CUC for biocube 29?

Lucangiolig · 07/20/2016, 12:29 PM

Just started cycling my biocube with liverock and live sand. I have an idea of what I would like to put in the tank for a CUC after the tank has been cycled. I would like everyone's opinion on what I have chosen and if I should keep it to that list or add something or remove anything and how many of each.

1. Dwarf blue leg hermit crabs
2. Astraea turbo snails
3. Narssarius snails
4. Scarlet reef hermit crabs
5. Peppermint shrimp
6. Porcelain crab
7. Emerald crab

Thanks for the help in advance!

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AlSimmons · 07/20/2016, 12:42 PM

I don't see a problem with the list, although Porcelain crabs can be kind of delicate sometimes. The question is though how many of each were you planning on adding? Assuming your going to vacuum your sand bed on a regular basis and clean the glass, 3-5 snails and perhaps one Scarlet hermit crab should be plenty IMO. I don't really consider the Porcelain crab, the Emerald crab or the Peppermint shrimp to be janitors, but just be careful with the last two. Sometimes they can develop a taste for things other than bubble algae and Aiptasia.

mcgyvr · 07/20/2016, 03:28 PM

Just to give you an idea of what a good company is selling as a clean up crew kit for your tank size..
https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquariu...crew-29-gallon

IMO.. get very few crabs (1 scarlet and 1 of blue leg is ok).. They can just get annoying after a while and eat all your snails and just plain cause trouble..
I have 3 blue legs in my 40B and they have consumed roughly 50 out of 100 of my snail clean up crew in only a few months.. They have a "sacrificial" area where they drag them all to for the slaughter.. So far I've put up with it because "its nature"

Lucangiolig · 07/22/2016, 02:22 PM

Thanks for the advice, looks like I'm going to do 20 dwarf ceriths,
12 Florida ceriths, 9 nassarius 11 nerites and then in a couple months I'll do the porcelain crab.

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Frostyfishman · 07/23/2016, 01:15 AM

Cuc is overrated. My cuc is one human with a gravel vacuum. I do have a couple snails living in the sand though.

Frostyfishman · 07/23/2016, 01:16 AM

Oh i did have crabs I the beginning but they were bad citizens and were banished to the sump.

07/20/2016, 12:29 PM	#1
Lucangiolig Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 12	CUC for biocube 29? Just started cycling my biocube with liverock and live sand. I have an idea of what I would like to put in the tank for a CUC after the tank has been cycled. I would like everyone's opinion on what I have chosen and if I should keep it to that list or add something or remove anything and how many of each. 1. Dwarf blue leg hermit crabs 2. Astraea turbo snails 3. Narssarius snails 4. Scarlet reef hermit crabs 5. Peppermint shrimp 6. Porcelain crab 7. Emerald crab Thanks for the help in advance! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

07/20/2016, 03:28 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Just to give you an idea of what a good company is selling as a clean up crew kit for your tank size.. https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquariu...crew-29-gallon IMO.. get very few crabs (1 scarlet and 1 of blue leg is ok).. They can just get annoying after a while and eat all your snails and just plain cause trouble.. I have 3 blue legs in my 40B and they have consumed roughly 50 out of 100 of my snail clean up crew in only a few months.. They have a "sacrificial" area where they drag them all to for the slaughter.. So far I've put up with it because "its nature" __________________ Who me?

07/20/2016, 12:42 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I don't see a problem with the list, although Porcelain crabs can be kind of delicate sometimes. The question is though how many of each were you planning on adding? Assuming your going to vacuum your sand bed on a regular basis and clean the glass, 3-5 snails and perhaps one Scarlet hermit crab should be plenty IMO. I don't really consider the Porcelain crab, the Emerald crab or the Peppermint shrimp to be janitors, but just be careful with the last two. Sometimes they can develop a taste for things other than bubble algae and Aiptasia.

07/22/2016, 02:22 PM	#4
Lucangiolig Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 12	Thanks for the advice, looks like I'm going to do 20 dwarf ceriths, 12 Florida ceriths, 9 nassarius 11 nerites and then in a couple months I'll do the porcelain crab. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

07/23/2016, 01:15 AM	#5
Frostyfishman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 216	Cuc is overrated. My cuc is one human with a gravel vacuum. I do have a couple snails living in the sand though.

07/23/2016, 01:16 AM	#6
Frostyfishman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 216	Oh i did have crabs I the beginning but they were bad citizens and were banished to the sump.