Substrate and cleaning crew questions

[sundance2011]

Two questions, what is the ideal depth for the substrate? Also I have a 80G that will be a reef tank. What should I be looking at for a cleaning crew and should I install the crew all at once or build it up over a month or two.

Thanks:Cheers:

 

[little_fish]

I like a one inch sand bed, but it really shouldnt be deeper than 2 inches, otherwise it will trap too much crap and stuff.

I also like to slowly add my CUC so that it reflects how much cleaning actually needs to be done and no one starves.

A good cleanup crew should have a variety of different things
hermit crabs (if you like them, not every one does and they can kill your snails)
turbo snails (just a few)
nerite snails
astraea snails (my favorite)
nass snails (a must for sandbed cleaning and turning)
tronchus snails
conchous (sp?) snails
serpent or brittle star (not required, but very cool!)

Please do not be temped to buy a sand sifting star. They most often starve to death in our tanks because they require huge sandbeds, and they also strip your sand bed of beneficial microfauna.