sustaining clean up crew

[NedFlounders]

Since my tank finally cycled, I added a small cleanup crew(10 scarlett hermits, 3 trochus snails, 3 nassarious snails, and 1 peppermint shrimp) and also started up the skimmer. Since I used dry rock, I'm not seeing much algae yet, if any. Water parameters are all where they should be.

1. I've been feeding the tank 1/2 a cube of mysis/nori every other day since the cycle...is this enough to sustain the CUC?

2. Since there is no visible indication of coraline, is there a way to promote the growth of it?

 

[JammyBirch]

Sounds like you doing plenty to keep the CUC going. Coralline algae requires Calcium, Alkalinity and Mag levels to be in check. Cal - 400ish, Alk - 9, Mag - 1350.

What are your readings for these? Is there anything, even a shell of a snail that has coralline algae on it? You'll need to introduce it to the system to get it to grow.

I wanted it bad in the beginning and it has taken off, no i'm dreading it making it's way to my glass...honestly once you get corals in the tank the coralline is a second thought...tough though after the cycle to just look at bare rock.

 

[Shawn O]

Some people like Caribsea Purple Up, supposed to accelerate it a bit. Someone here with experience with the product may (hopefully) chime in about their experience with it and whether it works as advertised.

Also, Blue-leg hermits are enjoyable to watch as well. My dwarf zebra hermits are the most active and least shy in the tank. Not sure how reef-safe they will be since I have no corals at the moment. Time will tell, or perhaps another member will offer their experiences as well.

 

[whosurcaddie]

Since my tank finally cycled, I added a small cleanup crew(10 scarlett hermits, 3 trochus snails, 3 nassarious snails, and 1 peppermint shrimp) and also started up the skimmer. Since I used dry rock, I'm not seeing much algae yet, if any. Water parameters are all where they should be.

1. I've been feeding the tank 1/2 a cube of mysis/nori every other day since the cycle...is this enough to sustain the CUC?

2. Since there is no visible indication of coraline, is there a way to promote the growth of it?

If you started the tank with dry rock you will need to seed it with coraline. Either from a piece of rubble from your LFS or from a frag plug. There has to be some in the tank for it to grow.

 

[NedFlounders]

If you started the tank with dry rock you will need to seed it with coraline. Either from a piece of rubble from your LFS or from a frag plug. There has to be some in the tank for it to grow.

And this whole time I thought it was just a beneficial byproduct after the tank cycles :| Guess I'm making a trip to the LFS tonight. Thanks!!

 

[CStrickland]

That sounds like more than enough for your carnivores, idk if trochus eat meat or not. I added my cuc too soon as well and I put some nori in there once in a while. They were happy to get it, but I might have been over-mothering them and they would've been fine without.

I didn't buy anything special to seed my coralline. I think it came in on the snails shells but could've been a frag. I've heard of people using a rasp to scrape it off the snail a little, and adding that dust to the water for a seed, but idk if it does any good.

I think the limiter on coralline is less often a lack of "seed" and more often the water quality. Whether because the rocks are leaching phos so the coralline won't take root, or the water itself is unstable, it seems like once your levels get where they should be it pops up on its own and you can't keep it out if you try

 

[Xxero]

I prefer to add Kalkwasser to my top-off water to promote Purple Coralline Algae, but Kent Marine makes a product called 'Purple Tech' that seems to work as well. The Kalk is just a more natural way to go, imo.

 

[NedFlounders]

So I just spoke with my LFS and they're gonna give me a bunch of coralline scrapings from their tanks.

Once I get it into my tank, since it's only going to be a small bit of coralline, should I be worried my little clean up crew will eat it all?

 

[FlyingPigNJ]

So I just spoke with my LFS and they're gonna give me a bunch of coralline scrapings from their tanks.

Once I get it into my tank, since it's only going to be a small bit of coralline, should I be worried my little clean up crew will eat it all?

Once it's in the tank, the spores are going to be everywhere, even if you can't see it:-D
You can also blend it and make a cup of coralline smoothie

For me, it was really just the light and the 2 part calcium from BRS. The purple up probably didn't do much for me but clouding up the tank.

I have 2 additional observations.
1. it grows all over the same spots where I had diatoms.....based on that observation, I love diatoms as long as the growth is in check!
2. nothing ever grows where the lights don't shine........so I flipped the once dry rocks over when I had to take the tank apart briefly

This was less than a month ago, so I remember it clearly. With the calcium and the light level I'm maintaining, it just covers the rock so fast in just a week.
I still drop a piece NLS algaemax gel a day. Since my fish totally ignore it, CUC fight over it daily.
That's only because I need to finish it before they start growing mold.

 

[Sk8r]

Set your tank to my parameters in sig line, and hype the mag to about 1400, and if you have one corallined rock, you will see it begin to spread.