Help with cuc choices.

[banjowalker]

OK first of all after reading about watchman gobies and pistol shrimp I'm going to have to have one of each in my 75. I am almost ready to start the cycle so of course I am going to wait at least 4 weeks or whenever the tank completes it's cycle. When do I add the CUC and what would you suggest I add? And when would it be safe to add these pair because I am not wanting to stock quick, I am going to slowly stock the tank and do it right (qt the goby and others when added). I believe what I have read is that at the end of the cycle, I can add the CUC but can I add the pistol at the same time and have the goby in qt or should I wait? A CUC stock list would be greatly appreciated for a noob like me. Thanks in advanced and there will most likely be more questions (I know, ive asked a million already) to come.

 

[Calappidae]

Dumped nitrofying bacteria in the tank, fully stocked on day 2..

QTing the goby is definitly a smart move like any other fish (I figured that out the hard way) The pistol and CUC can go in whenever, the goby will eventually find him if not immidiantly. CUC will be fine in the cycle, only things I would never add early are anemones, coral, stars (depends), cucumbers, slugs, or urchins.

As far as CUC recommendations there really isn't an easy answer for that. Serpent starfish are the only things I can tell anybody to throw in their setup without a second thought, but it really depends on the bioload (by that I mean available algea/scraps to scavenge off of.)

 

[banjowalker]

Dumped nitrofying bacteria in the tank, fully stocked on day 2..

QTing the goby is definitly a smart move like any other fish (I figured that out the hard way) The pistol and CUC can go in whenever, the goby will eventually find him if not immidiantly. CUC will be fine in the cycle, only things I would never add early are anemones, coral, stars (depends), cucumbers, slugs, or urchins.

As far as CUC recommendations there really isn't an easy answer for that. Serpent starfish are the only things I can tell anybody to throw in their setup without a second thought, but it really depends on the bioload (by that I mean available algea/scraps to scavenge off of.)

Thanks! I am going to qt any fish I put in my tank with tank transfer and a treatment in prazipro (snorvich recommended). I am going to wait till at least week 3 or so to add the CUC because I don't want to put the little boogers through any hard times lol. Maybe I'd think differently if it wasn't my first cycle and tank but I am still learning step by step

 

[Noah 123]

Snails- nassarius, trochus, cerith, and star astreas are good cleaners. Not regular astreas though, as they can not right themselves if flipped over. (about 1 for every 3 gallons)

Crabs- emerald crabs are good for eating algae (1 for every 25 gallons)
blue leg and scarlet hermit crabs are good little cleaners. (about 1 for every 2 gallons)

Sea stars- serpent and brittle stars are amazing at cleaning detritus but greenish yellow ones will catch/eat fish. (1 for every 20-25 gallons)

Other- Blue tuxedo urchins are great at cleaning live rock and stay small (1 for every 20 gallons)
Crinoid squat lobsters are very cool and completely reef-safe. They filter feed from the water

 

[banjowalker]

Snails- nassarius, trochus, cerith, and star astreas are good cleaners. Not regular astreas though, as they can not right themselves if flipped over. (about 1 for every 3 gallons)

Crabs- emerald crabs are good for eating algae (1 for every 25 gallons)
blue leg and scarlet hermit crabs are good little cleaners. (about 1 for every 2 gallons)

Sea stars- serpent and brittle stars are amazing at cleaning detritus but greenish yellow ones will catch/eat fish. (1 for every 20-25 gallons)

Other- Blue tuxedo urchins are great at cleaning live rock and stay small (1 for every 20 gallons)
Crinoid squat lobsters are very cool and completely reef-safe. They filter feed from the water

Thanks! Will look into those

 

[banjowalker]

Forgot to mention they need to be reef safe and not eat fish either. Don't want anything to not get along

 

[Calappidae]

Forgot to mention they need to be reef safe and not eat fish either. Don't want anything to not get along

To say the least, if it's hungry, it's going after something. This is especially true with crabs bar porcelain and pom pom.

