cucumber cleaner

[jubjub]

today i was at the LFS, and i asked for suggestions on something to clean my sandbed he suggested a cucumber im like hey 12bux worth a shot.....yeah impulse buy what can i say....anywho he was out and about and tried to eat what ever my emerald crab was eating and i think the emerald snapped at him or something but since then he's been kinda tucked in this corner is this normal anything to worry about?

 

[demonsp]

He needs algea and i see none. The Sb look new. And 1 cucumber may help with green hair algea but little for the SB.My cucumber spends little time on the SB.
How old is the tank?

 

[NCguy]

I have 2 cucumbers (1 yellow 1 brown)that hide all day long and come out when the lights go out. Both of mine spend most of the time on the SB.

 

[jubjub]

the tank is about 3.5weeks old...actually its just where he hid not a ton of algae...just over a bit there is a ton of it....

ok i guess i shouldnt worry to much he just needs to get moving around hehe....he is still moving his antenna's around searching

 

[demonsp]

Ok never trust the LFS.You maynot even be cycled.Have you tested the water and do you knoe the readings?
You need a small CUC with snails and crabs then wait a few weeks and then add a fish or soft coral the wait and add some CUC and another fish or coral.Stay with non aggresive fish and basic CUC for a few months and let tank mature.Keep testing and if water levels say level then things like cucmbers can be thought about. Stay with the basics for 4 to 6 months and master the basics then you will know alot more and be able to take control.Its all about control and balance.I would return and get a test kit.

 

[Salamander]

FYI: CUC = Clean Up Crew. Not another cucumber for a new tank.

 

[jubjub]

i tested the water 0 ammonia 0 nitrates ph was like 8.0'ish i used fully curred live rock and i noticed about 7days in a huge ammonia spike and went down to 0 about 4days later.

the thing was i only had astrea's and the big issue was my sand was getting nasty looking so i asked what would be good for a sand cleaner.

i checked this morning he seems to be like pooping and everything...so thats a good sign....

 

[Sk8r]

Be careful: they are efficient, but if wounded, can emit a toxin that can be serious bad stuff for your whole tank. Have some carbon in-house to use.

 

[jubjub]

yeah sk8r i was reading about that.....he's kinda tucked under a rock now im hoping he is just getting used to the new enviroment and the MH's are on so i'm thinking he's not a fan of alot of light..ugh

 

[jubjub]

he's still tucked in the corner....im thinking i might pull him out cause he hasnt hardly moved he half way came out last nite but...shrug.....

any suggestions..i put some shrimp in the tank to try to get him to come out but nope....im thinking i might just need to pull him out?

 

[Sk8r]

They don't like light so much: check what he's doing after dark. He'll be more interested in detritus than in food: he'll be ok in there as long as your water is good, no ammonia, and your ph is 7.9-8.3. Don't injure him trying to move him: it's injury that seems to cause the worst problems. Many people have them with no problems, so don't panic, but do keep an eye on him. He may have found something to nosh on where he is.

 

[jubjub]

he does seem to be munching on something the white tenticle things from his front are on the rock......and last nite he was still in the cave but about half his body was out....there's deterious, and algae all over the bottom of the tank esp in the area he's in....the white sand is almost all brown..... lol...

side note there does seem to be alot of cylindrical things near the cave looks almost like poo but made of sand...