CUC for NPs reef

[Allmost]

Hello,
what are the views on CUC for a dark tank ?

I do not need any algae eating inverts, but need something to eat the left over foods, and at the same time, not actively hunt for it like shrimp [they take food away from sun corals]

Ideas ?

Im thinking sand sifting star, serpent starfish , some of those snails that go in the sand .... what else ?

any filter feeding inverts ? I feel like alot of food is wasted in my system, so want to add more life to take it up. [tank is still younge, so needs to grow alot of sponges still]


thanks.

 

[stunreefer]

Since you're using sand I would go with a half dozen of the small Nassarius snails. The large Nassarius snails are incredible sand sifters but they would likely run out of food in a 30 gal.

I keep a cleaner shrimp in my non-photo and he will steal a little food here and there, but in a non-photo system usually they get their fill without ripping open polyps as they would in a system with less food present.

 

[Allmost]

thanks Austin, I should update mu signature, its actually a 60 G Cube now.

 

[stunreefer]

Well then, I would probably add one of the large/giant Nassarius snails or a dozen of the smaller species. Unfortunately I don't have a species name for you... they're considerably larger than other Nassarius species and are generally called "Giant Fancy Nassarius Snail". I kept two in my old 183 gal non-photo aquarium and they kept the sand unbelievably clean. I prefer them over the tiny species, but frankly either will get the job done.

 

[MarineSniper]

I currently have ~300 nessarius snails (6" dsb), ~200 various other snails; astrea, ceriths, nerites, turbos, 2 sand sifter and 2 large serpent stars, 3 conchs, 5 cucumbers, 4 peppermint shrimp and ~250 hermit crabs

A very large crew, I know but I have a lot of nps in there and they go through 2lbs of mysid, 2 blocks of Cyclopeeze plus all types of other food every month. Nothing in there goes hungry and that number is needed to keep it clear of excess food

The peppermint shrimp are there to take care of the occasional aiptasia that pops up in the tank. I have them growing in droves in the overflows, which is a definite benefit, as long as they remain there and in the sump. With that cuc, I'm able to retain a nitrate level of under 10, with 25% water changes every 2 weeks. By feeding during the day, I'm also able to utilize the 4 fish in the tank, to catch a lot of missed food

 

[accordsirh22]

i think you might be referring to the olive snails. they get pretty big and love food. although they can eat other sand dwelling inverts, they do a heck of a job with cleanup/sifting

 

[Allmost]

thanks guys,

yea I can just siphon out the left over food [specially cyclopsee, but I think I just see them cause they are red] but would rather have more animals in there, eating them and pooping it out, to add to the food cycle.

gonna get a bunch of stars and snails and serpant stars tonight .

MArine Sniper .... you have half the oceans CUC in there ! haha kidding, but I know what you mean ... with the amount of food I feed my corals, I dont think anything in there would go hungry ... im still scared of Cucumbers though .. with their toxins and ...