Sometimes the fish are enough CUC.

 

[banjowalker]

To say the least, if it's hungry, it's going after something. This is especially true with crabs bar porcelain and pom pom.

Sometimes the fish are enough CUC.

Yeah that's why I'm kind of skeptical about large crabs.

 

[Betta132]

I suggest a porcelain crab. It's not for the CUC, but it's cool.
Emerald crabs may go after fish if they get hungry, get a tuxedo urchin and a few peppermint or camel shrimp instead. Maybe some dwarf hermits. Definitely get a couple of fighting conchs or a bunch of nassarius (may have misspelled that) snails for the sandbed.

 

[Calappidae]

Camels you gotta be careful with.. They're zoa eaters when underfed.

I would not listen to any "This many per gallons" rule of thumbs you hear when it comes to selecting livestock. It strictly depends on how much is in there to substain it. My emeralds turned a little nasty once the algea blooms settled down. (My harlys put the last one in his place though, he dares not to go near their starfish )

It's worth noting that hermits eventually kill eachother off for shells. They're not a big threat to fish either strictly due to their small size (bar any hermits > 2") but they still have that oppertunistic nature.

 

[banjowalker]

Camels you gotta be careful with.. They're zoa eaters when underfed.

I would not listen to any "This many per gallons" rule of thumbs you hear when it comes to selecting livestock. It strictly depends on how much is in there to substain it. My emeralds turned a little nasty once the algea blooms settled down. (My harlys put the last one in his place though, he dares not to go near their starfish )

It's worth noting that hermits eventually kill eachother off for shells. They're not a big threat to fish either strictly due to their small size (bar any hermits > 2") but they still have that oppertunistic nature.

Thanks for the info. As far as the pistol shrimp and goby what do I worry about when it comes to these two

 

[Calappidae]

Thanks for the info. As far as the pistol shrimp and goby what do I worry about when it comes to these two

Nothing. Throw the pistol in, treat the goby for atleast 2 weeks, throw the goby in, pretty much it.

Just make sure you don't acclimate long.. float the bag/container for 30 mins and quickly get them in there after the water is exposed to air ASAP. Ammonia and ph reach a much more deadly stage during this time. Just scoop water into the bag, dump it.. scoop it.. you see the pattern just a quick 1 minute acclimation, only temperature and salinity matter.

 

[banjowalker]

Nothing. Throw the pistol in, treat the goby for atleast 2 weeks, throw the goby in, pretty much it.

Just make sure you don't acclimate long.. float the bag/container for 30 mins and quickly get them in there after the water is exposed to air ASAP. Ammonia and ph reach a much more deadly stage during this time. Just scoop water into the bag, dump it.. scoop it.. you see the pattern just a quick 1 minute acclimation, only temperature and salinity matter.

Will do thanks

 

[sk8elenex92]

I hate my goby and pistol. More the pistol. He digs all day and steals all my frags and takes them inside his cave.

 

[banjowalker]

I hate my goby and pistol. More the pistol. He digs all day and steals all my frags and takes them inside his cave.

I plan on figuring out a way to anchor them as I've heard many other stories about pistols doin this

 

[Betta132]

You just need to put them up out of his reach on the rockwork. Most pistols won't climb because they're afraid of the fish in the tank. It also helps if you put a few handfuls of shell and rubble bits right next to the burrow so the shrimp has something to use.

 

[Calappidae]

Aside from my plate coral, anything attached to a rock is fine with mine.

 

[banjowalker]

You just need to put them up out of his reach on the rockwork. Most pistols won't climb because they're afraid of the fish in the tank. It also helps if you put a few handfuls of shell and rubble bits right next to the burrow so the shrimp has something to use.

OK great. I planned to give him some she'll rubble. Any specific kind they like best? And what about the frags that need lower light?