The Essential Clean-Up Crew: Snails, Hermits, and More

A well-chosen clean-up crew (CUC) keeps your reef tank free of algae, detritus, and uneaten food.\n\nBest snails:\n- Trochus Snails: Best all-around algae eater, can right themselves\n- Nassarius Snails: Sand-stirring scavengers, clean detritus\n- Cerith Snails: Excellent film algae eaters, work at night\n- Nerite Snails: Powerhouse algae grazers\n- Turbo Snails: Heavy-duty algae removal (can knock over frags)\n\nBest hermit crabs:\n- Scarlet Reef Hermit: Peaceful, eats hair algae\n- Blue Leg Hermit: Small, active, affordable\n- Halloween Hermit: Large, dramatic, effective cleaner\n\nOther CUC members:\n- Emerald Crabs: Eat bubble algae (Valonia)\n- Peppermint Shrimp: Eat Aiptasia anemones\n- Sand-Sifting Sea Stars: Process sandbed (but can deplete fauna)\n- Sea Cucumbers: Detritus processors (can release toxins if stressed)\n\nStocking guidelines:\n- 1 snail per 1-2 gallons\n- 1 hermit per 2-3 gallons\n- Don't overstock—excess CUC will starve