CUC overload

crsswift70 · 07/07/2008, 05:18 PM

I see all of these websites offering "calculators" and estimates on CUC's. Does anyone actually go by them and have the majority of the CUC survive? After so many of these and those per gallon, you end up with 2-3 or more animals per gallon of water. I suspect it is more of a ploy on the sellers part to sell livestock and make money. I am of the opinion that less numbers, more diversity is healthier and more sustainable long term. But, this being a forum of experienced reefers, i wanted your opinions and experiences.

aslavatortin · 07/07/2008, 06:04 PM

Dude, I haven't a clue what you are talking about...

wrott · 07/07/2008, 06:17 PM

I think the #s are an overestimate, but a diverse--several kinds of snails (I stay away from Nassarius,Bumble bee, carnivorous/omnivorous types) and a few crabs is wise.
It really depends on the tank.
The TOTM a couple of months ago has no CUC (snails).
In my 65g I have 10-15 turbos, 10-15 Trochus, ~20 nerite, many cerith, ~25 hermits.
Numbers wax and wane over 6 months time--some reproduce--all become part of the food chain once they are in the tank.
Buy a few at a time if you can.

Aerowen · 07/07/2008, 06:18 PM

yes i know what you mean, i ended up w/ many more snails than a 24G can possibly need.

aslavatortin · 07/07/2008, 06:34 PM

So what does CUC stand for? Nassarius are bad in a reef?

wrott · 07/07/2008, 07:07 PM

It is Clean-Up Crew, CUC.
The Nassarius' that I have had die w/ in 6 months--I've had the small ones, the "real" Tonga large ones, and probably the "fake" temperal zone kinds. i believe that they starve.
There is a good article in Reef Keeping magazine about them-- ~2 months ago.

crsswift70 · 07/07/2008, 07:12 PM

Sorry aslavatortin

I didn't know the acronym til awhile ago either. I'm glad you shared your numbers wrott. I guess that's kind of what i'm looking for. What people actually have in their tanks that survive fairly well over time. I know every tank is different, but unless you have TONS of algae and detritus, i just can't see having the "recommended" amount. As far as nassarius, i have had the same experience. Do you think it's cheaper long term to get a few conchs as opposed to a handful of nassarius?

wrott · 07/07/2008, 07:20 PM

I've wondered how a conch would do in my tank, but I have no experience.

aslavatortin · 07/07/2008, 07:48 PM

There are a bazillion species of nassarius if I recall correctly; I got 20 in May of last year from LA and those things have multiplied like you wouldn't believe! I gave away all but 5 or 6 of them that went into my 110 when I got rid of my big tank in December. I still have AT LEAST that many in the 110 now.

aslavatortin · 07/07/2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crsswift70
Sorry aslavatortin I didn't know the acronym til awhile ago either. I'm glad you shared your numbers wrott. I guess that's kind of what i'm looking for. What people actually have in their tanks that survive fairly well over time. I know every tank is different, but unless you have TONS of algae and detritus, i just can't see having the "recommended" amount. As far as nassarius, i have had the same experience. Do you think it's cheaper long term to get a few conchs as opposed to a handful of nassarius?

No problem! To use the correct vernacular, CUC recommendations are inaccurate to a fault because the required number of a CUC fluctuates wildly based on infinite variables (like bioload, feeding frequency, species of the CUC, and even tank temp!).

crsswift70 · 07/07/2008, 08:01 PM

That was my thinking, but all the estimates i see on websites seem to be overinflated. I just wanted to see if others felt the way i did.

aslavatortin · 07/07/2008, 08:06 PM

I agree completely, there is NO way to make a blanket recommendation like that accurately. Obviously (based on the opposing nassarius experiences here alone), what works for Guy X may or may not turn out to be optimal for Guy Y so it would be silly to tell him that it would or would not.

Aj Flip · 07/07/2008, 08:41 PM

ya ive been told to start with a few an add more if i need them

if you put too many at once there might not be enough food and some will die

07/07/2008, 05:18 PM	#1
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	CUC overload I see all of these websites offering "calculators" and estimates on CUC's. Does anyone actually go by them and have the majority of the CUC survive? After so many of these and those per gallon, you end up with 2-3 or more animals per gallon of water. I suspect it is more of a ploy on the sellers part to sell livestock and make money. I am of the opinion that less numbers, more diversity is healthier and more sustainable long term. But, this being a forum of experienced reefers, i wanted your opinions and experiences. Last edited by crsswift70; 07/07/2008 at 05:26 PM.

