CUC for 6g Nano Reef

Vaesive · 10/01/2015, 03:11 PM

Hello Everyone!

I just got into the reefing hobby and am excited to begin. I have some experience with freshwater aquariums.

I keep reading conflicting reports on proper CUC member for a nano reef. I've recently cycled my 6g Nano over the course of a month and my water parameters are looking like I should be ready to add some livestock soon. My Nitrate level was nearly 0 (my workmate said it looked 0 to him but I think it was maybe 1ppm. I could just be being overly cautious.)

Anyway, I would like to know if the following list of members for a CUC would handle all the cleanup jobs in the aquarium as well as if it would be too many/few members:

Nerite Snail
Astraea Turbo Snail
Banded Trochus Snail
Spiny Star Astraea
Banded Coral Shrimp
Pom Pom Crab
Electric Blue Hermit Crab
Electric Orange Hermit Crab

As you can see, I really like diversity :P If I had to remove some, I would like to remove one of the hermits and the coral shrimp but I'm not sure if I'd be removing a vital member of my CUC.

Any and all input would be greatly appreciated!

Vaesive · 10/02/2015, 09:25 AM

No input at all?

adoptaspork · 10/02/2015, 09:49 AM

I know some people around here aren't huge fans of hermits, but i personally LOVE my hermits. I've currently got both a 6g and 20g nano running since ~2 years ago, but am in the works to upgrade to a 40g+ by December. They just have so much PERSONALITY - especially for a CUC. The first real inhabitant in my 20 was my electric blue legged hermit crab, lovingly dubbed Doctor Aristocrab, and he is still there (albeit MUCH larger than when I got him) today. I also have a couple of tiny red-legged and blue-legged hermits (the "minion" crabs) running around at any given point, too. The little guys will squabble and kill each other or a snail for a shell from time to time so beware of that, but nobody has ever bothered the electric blue and he doesn't seem to bother anyone else, either. Nobody bothers any of my corals, either, and I've got a variety of softies and LPS-type corals in the tank, as well as an RBTA. In fact, I've been casually looking for a Halloween hermit to pop back up in one of my LFS's...the obsession is real.

There *are* stories of rogue hermit crabs terrorizing tanks and eating corals, though. It seems to me that if they are no overcrowded and have enough food to eat, they're fine most of the time. Most "CUC kits" seem to *way* overstock them - you probably need a lot less than you think, especially for a 6gal. However, I'm not really one to ask about numbers...I just add one thing at a time until I'm satisfied that all of the "job openings" are being covered. Pick the one that you want the most, add it, see how it interacts with the environment, and then pick another safe reef-mate to add in, etc. Not super scientific, I know...but I hate starving and killing inverts, and although some people consider them just items that may or may not die, I try to make their life just as good as any fish or coral's.

I may keep a couple of Astrea snails at any given point in time, however they're not my favorite. They're notorious for climbing, falling, and dying since they can't right themselves again...and then they just turn into new shells for the hermits. If you see one turned over, you've got to quickly dunk your hand in on a recon mission to save it, which is a real bummer when you're in a hurry to run out the door...Nerites are some of my favorites and do a really good job. They're also quite pretty and do well in smaller tanks.

Vaesive · 10/02/2015, 02:11 PM

Thank you for your input adoptaspork! I was thinking of adding 2 of the snails first to see how they do. I'm prepared with dried seaweed and sinking bottom feeder stuff if they end up getting hungry; I have the same stance as you on the CUC quality of life

I want them to be happy, healthy members of the nano reef!

If I end up getting a hermit, I'll throw in a few empty shells for them so they (hopefully) don't kill off the snails

I'm not sure if I need the Shrimp. Does he do any jobs that the others in my list do not? if not, he'd be the first to be removed from the CUC list.

Thanks again! ^.^

10/01/2015, 03:11 PM	#1
Vaesive Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 37	CUC for 6g Nano Reef Hello Everyone! I just got into the reefing hobby and am excited to begin. I have some experience with freshwater aquariums. I keep reading conflicting reports on proper CUC member for a nano reef. I've recently cycled my 6g Nano over the course of a month and my water parameters are looking like I should be ready to add some livestock soon. My Nitrate level was nearly 0 (my workmate said it looked 0 to him but I think it was maybe 1ppm. I could just be being overly cautious.) Anyway, I would like to know if the following list of members for a CUC would handle all the cleanup jobs in the aquarium as well as if it would be too many/few members: Nerite Snail Astraea Turbo Snail Banded Trochus Snail Spiny Star Astraea Banded Coral Shrimp Pom Pom Crab Electric Blue Hermit Crab Electric Orange Hermit Crab As you can see, I really like diversity :P If I had to remove some, I would like to remove one of the hermits and the coral shrimp but I'm not sure if I'd be removing a vital member of my CUC. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated!

10/02/2015, 09:25 AM	#2
Vaesive Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 37	No input at all?

10/02/2015, 09:49 AM	#3
adoptaspork Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 93	I know some people around here aren't huge fans of hermits, but i personally LOVE my hermits. I've currently got both a 6g and 20g nano running since ~2 years ago, but am in the works to upgrade to a 40g+ by December. They just have so much PERSONALITY - especially for a CUC. The first real inhabitant in my 20 was my electric blue legged hermit crab, lovingly dubbed Doctor Aristocrab, and he is still there (albeit MUCH larger than when I got him) today. I also have a couple of tiny red-legged and blue-legged hermits (the "minion" crabs) running around at any given point, too. The little guys will squabble and kill each other or a snail for a shell from time to time so beware of that, but nobody has ever bothered the electric blue and he doesn't seem to bother anyone else, either. Nobody bothers any of my corals, either, and I've got a variety of softies and LPS-type corals in the tank, as well as an RBTA. In fact, I've been casually looking for a Halloween hermit to pop back up in one of my LFS's...the obsession is real. There are stories of rogue hermit crabs terrorizing tanks and eating corals, though. It seems to me that if they are no overcrowded and have enough food to eat, they're fine most of the time. Most "CUC kits" seem to way overstock them - you probably need a lot less than you think, especially for a 6gal. However, I'm not really one to ask about numbers...I just add one thing at a time until I'm satisfied that all of the "job openings" are being covered. Pick the one that you want the most, add it, see how it interacts with the environment, and then pick another safe reef-mate to add in, etc. Not super scientific, I know...but I hate starving and killing inverts, and although some people consider them just items that may or may not die, I try to make their life just as good as any fish or coral's. I may keep a couple of Astrea snails at any given point in time, however they're not my favorite. They're notorious for climbing, falling, and dying since they can't right themselves again...and then they just turn into new shells for the hermits. If you see one turned over, you've got to quickly dunk your hand in on a recon mission to save it, which is a real bummer when you're in a hurry to run out the door...Nerites are some of my favorites and do a really good job. They're also quite pretty and do well in smaller tanks.

10/02/2015, 02:11 PM	#4
Vaesive Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 37	Thank you for your input adoptaspork! I was thinking of adding 2 of the snails first to see how they do. I'm prepared with dried seaweed and sinking bottom feeder stuff if they end up getting hungry; I have the same stance as you on the CUC quality of life I want them to be happy, healthy members of the nano reef! If I end up getting a hermit, I'll throw in a few empty shells for them so they (hopefully) don't kill off the snails I'm not sure if I need the Shrimp. Does he do any jobs that the others in my list do not? if not, he'd be the first to be removed from the CUC list. Thanks again! ^.^