Adding Your First Fish, Coral & Cleanup Crew | Saltwater Aquarium Beginner's Guide: Episode 6
In this episode, Matthew adds 20 species and nearly 70 different animals and macroalgae to this 45-gallon JBJ AIO Aquarium. No, he hasn't gone insane, just hear us out!
Once we break this list down, it doesn't sound so crazy. Matthew has done a good job spreading these different creatures across all categories from Fish and Coral to Macroalgae and Cleanup Crew. And of course, this should all be done over a few weeks so that we're adding the right cleanup crew members at the right time. But more on that later.
Let's stop right here. If you're new to the hobby, you might be thinking...what is a cleanup crew?! Fortunately, it's a pretty simple explanation. A cleanup crew, often abbreviated as "CUC" on reefing websites and forums, is simply a group of animals added to an aquarium that help consume something undesirable. This could be leftover fish food, fish waste, or even nuisance algae. The exact members of a cleanup crew can vary, but they generally include invertebrates like snails, shrimp, and crabs. Certain fish can also be considered cleanup crew.
| Why a Cleanup Crew Is Valuable | What a Cleanup Crew CAN'T Do |
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Which Cleanup Crew Members to Add and When?
Each cleanup crew member does a different job, and timing matters just as much as selection. Even though the final stock list looks massive, these additions are spread out over several weeks to avoid starvation, frustration, and unnecessary losses.
Adding too much too quickly can overwhelm the biological filtration and leave animals without enough natural food. Instead, think of a cleanup crew as something you build in layers as the tank matures.
Copepods
Best Added: Immediately after the cycle is complete
Copepods are one of the most beneficial early additions to a reef tank.
Live CopepodsWhat they do best:
- Consume diatoms and film algae
- Help reduce early tank uglies
- Increase biodiversity
- Provide a natural food source for fish and corals
Pods should be fed live phytoplankton regularly to help them establish a stable population.
Snails
Best Added: Early, just after diatoms start to show up
Snails are the backbone of most cleanup crews and are usually the first visible cleanup crew animals added.
What they do best:
- Astrea and Trochus snails
Excellent for eating film algae on glass and rockwork. - Nassarius and Marginella snails
Sandbed dwellers that emerge quickly when food is added and help clean up leftover meaty foods. - Cerith snails
Versatile cleaners that work on glass, rock, and sand.
A mix of snail species helps cover more areas of the tank and prevents buildup in hard to reach spots.
Hermit Crabs
Best Added: Mid Stage
Hermit crabs are active scavengers and useful for cleaning tight rock crevices that snails often miss.
What they do best:
- Blue leg and red leg hermits
Small, active scavengers that pick at algae and leftover food. - Scarlet hermits
Generally more peaceful and good general purpose cleaners.
Some aquarists skip hermit crabs as they will often attack snails to take their shell. Providing extra empty shells and avoiding overcrowding helps reduce issues with snails.
Shrimp
Best Added: Mid Stage
Shrimp are efficient scavengers and add movement and personality to the tank.
What they do best:
- Cleaner shrimp
Consume leftover food and add personality. - Peppermint shrimp
Often used to help control pest anemones like Aiptasia.
Shrimp should be spot fed intentionally, especially in newer tanks.
Utility Fish
Best Added: Mid to Late Stage
Utility fish are added for specific functions and typically have higher feeding needs.
What they do best:
- Sand sifting gobies
Keep the sand bed turned over and clean. - Algae eating fish
Help control algae on rockwork. - Pest control fish
Target specific nuisance issues.
These fish should only be added once the tank can support their dietary needs. Many utilitarian type fish require a lot of swimming room, so make sure your tank is large enough before deciding which is right for your setup.
Urchins
Best Added: Late Stage
Sea urchins are powerful algae eaters best suited for more mature systems with a good food source.
What they do best:
- Tuxedo urchins
Effective algae grazers that stay relatively small. - Variegated Urchin (Pincushion Urchin)
Excellent all around algae eaters that are active on both rockwork and glass.
