanks" I'm confused..

So I notice you stated “acclimating the CUC” so is quarantining them necessary???? Or just acclimate and drop in ?

Can any of these animals breed in captivity?

Dunno why serpent and brittle were both listed as if their diet/needs were the same..they aren't. Serpent-good, brittle-avoid. Why not sand sifting star mentioned? Pro tip: All starfish will climb the walls and they will get minced in a powerhead that's not guarded very well... I've lost many to this. Pro tip: While empty shells are needed for hermits as they grow, these objects will definitely accumulate detritus/become overgrown with algae. Thank you though for the video, it is great advice! P.S. I strongly believe fewer CUC are needed than what most ppl recommend, they are one part of a multipronged approach to keeping a clean system.

what can i do for a 10 gallon? i don't have any fish yet but i do have coral (gsp, goniopora, devils hand/finger leather, sinularia, some type of mushroom, some unknown types of anemone and a have no idea what that one polyp is.

U didn't say WHY to avoid the guys u said to

How come I have to avoid long spine urchins?

What if I only have corals rn, but the sand looks dirty.

Good old fashioned CUCs

i have had very bad luck with clean up crews just sitting in the same spot for weeks at a time which includes astea and turbos even. i assume my nassarius stay busy under sand bed but i have heard the way they keep it clean is to come out for food and that is what stirs it up! i have seen videos of them doing this but mine never have. is there a certain type? A lady on ebey is selling dark ones dirt cheap and vibex at a good rate. i read that whelks get confused for nassarius and you dont want them in tank because they mulltiply like crazy! i think i wll stay clear in fear they maybe whelks! i have always used hermits and they do well but have seen them sporting my ceriths shell so maybe they are killing them. The problem is there the only member have ever felt was usefull and they always come up when i feed and have seen them eat food my fish miss! Not sure what to do since i have a cyano and algae problem and have but a few members now!

CUC GANG

if you get shrimp GET A LID they WILL wander off 😭

My yellow tangs go up to my cleaner shrimp and the shrimp cleans them

What type of fish are those on the wall?

most sites say that cleaner shrimp hellp with parasites on fish

I’m pretty sure that when tuxedo urchin die they can kill every thing in your tank

I have a random nudibranc buried under my sand, and till today his still alive and buried

I've been wondering if anyone could help me fill in a spot or two with my stocking options for a 32.5 gallon saltwater tank, I am a beginner when it comes to saltwater but ive kept a few fresh water tanks in the past. The fish I already know I want SO far are 2 clown fish, 1 tailspot blenny, and 3 fire shrimp and 2 hermit crabs (peaceful, easy to keep small ones) and im mainly looking for something else to put into this tank that would be fun to own, but also easy, have some nice colors and overall be peaceful. I am wondering about a Royal gramma but ive heard mixed stories on them being a bit aggro, I also am thinking about a watchman goby but idk, if anybody knows what else i could add to this tank that fits the criteria that would be awesome! cheers

👍🏽👊🏽

there should have been a warning for brittle stars, yes a lot of species are fine, but there are certain ones that will attack and kill fish, so do your research on brittles before buying one

Don’t assume your Cuc won’t kill anything. I watched my emerald crab attack a healthy snail twice. If u have something that eats meat watch out

this would be awesome... if i didn’t have a mantis shrimp😂😂😂😂😂

@4:47 looks like an evil eye!

Dang you should have let us know which ones a coral safe tho

4:15 he says nassarius snails don’t do much and he avoids them 10 seconds later he says he had them in every tank?

Why the second channel?

I hate serpent stars. I'm scared of them. Haha.

I wish starfish didn't get huge. I like to feed them recently dead fish. And if you get any from Petco there's a good chance one will die before you get home 😁

why no arrow crabs, you didn't say why

CLICK THE SHOE! WATCH MY SALTWATER FISH TANKS!!

was his budget build a 20 gallon

Avoid long spine urchins? Why? Wish you would provide reasoning for your views

There is always Lots of Effort in a Salt water tank.. Specially a Reef Tank.. Do your Water Changes and keep a Close eye on ur Stock.. Specially Corals..Lots of corals don't belong in Captivity.. Do all your Homework and be a good Husband to your System and you will Succeed..Have Fun..

One time my grandma bought 3 crabs and they escaped the cage and i saw one of them behind the couch

I mean they can be agressive without food

f

How is it possible there are no commercials on this channel?

I got crabs........

I’ve had 2 Cleaner shrimps and they’ve died in the first 24hours

I’m doing my research before I do anything and dive in to this hobby. Then I went into a recommended LFS. Is it really this condescending in this hobby? I guess I’m a joke for wanting to begin with FOWLR tank and progress into corals later?

Cerith snails are far, far better than you portray. They seem to eat more algae types than others. They are nocturnal, and slow. And if the sandbed has enough organics, they may have no reason to leave it. So it looks like they don't do anything. But that doesn't make sense, obviously they would die if they weren't eating something. In my barebottom pico I'm amazed that they seem to eat all kinds of algae, yet don't touch corals. They are very cheap and esaily a first choice for a budget cleanup crew.

STAY AWAY FROM SERPENT STARS UNLESS YOU HAVE A BIG TANK AND YOU CAN MAKE SURE THE STAR IS WELL FED, IF IT IS NOT IT WILL EAT SLEEPING FISH AT NIGHT, and yes... fish sleep

better challenge... get the tank as discussing as you can and let it fix its self while you provide help its closer to the ocean crisis today.. trying to figure out how to fix the ocean

CUC?. oh you mean Detritivores....

Ah yes the figher conch

He said poop! 😅😅

Not true, my hermit crabs ate my damsels when they were sleep