Receiving & Introducing Your Clean-Up Crew

Every member of your Clean-Up Crew (CUC) is a living part of your reef’s ecosystem. Proper handling and acclimation ensure a smooth transition, better survival, and long-term stability in your aquarium.

1. Upon Arrival — Unpacking Your Order

All CUC animals are shipped in insulated, temperature-controlled packaging. Once your package arrives:

  • Open the box immediately in a calm, well-lit area.
  • Float the sealed bags in your aquarium or sump for 15–20 minutes to equalize temperature.
  • Do not open the bags yet — this step is only for temperature adjustment.

Tip: If the water feels too cold or too warm, allow extra time for gradual stabilization before proceeding.

2. Drip Acclimation Process

Acclimation is essential for invertebrates like snails, hermits, crabs, starfish, and urchins, as they are highly sensitive to sudden changes in salinity and pH.

  1. Gently open each bag and pour the animals and their water into a clean container or acclimation tub.
  2. Using airline tubing, start a slow drip from your aquarium into the container (2–4 drops per second).
  3. Let this process continue for 25–30 minutes until the volume has doubled.
  4. Remove the animals gently with your hand or a soft net (never pour shipping water into your tank).

Important: Do not expose starfish or urchins to air during transfer — always keep them submerged.

3. Introducing Them to the Aquarium

  • Place hermits and crabs directly on the live rock — they’ll start exploring immediately.
  • Set snails upright on the glass or rock surfaces so they can begin grazing.
  • Introduce sand sifters and Nassarius snails onto the substrate — they will bury themselves naturally.
  • Ensure your lights are dimmed for the first hour to reduce stress.

For new tanks: Add your crew in stages over several weeks, starting with snails and hermits first, then crabs, stars, and urchins later as the biofilm develops.

4. Feeding & Early Care

In a young system, supplemental feeding helps your new crew settle in.

  • Feed a small pinch of sinking pellets or frozen food near the snails and hermits once or twice a week.
  • Provide extra empty shells for hermit crabs to prevent aggression.
  • Keep salinity stable (1.024–1.026) and avoid sudden temperature changes.

5. Live Arrival & Support

All François Neo Clean-Up Crew animals are shipped with care and temperature control. If you experience any issues upon delivery, contact us within 2 hours of receipt with clear photos so we can assist promptly.

Email: francois@francoisneo.com
Subject: Live Arrival Support – Clean-Up Crew Order

Why It Matters

Acclimation isn’t just about survival — it’s about giving your new reef inhabitants the best possible start. A properly introduced Clean-Up Crew will keep your aquarium naturally balanced, aerated, and thriving for years to come.

From reefers, for reefers — The Francois Neo Way.