CUC Questions

capps_caitlyn · 09/17/2010, 09:15 AM

I was wondering what all I should get for a CUC for my tank. I have a 40 gal with 20 lbs of LR (plan to add more later) and live sand. The rock and sand had been in an established tank for 2 years. I have had my tank running for a week. All of my test came out good: pH ~8.2 Nitrate: 0 Nitrite: 0 SG: 1.023 Ammonia: 0.

I added two peppermint shrimp, 3 snails, and 3 blue leg hermit crabs. I was wondering how many snails and hermit crabs I need?

Also, I was wondering if you can combine different species of shrimp in the same tank because I was wanting to get 2 cleaner shrimp?

I am also considering some kind of sea star, preferably a brittle star and am wanting suggestion on a hardy and not super expensive species.

Thanks,
Cat

jvr1102 · 09/17/2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capps_caitlyn

I was wondering what all I should get for a CUC for my tank. I have a 40 gal with 20 lbs of LR (plan to add more later) and live sand. The rock and sand had been in an established tank for 2 years. I have had my tank running for a week. All of my test came out good: pH ~8.2 Nitrate: 0 Nitrite: 0 SG: 1.023 Ammonia: 0.

I added two peppermint shrimp, 3 snails, and 3 blue leg hermit crabs. I was wondering how many snails and hermit crabs I need?

Also, I was wondering if you can combine different species of shrimp in the same tank because I was wanting to get 2 cleaner shrimp?

I am also considering some kind of sea star, preferably a brittle star and am wanting suggestion on a hardy and not super expensive species.

Thanks,
Cat

You will get a wide range of answers on CUC. I ordered (Very)small blue leg hermits in my 90. I got 60 if them, some of course didn't make it and three years after the initial order i have about 20 left which seem to work out fine.
Some people will say its overkill some people will say it's ok. If you added more hermits you would be fine.

I had fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp and pep shrimp in my tank at the same time with no problem.

I was lucky I got a few brittle stars that were hitchhiking on my rocks

jeff@zina.com · 09/17/2010, 02:08 PM

A general recommendation is one snail for every 2 gallons and 1 blue leg hermit for every gallon or two. Your tank will probably only support one brittle star, which are reef safe, and you may have to feed it if you don't have enough to clean. The shrimp are fine together.

Jeff

capps_caitlyn · 09/17/2010, 11:00 PM

Right now, I have 3 turbo snails, 4 narcissus snails, 7 blue leg hermit crabs, and 2 peppermint shrimp

tarantula · 09/18/2010, 12:59 AM

Just avoid the green brittle stars if you want any dec. shrimp. I also seriously question the high stocking rec. of all these web sites for cuc's in reef tanks? If you have good h20 and a low bio load and a good skimmer?......

03sonicstang · 09/18/2010, 07:38 AM

Added my CUC about a week ago in my 180. Got them from from ReefCleaners.cp, 80 Dwarf Ceriths, 24 Nassarius, 25 Florida Ceriths, 24 Blue Legs, 22 Large Nerites. They've done a heck of a job cleaning the algae from my "new tank syndrome" not to mention the Sand is prefect again. I run an overdriven AquaC180 and change about 40 gallons every (2-3) weeks...

capps_caitlyn · 09/18/2010, 11:21 AM

The amount of algae in my tank has been drastically going up for the past two days. i was wondering it it could be from phosphate or if it is just normal for a new tank. What cuc's clean sand?

heckfire · 09/18/2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capps_caitlyn

The amount of algae in my tank has been drastically going up for the past two days. i was wondering it it could be from phosphate or if it is just normal for a new tank. What cuc's clean sand?

at 2 weeks it is still cycling,, silicates most likely,,,i would no add anything for awhile

03sonicstang · 09/18/2010, 11:52 AM

I would wait a while for the cycle to really complete. (2) weeks is pretty soon to add anything. I waited until (8) weeks and my tank was covered in algae!!

But, I found the Florida Ceriths and Dwarf Ceriths are good sand stirrers, good first round pick b/c they eat diatoms/cyanoo/film algae - usual young tank culprits. Also Nerite snails. Its cool watching the Dwarf Ceriths, I will not see them until my dusk setting and they come popping of all over the sand bed. Keeps my sand perfectly white

capps_caitlyn · 09/18/2010, 12:35 PM

So will the algae growth subside when the tank gets closer to the end of the cycle or will it just get worse?

