CUC recommendations

rbergmandc · 08/10/2009, 08:30 AM

Hey all.. looking to add a cleanup crew for my 65g FOWLR..

WOuld like reef safe just in case i add corals..

but have heard so many different things.. can anyone just suggest exactly what i should purchase ?

I liked an Algae pack that i saw on LiveAquaria.. but that doesn't help with detritus..

whats a good mix ?

TIA
RLB

mullinsd2 · 08/10/2009, 08:46 AM

The packs that you see online are good deals, but a lot of the time you are getting much more than you need..... take it slow and add the cuc as your tank matures. You will need them a lot more in the beginning to help with diatoms, and other algaes that you encounter and fight off. Honestly, I would just pick up 3 jumbo turbos, and I guarantee that within 3 days they will have gotten rid of most of your diatom algae. Of course, you will probably want to pick up a handfun of nassarius snails in the beginning. They burrow in the sand, thus they keep it turning over, and they pick up any left over food (detritus) that makes it to the bottom of the tank...... very beneficial. You can add some hermits because you will have larger snails, and the hermits can not mess with them. If you pick up any hermits, it is recommended to pick up blue legged ones. Good luck.

Mathfreak71 · 08/10/2009, 09:21 AM

reefcleaners.org will sell you a crew designed for your size of tank. But I personally believe all of those packs have too many for a young tank. I have a 75 and I have a dozen cerith, dozen nerite snails, one mexican turbo, a mix of 12 hermits but if I had to pick of one hermit I would pick scarletts. They are much less aggressive. My blues fight.

mullinsd2 · 08/10/2009, 09:31 AM

Yeah, I just had a problem with a blue after I recommended him lol.... he was chewing on my freaking monti!

sharky's machin · 08/10/2009, 09:39 AM

IMO you don't need many hermits, just a few to pick up bits of food. The least aggressive hermits are the red tipped hermits. They stay fairly small and won't bother your snails.

08/10/2009, 08:30 AM	#1
rbergmandc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Forest Hills, NY Posts: 134	CUC recommendations Hey all.. looking to add a cleanup crew for my 65g FOWLR.. WOuld like reef safe just in case i add corals.. but have heard so many different things.. can anyone just suggest exactly what i should purchase ? I liked an Algae pack that i saw on LiveAquaria.. but that doesn't help with detritus.. whats a good mix ? TIA RLB

08/10/2009, 09:21 AM	#3
Mathfreak71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Marion, Illinois Posts: 253	reefcleaners.org will sell you a crew designed for your size of tank. But I personally believe all of those packs have too many for a young tank. I have a 75 and I have a dozen cerith, dozen nerite snails, one mexican turbo, a mix of 12 hermits but if I had to pick of one hermit I would pick scarletts. They are much less aggressive. My blues fight. __________________ Hell, there are no rules here - we're trying to accomplish something. - Thomas Edison Current Tank Info: 75 gallon 3-sided starfire reef tank with 3 AI sol blues

08/10/2009, 09:39 AM	#5
sharky's machin Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 585	IMO you don't need many hermits, just a few to pick up bits of food. The least aggressive hermits are the red tipped hermits. They stay fairly small and won't bother your snails. __________________ 50 gallon cube 24X24X20 Reefkeeper Lite; LED Radion G2; Vortech MP 10 CAD Lights skimmer; Media Reactor Mixed reef- LPS, Zoas, SPS Current Tank Info: 50 gallon CAD Lights mixed reef

08/10/2009, 08:46 AM	#2
mullinsd2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 753	The packs that you see online are good deals, but a lot of the time you are getting much more than you need..... take it slow and add the cuc as your tank matures. You will need them a lot more in the beginning to help with diatoms, and other algaes that you encounter and fight off. Honestly, I would just pick up 3 jumbo turbos, and I guarantee that within 3 days they will have gotten rid of most of your diatom algae. Of course, you will probably want to pick up a handfun of nassarius snails in the beginning. They burrow in the sand, thus they keep it turning over, and they pick up any left over food (detritus) that makes it to the bottom of the tank...... very beneficial. You can add some hermits because you will have larger snails, and the hermits can not mess with them. If you pick up any hermits, it is recommended to pick up blue legged ones. Good luck.

08/10/2009, 09:31 AM	#4
mullinsd2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 753	Yeah, I just had a problem with a blue after I recommended him lol.... he was chewing on my freaking monti!