75g cuc

DrBoxedWine

DrBoxedWine

New member
I've had a pair of clowns in my tank and just added a flame hawk and skunk cleaner shrimp(I know about compatibility issues with those 2, the hawkfish is tiny and i'm giving it a whirl). I have a firefish in quarantine and will be adding 5 or 6 more fish (stocking heavy). I'm planning on doing corals as well eventually. I have a 75g with 30g sump /fuge. Reef cleaners suggested this for my cleanup crew:

60 Dwarf Ceriths
18 Nassarius
28 Florida Ceriths
22 Nerites

Does that seem high to anyone? Also, when should I add them? How long till the tank is dirty enough to support them?
 
I ordered the cuc for the 55 gallon, I'll add 1 emerald crab and call it good unless I see something getting out of hand. I did not get any hermits as last tank my wrasse ate the hermits and I'm adding more wrasse in this tank
 
DrBoxedWine said:
I've had a pair of clowns in my tank and just added a flame hawk and skunk cleaner shrimp(I know about compatibility issues with those 2, the hawkfish is tiny and i'm giving it a whirl). I have a firefish in quarantine and will be adding 5 or 6 more fish (stocking heavy). I'm planning on doing corals as well eventually. I have a 75g with 30g sump /fuge. Reef cleaners suggested this for my cleanup crew:

60 Dwarf Ceriths
18 Nassarius
28 Florida Ceriths
22 Nerites

Does that seem high to anyone? Also, when should I add them? How long till the tank is dirty enough to support them?
Click to expand...

Seems legit. Got any algae forming yet?
 
Algae is JUST starting on the lower parts of the tank. That many snails is normal in a 75g? How tiny are these things? 128 snails seems like a lot!! no?
 
Unless you have a serious mess on your hands, that's way too many snails IMO. Don't forget, you can keep the glass and the sand clean all by yourself. All you really need is a CUC to help with the algae on the rocks, the power heads, and the back glass. (if you decide to let that go) Also, if things go right, this nuisance algae will eventually turn into coralline algae anyways.
For a 75 gallon tank, I would probably start off with 7-10 trochus or turbo snails, and maybe a couple scarlet hermit crabs. See how they do for awhile and then adjust the population accordingly. GL.
 
I'm definitely interested in snails helping with the sand bed. I was at a fellow reefers house last week and he said he never cleans the sand, that between his nassarius snails and YW goby, he didn't really feel there was a need.

I'll keep your advice in mind, however, thanks for your thoughts. What would you think about just cutting his suggestion in half?
 
I got the reefcleaners suggested crew for a 75 and I'm happy as can be. I run the mag float around the tank a few times a week and they do the rest...what's the downside? I'm really happy with my experience there and their dry rock is AWESOME!
 
I am pleased with the CUC I got from ReefCleaners. The only problem I had was that they sent me about twice what I ordered. Usually a nice problem to have, but I will probably have some die off to deal with at some point.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone. I noticed today that when you look at the tank from the side, the panels actually are developing a pretty good layer of algae. Some spots on the sand are also turning more brown. Would this be a good time to add my CUC?
 
Couldn't you just use a Mag Float on the glass, and a stick or something to stir up the top layer of the sand bed? A CUC is great and all, but you can solve these problems on your own.
 
yeah i have a mag float, that's not what i'm worried about... I'd just like to add a CUC. and i'm wondering if now i'd be able to.
 
Go with your gut. I would add now. If your not sure of the size, order half now and see how it goes. The mix of snails is great IMHO.

You will get more Dwarfs than you order, but they do a fantastic job on my sand. By far my best workers.
 
Shawn O said:
A fighting conch couldn't hurt. They're supposed to go down deep into the sand and clean.
Click to expand...

Yeah. After my sand went to heck I was thinking of adding one as well. I should have started with some Nassarius for sure, Dwarfs and maybe a conch. Could have saved me some grief in the long run.
 
You can add your clean up crew as soon as your parameters are 0/0/<20 nitrates. They should live there alone for a month prior to adding any fish.
 
Pigpen17 said:
Yeah. After my sand went to heck I was thinking of adding one as well. I should have started with some Nassarius for sure, Dwarfs and maybe a conch. Could have saved me some grief in the long run.
Click to expand...

Oh. Again I am am not clear. I should have added the above as well as my other snails.
 
Go with the recommended amount from Reefcleaners. They are wonderful. Even if you do not see algae yet, get your CUC going. They will be just fine, and will eat the algae you don't see yet. I got the 120 package, and I am sure they sent over 200 dwarfs. All are doing great and I do not have a speck of algae. I run the mag cleaner over the glass about every 1-2 weeks just cuz I feel like I should.
 
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