CUC Questions

[cdness]

Hi All,

I have a couple clean up crew questions. All info is helpful and appreciated.

1. Is a cleanup crew necessary? (I was told by a local reefer that is isn't but I hear everyone here talking about it)

2. In a 75 G what would be a good crew?

Thanks!
Curtis

 

[rustybucket145]

Well... I had this nice long post typed out.... but my pc gave me the blue screen of death.... I tried to contact microsoft.... they told me to buy a mac!

Just kidding!! hehehe.... although my pc did just die a few months back and my new puter is a mac!

Joking aside, I and many others feel that a cleanup crew is as essential to a saltwater tank as water. For a 75 I'd start with 20 hermits 20 snails of varying variety. There are many places that sell variety packs. I'd stay away from the cukes personally but some people like them.

After a month or two with 40 critters take stock and see how good of a job they are doing... is there still excess algae? if so, get some more.

 

[cdness]

Thanks for the info so far!

One more question to add:

3. If your LFS doesn't sell high quantities of CUC critters, where do you order them from or where would you recommend ordering them from?

Thanks again!
Curtis

 

[SWINGRRRR]

http://www.reefcleaners.org/

 

[rustybucket145]

Garf.org
liveaquaria.com

among a few... there are MANY others. LFS's often charge over $2/critter... online you can get them below a dollar/each. Very much worth the effort of ordering online.

 

[matthewscars]

Sea Cucumber ALL THE WAY!

get the black/red ones that sift sand. they can be toxic, but thats the fun of them!

 

[rustybucket145]

YAY!!!! They can be toxic and crash your entire tank and kill everything if they die!!! That sounds sooooo coool!!! I'm gonna put 20 in my 5 gal nano!!!

 

[matthewscars]

Realisticly they are fine. As long as you make sure they have food and stay away from powerheads. Ive have one for years, never gave me an issue. They are THE best sand/det cleaners ever.

You took my sarcasm so well!

 

[Saltysteele]

i've got 2, a tiger tail, and the other is rather "turd looking"

never had any problems, haven't talked to anyone with first-hand knowledge of problems. think a lot of it is hype