Urchins can knock over unsecured frags, scrape coralline algae, and carry loose items on their spines, so stability is important before adding them.
Starfish
Best Added: Later, once the tank has matured
Starfish are specialized cleaners and should be added cautiously.
What they do best:
- Brittle and serpent stars
Nocturnal scavengers that clean up leftover food. - Sand sifting starfish
Turn over the sand bed and consume organic material below the surface.
Adding these too early can lead to starvation. It's best to let the tank mature and add them once you grow your aquarium knowledge a bit more. Consider adding only one per tank unless you're setting up a very large system.
What About the Gorgonians and Other Fish?
Gorgonians
Gorgonians are not cleanup crew members. They don't remove algae or waste in the traditional sense.
The gorgonians added to this tank are all photosynthetic species, which makes them significantly easier to keep than non photosynthetic gorgonians. While they'll still benefit from regular feeding, they are able to meet a large portion of their energy needs from light.
Gorgonians are also known to periodically shed a thin outer layer. Strong flow helps remove this buildup and keeps them healthy.
MacroAlgae
Macroalgae is included in this system for nutrient management and aesthetics, not as a replacement for maintenance or filtration.
The macroalgae added to this tank is rooted and intended to remain in place, rather than free floating or fast spreading. In addition to adding movement and a natural look, macroalgae consumes nitrate and phosphate directly from the water column, which helps offset the heavier feeding required for filter feeders and copepods.
Macroalgae should be monitored just like any other livestock. If nutrients drop too low or lighting is insufficient, growth can stall. If nutrients climb too high, faster growing species may need to be trimmed.
Non Cleanup Fish
Not every fish added to the aquarium has a cleanup job to do. Some fish have the job of simply adding movement, interest, and personality to the aquarium. After all, the beautiful fish are usually the number one reason people get into the saltwater aquarium hobby in the first place!
The Full Stock List!
To those of you who've made it this far, thanks for sticking around! We covered A LOT today as Matthew's 45 gallon reef is really starting to come to life!
If you're interested, here is the full stock list for the animals and macroalgae Matthew added to the tank, joining the pair of clownfish from last episode:
Fish
- Yasha Goby
- Royal Gramma Basslet
- 2x Purple Ribbon Gorgonian
- 3x Scissortail Dartfish
Shrimp & Crabs
- Randall's Pistol Shrimp
- Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
- 3x Green Porcelain Crabs
- Ruby Red Crab
- Pink Strawberry Bali Crab
Snails
- 2x Strawberry Conch
- 15x Marginella Snails
- 15x Nassarius Snails
- 6x Cerith Snails
- 10x Astrea Snails
Coral
- Purple Frilly Gorgonian
- Encrusting Gorgonian
- Gold Lace Gorgonian
Macroalgae
- Rooted Mermaid Fan
- Rooted Thick Halimeda
- Rooted Pom Pom Plant
Why You Shouldn't Just Copy This Plan
What you are seeing here reflects a planned approach, not necessarily a recommendation.
This system works because every addition is supported by close observation, frequent testing, intentional feeding, and nutrient management. That level of attention allows for more flexibility in what can be added and when, but it also requires experience and daily involvement.
For newer hobbyists, the takeaway should not be to match the number of animals shown here. Instead, focus on understanding why each type of livestock was chosen and what it needs to thrive. Stability comes from responding to how the tank behaves, not from following a fixed checklist. We've been doing this long enough to be able to tell you with 100% certainty that two identical tanks with identical livestock can absolutely behave differently. Keeping a close eye on your tank, being able to identify potential problems, and having the flexibility to pivot are all crucial for long-term success.
Coming Up Next
Three Helpful Saltwater Aquarium Upgrades | Saltwater Aquarium Beginner's Guide: Episode 7
Adam has been reef keeping since 2010 and got his start on the Bulk Reef Supply Customer Service team. He believes the best tanks are built around what you enjoy, not what’s trending. Adam is especially interested in simplifying the hobby, exploring the latest gear, and helping others focus on long-term success over chasing perfection.
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