Cuc feeding

robertsk · 04/16/2016, 01:25 PM

Short storry, tank 3months old, running fellow due to ick, just a few sps, there was no cuc for 3months. Overall progress of tank is interesting, the algae phases, pods growing, so the tank is getting where it should be.
Had a hair algae phase - now its gone, raised magnesium levels and it helped.
Had cyno - now its reducing
Noticed few aptaisia growing
Live rock covered in green algae, so decided to get my first cuc.

So i got:

15 calcinus elegans(hermits)
10 nassarius vibex
10 trochus histrio
2 peppermint shrimps
1 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp

For 2 days my rocks are 20% whiter which is awesome
Shrimps are doing almost nothing as i see

So the main question is if they keep up cleaning at that rate the tank will be spotless, so nothing to clean, should i feed my cuc?

I know that shrimps are crazy for food when i feed them, but not seeing them picking anything up in the tank. So im worried that they might starve?

So any advice would be apriciated. Thanks.

vcam · 04/16/2016, 04:12 PM

How big is your tank?

Short answer, I would. I consider the inverts just as important as the fish!!

The nass snails and shrimp need regular feeding of meaty foods, they don't consume algae. Normally they will grab scraps and the population will even out depending on if you are feeding lightly or not (when fish are introduced).

The hermits will eat both algae and scraps, so feeding meaty foods helps them as well.

The trochus don't eat meaty foods if I'm remembering properly, so they will eventually run out of food...

Overall you have a cleanup crew with no fish to clean up after :P

Feeding meaty foods for most of them will also increase nutrients and grow more algae, everyone will benefit.

cloak · 04/16/2016, 04:21 PM

I wouldn't feed them. The minute you start doing this they no longer function as a clean up crew, now they're pets. I would just let the tank balance out the population for you and go from there. In the future though, just remember not to add so many janitors right off the bat. GL.

robertsk · 04/17/2016, 02:55 AM

Tank is 80g

I was thinking that i when i feed corals i will feed cuc aswell so thats 2times a week so it hermits/snails will get plenty of food.

What about shrimps? How often to feed them? Scarlet seems to be begging for food, so i try to feed him every day by few hikari fish food? Should it be less or more?

04/16/2016, 01:25 PM	#1
robertsk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 25	Cuc feeding Short storry, tank 3months old, running fellow due to ick, just a few sps, there was no cuc for 3months. Overall progress of tank is interesting, the algae phases, pods growing, so the tank is getting where it should be. Had a hair algae phase - now its gone, raised magnesium levels and it helped. Had cyno - now its reducing Noticed few aptaisia growing Live rock covered in green algae, so decided to get my first cuc. So i got: 15 calcinus elegans(hermits) 10 nassarius vibex 10 trochus histrio 2 peppermint shrimps 1 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp For 2 days my rocks are 20% whiter which is awesome Shrimps are doing almost nothing as i see So the main question is if they keep up cleaning at that rate the tank will be spotless, so nothing to clean, should i feed my cuc? I know that shrimps are crazy for food when i feed them, but not seeing them picking anything up in the tank. So im worried that they might starve? So any advice would be apriciated. Thanks.

04/16/2016, 04:12 PM	#2
vcam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Montreal Posts: 97	How big is your tank? Short answer, I would. I consider the inverts just as important as the fish!! The nass snails and shrimp need regular feeding of meaty foods, they don't consume algae. Normally they will grab scraps and the population will even out depending on if you are feeding lightly or not (when fish are introduced). The hermits will eat both algae and scraps, so feeding meaty foods helps them as well. The trochus don't eat meaty foods if I'm remembering properly, so they will eventually run out of food... Overall you have a cleanup crew with no fish to clean up after :P Feeding meaty foods for most of them will also increase nutrients and grow more algae, everyone will benefit. __________________ 50g lps dominated reef, 2os clowns, Solaris and Pintail wrasse, Springers damsel, no sump. Current Tank Info: 50gal tank, 60 pounds dry rock--- started 2/2016

04/16/2016, 04:21 PM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I wouldn't feed them. The minute you start doing this they no longer function as a clean up crew, now they're pets. I would just let the tank balance out the population for you and go from there. In the future though, just remember not to add so many janitors right off the bat. GL.

04/17/2016, 02:55 AM	#4
robertsk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 25	Tank is 80g I was thinking that i when i feed corals i will feed cuc aswell so thats 2times a week so it hermits/snails will get plenty of food. What about shrimps? How often to feed them? Scarlet seems to be begging for food, so i try to feed him every day by few hikari fish food? Should it be less or more?