Time for CUC?

[allendehl]

Hello guys,

I started my tank with 50lbs of dry rock, 25Lbs of TBS live rock and a stolen dead shrimp from my wife stash. I've also been adding a daily dose of MB7. Its been 5 days and params are as follow:

- Ammonia: 0.50 ppm
- Nitrites: 0.50 ppm
- Nitrates: 5-10 ppm

I'm waiting for the ammonia and nitrites to drop and hopefully not a lengthy cycle.

Now, fish still have at least two or three more weeks to go between TTM and QT. At what point do I add the CUC? Would they survive with no fish in the tank?....what do they feed off then?

Thanks!

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Hey man, congrats on the new setup!! Your CUC can go in before fish, but you'll want to wait a little bit longer. Once the diatomaceous algae starts growing (a film of brownish algae), you can then add your CUC. That's a sign that your cycle is on its last stage as well. They will then have plenty to keep them busy too. In my experience, your about another 3-5 days out

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

There is plenty on that TBS rock I'm sure to keep a small CUC happy..
But yes they are typically used when the diatoms/green algae phases have started to "clean up" that..

 

[Reefpuck]

I threw in a couple hermits and a cleaner shrimp once my tank finished cycling last week...and I used all base rock. I feed them twice a day though and they seem to have an easy time finding the pellets. Decided to wait on snails until tank becomes more established.

 

[allendehl]

Thank you all!!

 

[koz99gst]

Make sure to get some trochus snails