clean up crew

[raska5]

Hi everyone,
First I'd like to thanks all of you who helped me with my lighting issues. I did purchase a retrofit t5's?? It is only 2 bulbs with their own reflectors. I'm going to add to this before I put in any soft corals.

Here's my new question. I just recently switched out my cc for live sand. I also found a home for my Toby puffer and clown wrasse. Now I've read up on some debates of whether you vacuum the sand or not. I'm a little confused because both sides make sense. I only have about 1 1/2 inch sand bed. Would getting a cuc be the right thing to do. I never had one due to the fact that they would have become expensive food to my little toby. If so, what should I get and when should I get some??

I have a 90 gal tank, no fuge, no sump. Canister filter and protein skimmer. I do plan on getting some soft corals in the hopefully near future.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[fishndive]

I'm not an experienced tank person at all but I put my CUC in after the tank params got right after setting up my tank

So far it consists of an emerald crab, nassarius snails, one cleaner shrimp one peppermint shrimp, some turbos (which are a pain in the butt) and I actually think I'm short some snails so I will be adding in the near future.

 

[Ms_Jerk]

I would get a cuc (+1 on not being too experienced). If your puffer isn't in there to eat them anymore I would get some. They are always a good thing. I'd start out witha few and add more if you think you need them.

I have 1 emerald, 2 large hermits, 7 blue leg hermits, 2 nassarius (Sp?), 4 turbos and a few other species just to mix it up a little.

 

[IslandCrow]

All the suggestions for CUC are good. I'm a big fan of Trochus snails instead of Turbos, as they're a little smaller (and therefore have less bulldozing potential) and they can flip themselves back over. Turbos are algae eating machines, though. Not everyone likes hermit crabs, as they will sometimes go after your snails. I've had pretty good luck, but it can be hit or miss. In the future, I may try to do just snails and emerald crabs.

As for vacuuming sand, just as you said, there are two theories on this, and I agree that they both make sense. I don't think it hurts to vacuum a shallow sand bed. It's more a question of whether or not it's worth the effort, and I think that's more of a personal decision. Nassarius snails, Cerith snails, Fighting Conchs and sand sifting cucumbers (like Tiger Tails) are great roamers of the sandbed, and as long as you keep up on your overall tank husbandry, they should keep your sandbed pretty clean for you. You don't have to get all three, but I think Nassarius (meat/detritus eaters) and Cerith (algae eaters) make a great team.

 

[Everyones Hero]

If you don't have something that'll eat them then I say get some. In the long run it's less work for you.

Mine consists of about a dozen Nass snails, dozen Astrea, dozen Margarita, a Pistol shrimp & a Peppermint shrimp. I still get a good bit of algae on the rocks & front glass, but I'm about to add 75 Cerinth snails. They're supposed to be good for cleaning detritus out of the sand bed & eating algae off the rocks & glass.

 

[raska5]

I have one turbo snail. I got him when I started the tank. I was just worried that it would be too soon to add anything more due to the fact that I just switched cc to live sand. I just don't want any little guys to starve. I also want to make sure that anything I add will be ok with soft corals.

 

[Ms_Jerk]

I'm sure it will have enough to eat off of the rocks and glass.