Inverts & Clean Up Crew
Keep your tank clean and thriving with our reliable Clean-Up Crew & Inverts. From hardworking Tuxedo Urchins and Peppermint Shrimp to algae-munching Trochus Snails, these inverts help control algae, pests, and uneaten food, making tank maintenance easier. Whether you're looking to tidy up your reef or add some natural balance, these critters have got you covered.
You can feel good knowing that our clean-up crew inverts are responsibly sourced to help protect wild populations.
Easy Guide to Choosing the Perfect Reef Tank Clean Up Crew
A reef tank clean up crew, often called a CUC, is a group of helpful invertebrates that eat algae, leftover food, fish waste, and detritus. The best clean up crew is not just one animal — it is a balanced mix of snails, hermit crabs, shrimp, and specialty cleaners that each handle a different job.
For beginners, the safest approach is to start small, choose hardy species, and add more only as your tank produces enough algae and waste to support them.
Best Beginner Clean Up Crew Animals
Copepods
Surprisingly "Pods" can be one of most effective members of your crew. Diet varies with species but they will eat algae, detritus, bacteria, plankton and even fish waste.
Trochus Snails
One of the best all-around beginner snails. They eat film algae on glass and rock, are hardy, and can usually flip themselves back over.
Cerith Snails
Great for cleaning rock, glass, and the upper sand bed. They help eat detritus and leftover food in tight spaces.
Nassarius Snails
Sand-dwelling scavengers that pop out when food hits the tank. Best for eating leftover meaty foods, not algae.
Astrea Snails
Excellent algae grazers for rocks and glass. They are effective, but may need help if they fall upside down.
Scarlet Hermit Crabs
A peaceful beginner hermit crab that eats leftover food and picks at algae without usually bothering tankmates.
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
Active scavengers that clean small crevices. Add extra empty shells to reduce fighting with snails.
Cleaner Shrimp
Hardy, useful scavengers that add movement and personality to the tank. They also help clean up small food scraps.
Emerald Crabs
Useful for bubble algae control, but best added after the tank matures. Keep them fed if algae becomes scarce.
How Many Clean Up Crew Members Do You Need?
Avoid adding too many at once. A new tank often does not have enough algae or detritus to feed a large clean up crew. Start with copepods and a small group, then add more as the tank matures. Turning on the lights will allow for photosynthesis which means food (algae) for your clean-up crew.
| Tank Size | Beginner Starter Clean Up Crew |
|---|---|
| 10–20 Gallons | 1 Jar of Copepods, 3–5 Trochus snails, 3 Cerith snails, 2 Nassarius snails, 2–3 hermit crabs |
| 20–40 Gallons | 1 Jar of Copepods, 5–8 Trochus snails, 5 Cerith snails, 4 Nassarius snails, 4–6 hermit crabs |
| 40–75 Gallons | 1 Jar of Copepods, 8–12 Trochus snails, 8 Cerith snails, 6 Nassarius snails, 6–10 hermit crabs |
| 75–120 Gallons | 1 Jar of Copepods, 12–18 Trochus snails, 10+ Cerith snails, 8 Nassarius snails, 10–15 hermit crabs |
| 120+ Gallons | Build gradually based on algae growth, feeding level, and tank maturity |
For larger or more mature tanks, you can add specialty cleaners like cleaner shrimp, emerald crabs, conchs, or urchins as needed.
When to Add a Clean Up Crew to a New Tank
Add your clean up crew after the nitrogen cycle is complete and you begin seeing the first signs of algae, diatoms, or leftover food buildup. In many new reef tanks, this happens within the first few weeks.
Start with pods and hardy snails first. Trochus, Cerith, Nassarius, and Astrea snails are good beginner choices. Hermit crabs, shrimp, and specialty cleaners can be added later once the tank has more stable food sources.
Do not add a full clean up crew before there is anything for them to eat. Too many inverts in a brand-new tank can starve once the first algae bloom disappears.
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