Clean up crew 60 gallon.

[Apartmenttank]

currently my cuc is alittle empty, the new tank I got came with 3 pretty big snails and around 5 hermit crabs a few big a few small

I'm pretty sure I need to buff up my supply.
I had one person recomend me to use this website. I linked the 60 gallon with hermit one that I would probably get.

Other option is to hit up the fish store tomorrow while I'm there.

Any opinions on the two ideas? Any need to have in a cuc?

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

You definitely want a CUC. It's like a housecleaning service for your tank. You'll want something to eat leftover food before it rots and something to eat algae off your rocks so it doesn't take over. There are lots of choices and opinions. You may want to wait to see if you need to add any other creatures in your CUC. Maybe you are already ok. Or you could try the site ReefCleaners. They can calculate what you need by gallon.
Good Luck!

 

[Apartmenttank]

http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.p...mart_product_id=302&virtuemart_category_id=20

Copied but never pasted.

I think I worded the last question wrong, I was asking if there is a need to have member of a clean up crew.

Adding for sure just can't decide if I want to order online or buy from LFS.

 

[Marchillo]

I would personally support the LFS if you can and if their livestock looks good.

Also if you buy through the LFS you can buy a few at a time and not overstock you cuc. Maybe add 5 more snails for now. I personally love the fighting conch. He "vacuums" my sand bed. The one I got was huge and needs a perimeter to roam around so he doesn't get stuck.

Btw he doesn't "fight". He is very peaceful.

 

[Marchillo]

http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.p...mart_product_id=302&virtuemart_category_id=20

Copied but never pasted.

I think I worded the last question wrong, I was asking if there is a need to have member of a clean up crew.

Adding for sure just can't decide if I want to order online or buy from LFS.

I just checked out the link. That price is very cheap. But I really think they overdo it. Unless they are assuming a death ratio. I wouldn't do more than 15% of what they reccomend right now. As I stated before you can add as you go along and you see a need for it. But my opinion is that is way too much. You will pay a lot more at the LFS. Probably $2-$4 per snail. The fighting conch would be more if you go in that direction.

 

[Irishman360]

I got three snails, seven hermits and a shrimp when I started with my CUC. However I didn't have any algae or light on my tank so they were almost starving while I had them in there with no fish. I did feed them every other day though so there would be something in the tank they could munch on, also it was the only way to get my fire shrimp out of his hole so we could see him.

 

[Fishkeeper44]

cleaner shrimp are good CUC IMO.

 

[Apartmenttank]

I want a cleaner shrimp but I heard I should wait?

I'll probably do a little bit of both get a small pack from the guy online and a few from the LFS.

Should I quarantine cuc? I don't have my q tank yet

 

[Shawn O]

Do you have fish? If no fish and you can stay fish-less for 72 days, no need to QT. I can't think of any reason why a parasite cyst can't stick to a snail shell and could come over with them or the hermits. If your LFS keeps his snails/hermits in a separate system from the fish, might be safe enough to not QT them. My LFS has all his tanks on the same water system and moves nets from one tank to another so I don't feel very safe with his critters.

 

[Pigpen17]

I would start out small and work your way up. With mail order, this can get spendy though with shipping costs.

My one regret starting up is that I didn't get anything to stir up the sand bed until I needed to. I should have started with a Fighting Conch or something and I can't see living without my Nassarius. They burrow in the sand and aerate your sand bed. I started with about 5 in my 56g, and in a few months added 5 more.

Also, I am a huge fan of the Dwarf Cerith, although they can look a bit untidy as they get everywhere. They spend the night hours feeding on my sand surface. I got around 30, but like I said, they can look untidy.

 

[koral_lover]

+1 on a fighting Conch, but not more than one in that size of tank....i typically find snails to be better cleaners than hermits, turbos especially, but they do tend to knock over stuff...

 

[Marchillo]

+1 on a fighting Conch, but not more than one in that size of tank....i typically find snails to be better cleaners than hermits, turbos especially, but they do tend to knock over stuff...

Yeah agreed. I have an 80G with a 120 footprint - 48-24 with 100 pounds of sand. My sand was covered in diatoms and he had them cleaned up in 2 days. One is all that is needed. He doesn't knock anything over in my tank. I have a clear path for him. But he does bang against the glass a bit. But not very hard.

 

[Apartmenttank]

I asked for a custom cuc for my tank sense I had a few members already.

50 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
17 Nassarius
17 Florida Ceriths
14 Assorted Hermits
12 Nerites
10 Medium to large hermit shells
2 Emerald Crabs
1 Chiton and 2 Limpets

This was the suggestion.

 

[Apartmenttank]

do you all Q your cuc after you have fish in the tank?

 

[Pigpen17]

Did you place your order already? That seems like a lot.

No I personally don't QT Snails and such. I do give them a rinse in tank water, but I think that’s just so I feel better about it. The only QT that would work for inverts is 72 days in a fallow tank. Seems like a bit much for a low risk. I try not buy inverts that have been housed with fish though. My LFS keeps them all in one system. No way I’m buying that without QT.

 

[Apartmenttank]

No i have not placed my order yet, im not sure what i wanna do. i got advice to use reefcleaners from a friend who personally knows the guy at the website. almost feels like an insult not to go with his suggestion now, but it seems like too much. maybe get half of it?

 

[Pigpen17]

No i have not placed my order yet, im not sure what i wanna do. i got advice to use reefcleaners from a friend who personally knows the guy at the website. almost feels like an insult not to go with his suggestion now, but it seems like too much. maybe get half of it?

Ah! Sorry. I tried to answer this earlier, but what a day I have had!

It is a bit much. Especially that many crabs. I wouldn't add any more hermits that you already got. I have had 5 in my 56g forever and they do fine. I like to build my own CUC, personally, and start small. I would suggest a handful of Nassarius and a few more snails of your liking. Emerald crabs are cool.

And I always order from Reefcleaners. They are awesome. It's just a matter of not over buying and making it count with the shipping.

 

[Apartmenttank]

Dont feel bad about timing you are giving free advice. I ended up ordering half the amount of product he suggested, figured i could add more later. i also added some pods to get over the 40 dollar amount(5 dollars off).

He runs an all fishless system so from what i have heard i should be fine to go no Q tank?

 

[Pigpen17]

Dont feel bad about timing you are giving free advice. I ended up ordering half the amount of product he suggested, figured i could add more later. i also added some pods to get over the 40 dollar amount(5 dollars off).

He runs an all fishless system so from what i have heard i should be fine to go no Q tank?

I ususaly don't start in a conversation and then duck out, but I haven't been home much.

QT is a personal Preference thing. I see no point if it's from Reefcleaners, but i guess there is always a risk.
I just do a quick acclimation (if needed) then I just rinse them off in a container of tank water and then add them right in the dispaly. If you do QT, it would be 72 days.

Good luck.