Is my CUC inadequate??

MKurpicski · 04/08/2011, 08:28 AM

New to the hobby so now start the questions, My cleanup crew does not seem to be doing anything and in fact my tank seems to be getting dirtier after adding the CUC (3 Mexican Turbo Snails, 4 Regular small snails, 1 dozen red leg hermit crabs). The glass on the back is turning brown. I've done a chem test and here are results.

PH 8.0
AM 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 5.0-10ppm

Tank Description
55 Gallon
Solarmax H.O Double T5 108w
Fluval 305 Filtration
~75lbs Fiji Live Rock
2 Koralia 1050's

duncantse · 04/08/2011, 08:36 AM

Get more snails. Hermit crabs do not go on glass so they cant clean the back glass.

Lynnmw1208 · 04/08/2011, 08:41 AM

the mexican turbos probably won't last long to let ya know. they are a colder water species and don't like the warmness of our tanks. Get some astrea turbo snails they are like cows! lol. Also some nassarius will stir up your substrate and that. I need to get more snails as well and your post reminded me lol.

how old is the tank? if it's fairly new, the algae is common. I have hair algae in my tank and it's a month old.

Toddrtrex · 04/08/2011, 08:41 AM

What are your phosphate levels?
Are you using RO/DI water? If so, what is the TDS.

IMO/E you have enough snails -- in fact about twice as many as I have in my 75. I am guessing that your tank is still fairly new, and would just let it settle in before buying more snails. Also, it appears that you have some excess nutrients feeding the algae, address those before adding more snails; get to the root of the problem first.

MKurpicski · 04/08/2011, 08:46 AM

My tank has been up for about 2 months, I am only using RO/DI water currently making routine trips to the LFS but looking for a good RO/DI system for the house. Phosphate levels are unknown and has not been on my list of tests, please elaborate on the excess nutrients comments.

mk

Toddrtrex · 04/08/2011, 08:51 AM

Do you know the TDS (( Total Dissolved Solids )) of the water you are getting from your LFS? (( basically it is a measure of how pure the water is, the reading should be 0 )). Some LFSs aren't the best about keeping up with their maintenance with their RO/DI "machines".

Excess nutrients can/will feed the algae growth, can come from feeding too much, impurities in the water, leaching out of the live rock, and a couple other places. If you limit the importation of them, and/or increase the exportation of them the algae growth will slow/stop. Adding snails does little for this if there is still a net gain of nutrients -- remember the snails still produce waste after eating the algae, which can/will feed the algae.

MKurpicski · 04/08/2011, 08:55 AM

Unfortunately I do not know the TDS number on the water but will ask the next time I get up there, I have 3 damsels in the tank that I feed 1 pinch per day of flakes and they seem to grab up all of it.

mk

Uncle Salty 05 · 04/08/2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKurpicski

Unfortunately I do not know the TDS number on the water but will ask the next time I get up there, I have 3 damsels in the tank that I feed 1 pinch per day of flakes and they seem to grab up all of it.

mk

Don't take their word for it. Ask them to please show you on a TDS meter.
If they say they don't have one, walk away. You just found one of the sources of your problem.

04/08/2011, 08:28 AM	#1
MKurpicski Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 87	Is my CUC inadequate?? New to the hobby so now start the questions, My cleanup crew does not seem to be doing anything and in fact my tank seems to be getting dirtier after adding the CUC (3 Mexican Turbo Snails, 4 Regular small snails, 1 dozen red leg hermit crabs). The glass on the back is turning brown. I've done a chem test and here are results. PH 8.0 AM 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 5.0-10ppm Tank Description 55 Gallon Solarmax H.O Double T5 108w Fluval 305 Filtration ~75lbs Fiji Live Rock 2 Koralia 1050's

04/08/2011, 08:41 AM	#3
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	the mexican turbos probably won't last long to let ya know. they are a colder water species and don't like the warmness of our tanks. Get some astrea turbo snails they are like cows! lol. Also some nassarius will stir up your substrate and that. I need to get more snails as well and your post reminded me lol. how old is the tank? if it's fairly new, the algae is common. I have hair algae in my tank and it's a month old. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

04/08/2011, 08:41 AM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	What are your phosphate levels? Are you using RO/DI water? If so, what is the TDS. IMO/E you have enough snails -- in fact about twice as many as I have in my 75. I am guessing that your tank is still fairly new, and would just let it settle in before buying more snails. Also, it appears that you have some excess nutrients feeding the algae, address those before adding more snails; get to the root of the problem first. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/08/2011, 08:51 AM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Do you know the TDS (( Total Dissolved Solids )) of the water you are getting from your LFS? (( basically it is a measure of how pure the water is, the reading should be 0 )). Some LFSs aren't the best about keeping up with their maintenance with their RO/DI "machines". Excess nutrients can/will feed the algae growth, can come from feeding too much, impurities in the water, leaching out of the live rock, and a couple other places. If you limit the importation of them, and/or increase the exportation of them the algae growth will slow/stop. Adding snails does little for this if there is still a net gain of nutrients -- remember the snails still produce waste after eating the algae, which can/will feed the algae. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Question on CUC?	lacosta28	New to the Hobby	24	02/24/2011 06:38 PM
CUC Questions	capps_caitlyn	New to the Hobby	11	09/18/2010 06:00 PM
Help with nano cuc please!!	mpsullivan	Reef Discussion	5	06/22/2010 01:03 PM
Do I need hermits in my CUC? Yes...NO?	MyReef 2b Great	New to the Hobby	25	03/22/2010 05:54 PM

04/08/2011, 08:36 AM	#2
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	Get more snails. Hermit crabs do not go on glass so they cant clean the back glass.

04/08/2011, 08:46 AM	#5
MKurpicski Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 87	My tank has been up for about 2 months, I am only using RO/DI water currently making routine trips to the LFS but looking for a good RO/DI system for the house. Phosphate levels are unknown and has not been on my list of tests, please elaborate on the excess nutrients comments. mk

04/08/2011, 08:55 AM	#7
MKurpicski Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 87	Unfortunately I do not know the TDS number on the water but will ask the next time I get up there, I have 3 damsels in the tank that I feed 1 pinch per day of flakes and they seem to grab up all of it. mk