[MoeDDS]

My tanks is 775 gallons and only six weeks old and I am having my first algae bloom. Currently my cleaner crew consists of 12 margerita snails. There are 3 fish in the tank and a small amount of LR, more to come soon. The snails are doing an OK job cleaning the LR and the glass, but not such a hot job cleaning the crushed coral substrate. What are some recommendations on additions to my cleaner crew that will help get my algae under control? Do I simply need more snails or is there another invertebrate I should get (i.e.-hermit crabs, shrimp) that will help get the job done. I would like to have as much diversity in the tank as possible.

[volitan_fa]

woah....775 gallons? You should probably have 100+ snails in there. Mexican turbo snails do an OUTSTANDING job of cleaning up algae IMO. A tank that big you could probably get a sand-sifting starfish, but probably not this early. Hermit crabs are a definite plus, I recommend the blue-leg variety.

[MoeDDS]

Allow me to correct that post, I meant to say 75 gallons. Sorry for the confusion.

[NYreefNoob]

are you using a ro\di filter for the water ?

[MoeDDS]

No ,I am not using and RO/DI filter at this time.

[NYreefNoob]

with a 75g tank you really could use a minimum of 30 mixed snails and 20 mixed crabs up to almost twice that for clean up crew. depending on what you want to have in tank, my advice is please do alot of research. this is not an easy hobby to start. it's worth it most definately, but read and read and research before buying. dont impulse buy item's. if it's cheap it's just that cheap. most important item's for reef keeping. protein skimmer. lighting. water movement.plenty of live rock