CUC Recommendations

twf0369 · 09/06/2012, 08:56 AM

Hi Everyone!

My tank is almost at the end of its cycle!! Ammonia: 0, Nitrites: 0, Nitrates: 15 and I guess it's time to start thinking about a CUC?? Can you provide me with recommendations and quantities along with where to purchase?

I have a 180 gallon tank with a 2'' sand bed.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. This is my first tank and 90% of what I've learned about this hobby has been from experienced reefers like you, here on RC - THANK YOU!!

darimont · 09/06/2012, 08:59 AM

I would recommend http://www.reefcleaners.org for a great place to buy.

philosophile · 09/06/2012, 09:17 AM

What are you planning to keep in the tank?

You sure can start putting in your CUC. I like diversity. Different snails will eat different things at different rates.

Nassarius snails will eat meaty things that fall to the ground, and also stir the sand a bit. cerith snails are good for film. Astrea snails are better at getting some GHA, but they die if they get turned over (but honestly... this doesn't happen very often for me). Turbos are good eaters as well, but they tend to bulldoze things.

Hermit crabs are cute, but they'll eat your snails for the shells... They also steal food from corals sometimes. If I had to do over again, I'd probably wouldn't add any hermits... or only a couple.

I like the look of fuzzy chitons. They move really slow, but clean well.

Mini-bristle stars and bristleworms are valuable parts of your CUC, and you'll probably get them free on frags, and live rock. Keep an eye for stomatella as well. Excellent CuC supplement that will reproduce to meet your needs.

09/06/2012, 08:56 AM	#1
twf0369 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 106	CUC Recommendations Hi Everyone! My tank is almost at the end of its cycle!! Ammonia: 0, Nitrites: 0, Nitrates: 15 and I guess it's time to start thinking about a CUC?? Can you provide me with recommendations and quantities along with where to purchase? I have a 180 gallon tank with a 2'' sand bed. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. This is my first tank and 90% of what I've learned about this hobby has been from experienced reefers like you, here on RC - THANK YOU!! __________________ 165 Custom Miracles Rimless Reef Tank and Sump; ATI 8x80w Powermodule w/ Reefbrite LED Blue light; Vertex 180i Skimmer

09/06/2012, 09:17 AM	#3
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	What are you planning to keep in the tank? You sure can start putting in your CUC. I like diversity. Different snails will eat different things at different rates. Nassarius snails will eat meaty things that fall to the ground, and also stir the sand a bit. cerith snails are good for film. Astrea snails are better at getting some GHA, but they die if they get turned over (but honestly... this doesn't happen very often for me). Turbos are good eaters as well, but they tend to bulldoze things. Hermit crabs are cute, but they'll eat your snails for the shells... They also steal food from corals sometimes. If I had to do over again, I'd probably wouldn't add any hermits... or only a couple. I like the look of fuzzy chitons. They move really slow, but clean well. Mini-bristle stars and bristleworms are valuable parts of your CUC, and you'll probably get them free on frags, and live rock. Keep an eye for stomatella as well. Excellent CuC supplement that will reproduce to meet your needs. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

09/06/2012, 08:59 AM	#2
darimont Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Aurora, Illinois Posts: 132	I would recommend http://www.reefcleaners.org for a great place to buy.