We finally started populating the tank with shrimp, snails, and hermit crabs on February 24th, almost 3 weeks after we started the cycle. Ammonia was zero, nitrites were .02 and Nitates 3.0. By all accounts it was as good a time as any to add a cleanup crew! Here are some photos of our "crew".

First are our two Skunk Cleaner shrimp named Jacques and Jacqueline. These are the same species as the shrimp named Jacques in "Finding Nemo".

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Here's one of our two Blood shrimp named Scampi and Gumbo. This is Scampi.

Blood Shrimp

Here's a Cerith snail cleaning the glass.

Cerith Snail

More Cerith Snails

Here is one of our Zebra hermit crabs.

Zebra Hermit Crab

Queen Conch with small Nasarrius

Here's a beautiful shot of our favorite red-legged hermit crab. My daughter Baily named him "Party Hat". It should be obvious why in the picture!

Red-Legged Hermit Crab

After it became clear that Lazarus was going to make it and in fact was thriving, we decided he needed a little company. Here's Max, Lazarus' lighter blue cousin.

Two baby maximas. Lazarus on the left next to Max.