Another CUC dilemna

[jimnrose]

I'm finally ready for the CUC crew & have locked the snail selection for my
125g display & 29g fuge tanks (2 turbo's, 5 trochus, 20 nerite, 25 cerith). Also selected 2 pepermint shrimp.

Now for my problems.
Goby's; yellow coral, yellow and green are best but are jumpers.
Starfish are veracious eaters but will also eat shrimp, snails etc.
Crabs, hermits are best type but will also eat snails.

Question: shouldn't I avoid gobies, starfish & crabs?

Thanks, Jim

 

[sfilipowski]

most of the time when crabs eat snail its because they are out of food. I think some people overdo the cuc. when I added my cuc it was over a period of time so I could monitor what kind of impact they were making on clean up. I had several turbos die and from lots of imput from RC I determined that they were simply starving to death but I like a clean tank. clean the glass daily and my sand sifter star takes care of the bottom

 

[br3nt]

Gobies are great for keeping the sand clean, If you got a sand shifter, wherever you get it from should be able to tell you if online, or show you if at a store.

starfish: A serpent might eat shrimp, i haven't heard that but it seems plausible, but i have heard of brittle starfishes taking anything out they could. chocalate chip starfish i've also heard like to eat anything, that includes corals.

Personally i would get a goby and leave it at that and then monitor. if you start getting algae problems, grab another couple snails.

 

[jimnrose]

Thanks for your inputs. I was waiting until there was pretty good algea growth & now I'm there. In factr I just loaded the GFO and cut back on the light time period.
As for the goby, Do I have to cover the tank top to avoid a suicide mission? Are all gobies jumpers?
Jim