03sonicstang · 09/18/2010, 02:51 PM

At about week 5 and 6 my tank looked over grown with Algae. Hair, Cyanoo, diatoms, film all kinds..and it got worse but not major up until my CUC was added. I was freaking out (and wanted to add the CUC ASAP) but as I'm sure you've heard, patience is the key to success. Just take your time and let the tank run it course. The algae will subside! Good luck

capps_caitlyn · 09/18/2010, 06:00 PM

How do I know when it is done cycling? I have tested it every day for four days and nothing has changed. My pH has fluctuated slightly only between 8.0 and 8.2. But my nitrate, nitrate, and ammonia have stayed at 0. I have had the shrimp in for 3 days and they are doing fine. So are the snails and crabs.

09/17/2010, 09:15 AM	#1
capps_caitlyn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Carbondale, IL Posts: 27	CUC Questions I was wondering what all I should get for a CUC for my tank. I have a 40 gal with 20 lbs of LR (plan to add more later) and live sand. The rock and sand had been in an established tank for 2 years. I have had my tank running for a week. All of my test came out good: pH ~8.2 Nitrate: 0 Nitrite: 0 SG: 1.023 Ammonia: 0. I added two peppermint shrimp, 3 snails, and 3 blue leg hermit crabs. I was wondering how many snails and hermit crabs I need? Also, I was wondering if you can combine different species of shrimp in the same tank because I was wanting to get 2 cleaner shrimp? I am also considering some kind of sea star, preferably a brittle star and am wanting suggestion on a hardy and not super expensive species. Thanks, Cat

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09/17/2010, 02:08 PM	#3
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	A general recommendation is one snail for every 2 gallons and 1 blue leg hermit for every gallon or two. Your tank will probably only support one brittle star, which are reef safe, and you may have to feed it if you don't have enough to clean. The shrimp are fine together. Jeff

09/17/2010, 11:00 PM	#4
capps_caitlyn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Carbondale, IL Posts: 27	Right now, I have 3 turbo snails, 4 narcissus snails, 7 blue leg hermit crabs, and 2 peppermint shrimp

09/18/2010, 12:59 AM	#5
tarantula Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 50	Just avoid the green brittle stars if you want any dec. shrimp. I also seriously question the high stocking rec. of all these web sites for cuc's in reef tanks? If you have good h20 and a low bio load and a good skimmer?......

09/18/2010, 07:38 AM	#6
03sonicstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 500	Added my CUC about a week ago in my 180. Got them from from ReefCleaners.cp, 80 Dwarf Ceriths, 24 Nassarius, 25 Florida Ceriths, 24 Blue Legs, 22 Large Nerites. They've done a heck of a job cleaning the algae from my "new tank syndrome" not to mention the Sand is prefect again. I run an overdriven AquaC180 and change about 40 gallons every (2-3) weeks...

09/18/2010, 11:21 AM	#7
capps_caitlyn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Carbondale, IL Posts: 27	The amount of algae in my tank has been drastically going up for the past two days. i was wondering it it could be from phosphate or if it is just normal for a new tank. What cuc's clean sand?

09/18/2010, 11:52 AM	#9
03sonicstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 500	I would wait a while for the cycle to really complete. (2) weeks is pretty soon to add anything. I waited until (8) weeks and my tank was covered in algae!! But, I found the Florida Ceriths and Dwarf Ceriths are good sand stirrers, good first round pick b/c they eat diatoms/cyanoo/film algae - usual young tank culprits. Also Nerite snails. Its cool watching the Dwarf Ceriths, I will not see them until my dusk setting and they come popping of all over the sand bed. Keeps my sand perfectly white

09/18/2010, 12:35 PM	#10
capps_caitlyn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Carbondale, IL Posts: 27	So will the algae growth subside when the tank gets closer to the end of the cycle or will it just get worse?

09/18/2010, 02:51 PM	#11
03sonicstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 500	At about week 5 and 6 my tank looked over grown with Algae. Hair, Cyanoo, diatoms, film all kinds..and it got worse but not major up until my CUC was added. I was freaking out (and wanted to add the CUC ASAP) but as I'm sure you've heard, patience is the key to success. Just take your time and let the tank run it course. The algae will subside! Good luck

09/18/2010, 06:00 PM	#12
capps_caitlyn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Carbondale, IL Posts: 27	How do I know when it is done cycling? I have tested it every day for four days and nothing has changed. My pH has fluctuated slightly only between 8.0 and 8.2. But my nitrate, nitrate, and ammonia have stayed at 0. I have had the shrimp in for 3 days and they are doing fine. So are the snails and crabs.