07/07/2008, 06:04 PM	#2
aslavatortin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lakeland, TN Posts: 430	Dude, I haven't a clue what you are talking about... __________________ Libertas, numquam ex more! Current Tank Info: 110g display, 30g sump, 20g refugium, 2x400w XM 20k halides, 4x96w pc, 1x 23w CF, 1 T5, 2x tunze 6025, 2x tunze 6045, 1x Genx pcx-40, Big fat Octopus Skimmer w/ Sicce pump and bubble plate, 2x PhosBan Reactor

07/07/2008, 06:17 PM	#3
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I think the #s are an overestimate, but a diverse--several kinds of snails (I stay away from Nassarius,Bumble bee, carnivorous/omnivorous types) and a few crabs is wise. It really depends on the tank. The TOTM a couple of months ago has no CUC (snails). In my 65g I have 10-15 turbos, 10-15 Trochus, ~20 nerite, many cerith, ~25 hermits. Numbers wax and wane over 6 months time--some reproduce--all become part of the food chain once they are in the tank. Buy a few at a time if you can. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

07/07/2008, 06:34 PM	#5
aslavatortin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lakeland, TN Posts: 430	So what does CUC stand for? Nassarius are bad in a reef? __________________ Libertas, numquam ex more! Current Tank Info: 110g display, 30g sump, 20g refugium, 2x400w XM 20k halides, 4x96w pc, 1x 23w CF, 1 T5, 2x tunze 6025, 2x tunze 6045, 1x Genx pcx-40, Big fat Octopus Skimmer w/ Sicce pump and bubble plate, 2x PhosBan Reactor

07/07/2008, 07:07 PM	#6
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	It is Clean-Up Crew, CUC. The Nassarius' that I have had die w/ in 6 months--I've had the small ones, the "real" Tonga large ones, and probably the "fake" temperal zone kinds. i believe that they starve. There is a good article in Reef Keeping magazine about them-- ~2 months ago. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

07/07/2008, 06:18 PM	#4
Aerowen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long island, NY Posts: 497	yes i know what you mean, i ended up w/ many more snails than a 24G can possibly need.

07/07/2008, 07:12 PM	#7
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	Sorry aslavatortin I didn't know the acronym til awhile ago either. I'm glad you shared your numbers wrott. I guess that's kind of what i'm looking for. What people actually have in their tanks that survive fairly well over time. I know every tank is different, but unless you have TONS of algae and detritus, i just can't see having the "recommended" amount. As far as nassarius, i have had the same experience. Do you think it's cheaper long term to get a few conchs as opposed to a handful of nassarius? Last edited by crsswift70; 07/07/2008 at 07:22 PM.

07/07/2008, 07:20 PM	#8
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I've wondered how a conch would do in my tank, but I have no experience. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

07/07/2008, 07:48 PM	#9
aslavatortin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lakeland, TN Posts: 430	There are a bazillion species of nassarius if I recall correctly; I got 20 in May of last year from LA and those things have multiplied like you wouldn't believe! I gave away all but 5 or 6 of them that went into my 110 when I got rid of my big tank in December. I still have AT LEAST that many in the 110 now. __________________ Libertas, numquam ex more! Current Tank Info: 110g display, 30g sump, 20g refugium, 2x400w XM 20k halides, 4x96w pc, 1x 23w CF, 1 T5, 2x tunze 6025, 2x tunze 6045, 1x Genx pcx-40, Big fat Octopus Skimmer w/ Sicce pump and bubble plate, 2x PhosBan Reactor

07/07/2008, 08:01 PM	#11
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	That was my thinking, but all the estimates i see on websites seem to be overinflated. I just wanted to see if others felt the way i did.

07/07/2008, 08:06 PM	#12
aslavatortin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lakeland, TN Posts: 430	I agree completely, there is NO way to make a blanket recommendation like that accurately. Obviously (based on the opposing nassarius experiences here alone), what works for Guy X may or may not turn out to be optimal for Guy Y so it would be silly to tell him that it would or would not. __________________ Libertas, numquam ex more! Current Tank Info: 110g display, 30g sump, 20g refugium, 2x400w XM 20k halides, 4x96w pc, 1x 23w CF, 1 T5, 2x tunze 6025, 2x tunze 6045, 1x Genx pcx-40, Big fat Octopus Skimmer w/ Sicce pump and bubble plate, 2x PhosBan Reactor

07/07/2008, 08:41 PM	#13
Aj Flip Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 802	ya ive been told to start with a few an add more if i need them if you put too many at once there might not be enough food and some will die