Seeding my tank and CUC

[zoasguy]

I am currently cycling my tank with dry rock and LS. Im guessing I need some invert diversity soon, such as amphipods. What is your advice?

I was looking at this site that offers a package deal with free shipping

http://www.ipsf.com/

[Renzema]

What size tank? Also what did you do to cycle your tank?

Personally I don't like the packages, because you don't have the bio-load to support a full package of CUC right in the beginning. Usually I slowly add them as needed, and I don't use hermit crabs. Mostly stick to trochus, nassarius, nerite, and cerith snails. Hermits can kill snails when they need a new shell.

[cvore2004]

Personally I just used live sand, threw in some rock and a powerhead, then let it sit for a week, adding a pinch of flake food every other day until I saw nitrites, then put in a blue damsel. Once I saw nitrates I put in some redlegs. As I noticed various needs among the clean up crew I added more. Excess algae, add turbo snails, detritus between rocks, more crabs and a cleaner shrimp, etc..

[zoasguy]

Originally Posted by Renzema

What size tank? Also what did you do to cycle your tank?

Personally I don't like the packages, because you don't have the bio-load to support a full package of CUC right in the beginning. Usually I slowly add them as needed, and I don't use hermit crabs. Mostly stick to trochus, nassarius, nerite, and cerith snails. Hermits can kill snails when they need a new shell.

It's a 20g, with actual water volume of probably no more than 15. To cycle just the dry rock and LS, plus cut up some shrimp tails and added.

[zoasguy]

Originally Posted by cvore2004

Personally I just used live sand, threw in some rock and a powerhead, then let it sit for a week, adding a pinch of flake food every other day until I saw nitrites, then put in a blue damsel. Once I saw nitrates I put in some redlegs. As I noticed various needs among the clean up crew I added more. Excess algae, add turbo snails, detritus between rocks, more crabs and a cleaner shrimp, etc..

Yes but I want some biological activity. I love watching little inverts like amphipods crawling around.

[perforator]

I haven't ordered from them yet so I can't give a recommendation but it sounds good.

https://algaebarn.com/product/poseid...live-copepods/

[zoasguy]

Originally Posted by perforator

I haven't ordered from them yet so I can't give a recommendation but it sounds good.

https://algaebarn.com/product/poseid...live-copepods/

All the reviews are great...

[AUFishGuy]

Algaebarn is great, i will never order copepods from anywhere else, Poseidens fiest comes with both amphipods and copepods. Sign up for their mailing list and you get buy one, get one free on the first order

[zoasguy]

Originally Posted by AUFishGuy

Algaebarn is great, i will never order copepods from anywhere else, Poseidens fiest comes with both amphipods and copepods. Sign up for their mailing list and you get buy one, get one free on the first order

Ok sounds great guys. Thanks.

[Tarheel Reefer]

Hello Zoasguy, I just added my cuc to the DT two day ago, I also used alge barn and thinks it was well worth it. Half went into the refug and half into the DT, as to the cuc I added 4 electric blue hermit crabs, 6 narcissus snails 6 turbo snails and a lettuce nudibranch and 2 emerald crabs which I have the most fun watching so far, their like little lawn mowers.

[zoasguy]

Originally Posted by Tarheel Reefer

Hello Zoasguy, I just added my cuc to the DT two day ago, I also used alge barn and thinks it was well worth it. Half went into the refug and half into the DT, as to the cuc I added 4 electric blue hermit crabs, 6 narcissus snails 6 turbo snails and a lettuce nudibranch and 2 emerald crabs which I have the most fun watching so far, their like little lawn mowers.

Sounds good. This is the company I will go with. I also plan on having a little amphipod breeding container

[BrianKC]

Don't use a fish (damsel or otherwise) to cycle or start your tank. A piece of shrimp (for cooking) or a couple pinches of flake food will break down and create all the bio load you need to fully cycle.

[Dkuhlmann]

Originally Posted by Renzema

What size tank? Also what did you do to cycle your tank?

Personally I don't like the packages, because you don't have the bio-load to support a full package of CUC right in the beginning. Usually I slowly add them as needed, and I don't use hermit crabs. Mostly stick to trochus, nassarius, nerite, and cerith snails. Hermits can kill snails when they need a new shell.

To add to your snails I would get one or two Mexican Turbo's. As far as hermits go you're right most of them are murderous bastards The only hermit that is good to have is the Scarlet Legged Hermits, and this is the only crab of any kind that I will ever have in my DT.

Emerald crabs once mature become killers of fish and eaters of corals. This IMO are the males, females aren't as bad. But with the males once they reach an inch measuring the shell from point to point they change. Also part of this change is in part of they don't have as much to eat once the vegetation dies off or is consumed. I've moved all of my blue legged hermits and my very large emerald crab to the sump.

[zoasguy]

Good info Dkuhlmann. I will keep that in mind.