quick cuc question

Are they dying? be predated upon? or just starving to death? I guess what I mean is what do you mean?

In my reef, for example, 75 snails became maybe 45 snails due to lack of algae (starving), hermit predation (argh), flipping upsidedown (darn astreas). Now I am noticing small (baby) snail starting to pop up. In any case the tank achieved a "CuC balance" after that culling phase at the start.

If you are losing them becuase of external things (accidental copper introduction, oops, or interceptor treatment, etc...) then that is another story.

Just my opinion--landlord
 
I guess what I mean is under normal circumstances, i.e. hermits killing snails, astreas flipping over, assuming that the cuc is not starving to death, how often does everyone replenish their cuc taking into account normal things that kill snails? Is that more like every 6 mon you go and buy more astreas, ceriths, et al?
 
I guess I haven't had to go there yet. My CuC is pretty balanced right now and those in the tank are breeding new ones to fill the gap. I have snails of all sizes cruising the tank and this tank is just hitting the 6 month mark now. I have tons of liverock to provide safe haven for new snails. Those tiny snails that venture out become food for a gluttonous sixline. and a school of anthias who have taken to picking them off the glass.

FWIW - I started off with the reeftopia.com "Total Reef Care Special #2" in a 90 gallon. It was overkill on the astreas big time. Most of my losses have been predated astreas or ones that have flipped over (later to be predated on by the hermits) notice the trend......

Oh Yeah - I believe that it is only the Nerites that are breeding in the tank as well.

--Good Luck
 
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