questions

wolfram92 · 05/07/2015, 05:34 AM

Would 7 hermits. 1 turbo. 1 emerald crab. 1 brittle star. And 1 pincushion urchin be to much for a clean up crew? I have all but the urchin in and they are doing fine but not keeping up with the algae so I wanted to add something. Given I haven't acquired my skimmer yet so I know that will slow algae growth down. So should I get that? Or just go ahead and buy my clowns Instead?

wolfram92 · 05/07/2015, 05:36 AM

Btw it's a 38 gallon tank. It's got about 50 lbs of rock. 15 live and the test dry and 45 lbs of sand.

scooter31707 · 05/07/2015, 06:16 AM

What size tank do you have? I would recommend adding some more snails.

CafeReef · 05/07/2015, 07:55 AM

I have a 21 cube, I have 1 turbo, 1 narsarus, 1 trochus and 1 hermit, I want to add another nassarus snail and maybe 1 more trochus. I am good on hermits I think for the tank my size. I agree, you probably will want a couple more snails. But I dont think you need more than a handful. others might say differently. but CuC is kind of a bad word for them. yes they eat algae and crap on the bottom, but they create just as much waste as they clean up. so dont go crazy.

chicagoreefer20 · 05/07/2015, 08:02 AM

I have a 35g with maybe 30lbs of rock. Tank is approaching 2 years old. I have lost count of my cuc besides one cleaner shrimp and one recently added emerald crab. I started with a few hermit crabs and then added a reef cleaner package. Over time i have added and lost multiple peppermint shrimp. At the year mark I refreshed the snail population with another order from reef cleaners. The best cuc is probably snails, but hermit crabs and crabs are more fun to watch. Also note as you start there isnt that much for the cuc to eat but as you add fish...

Also - i prob have a zillion brittle stars and worms and other stuff by now - I started with live rock from one of those places that grabs it out of the ocean and overnights.

Dont rely on the cuc alone for algae - well, what type of algae and how long has the tank been up?

Nina51 · 05/07/2015, 12:10 PM

be aware that pincushion urchins are notorious for picking up everything from tiny pieces of rubble to whole frags and carrying them around. they can be miniature bulldozers. i have 2 in my 75g and it's hilarious to see what they are packing around.

a tuxedo urchin might be a better choice. i have one and he only picks up little shells and pieces of rubble and occasionally he will be sporting a polyp or two but he's nothing like the pincushions. i don't know if this is typical or if i just have a tuxedo with good manners.

05/07/2015, 05:34 AM	#1
wolfram92 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: ohio Posts: 76	questions Would 7 hermits. 1 turbo. 1 emerald crab. 1 brittle star. And 1 pincushion urchin be to much for a clean up crew? I have all but the urchin in and they are doing fine but not keeping up with the algae so I wanted to add something. Given I haven't acquired my skimmer yet so I know that will slow algae growth down. So should I get that? Or just go ahead and buy my clowns Instead?

05/07/2015, 07:55 AM	#4
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	I have a 21 cube, I have 1 turbo, 1 narsarus, 1 trochus and 1 hermit, I want to add another nassarus snail and maybe 1 more trochus. I am good on hermits I think for the tank my size. I agree, you probably will want a couple more snails. But I dont think you need more than a handful. others might say differently. but CuC is kind of a bad word for them. yes they eat algae and crap on the bottom, but they create just as much waste as they clean up. so dont go crazy. __________________ 50 Gallon cube

05/07/2015, 12:10 PM	#6
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	be aware that pincushion urchins are notorious for picking up everything from tiny pieces of rubble to whole frags and carrying them around. they can be miniature bulldozers. i have 2 in my 75g and it's hilarious to see what they are packing around. a tuxedo urchin might be a better choice. i have one and he only picks up little shells and pieces of rubble and occasionally he will be sporting a polyp or two but he's nothing like the pincushions. i don't know if this is typical or if i just have a tuxedo with good manners. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

05/07/2015, 05:36 AM	#2
wolfram92 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: ohio Posts: 76	Btw it's a 38 gallon tank. It's got about 50 lbs of rock. 15 live and the test dry and 45 lbs of sand.

05/07/2015, 06:16 AM	#3
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	What size tank do you have? I would recommend adding some more snails.

05/07/2015, 08:02 AM	#5
chicagoreefer20 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 199	I have a 35g with maybe 30lbs of rock. Tank is approaching 2 years old. I have lost count of my cuc besides one cleaner shrimp and one recently added emerald crab. I started with a few hermit crabs and then added a reef cleaner package. Over time i have added and lost multiple peppermint shrimp. At the year mark I refreshed the snail population with another order from reef cleaners. The best cuc is probably snails, but hermit crabs and crabs are more fun to watch. Also note as you start there isnt that much for the cuc to eat but as you add fish... Also - i prob have a zillion brittle stars and worms and other stuff by now - I started with live rock from one of those places that grabs it out of the ocean and overnights. Dont rely on the cuc alone for algae - well, what type of algae and how long has the tank been up?