CUC for a newly cycled tank

geko522

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Sorry, I'm sure this is a repetitive question. I cannot find a list and I get mixed information on when to add CUC inverts.

I'm looking for how many Snails, Crabs, Shrimps, urchins and whatever other inverts I can add once I'm able to do so.

How many of what and when? I don't want them to starve to death because I added to many.

Tank is 120g 60x18x25 with marco rock stacked to halfway point fully across.
 

Spare time

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Assuming you don't QT them, you can stagger it and add a little more every other week or so. I usually like something like a hermit crab per 10 gallons and a lot of snails (of different species). I don't recommend urchins any more as they usually just eat coralline which can then allow other algaes to grow.
 
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geko522

geko522

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Assuming you don't QT them, you can stagger it and add a little more every other week or so. I usually like something like a hermit crab per 10 gallons and a lot of snails (of different species). I don't recommend urchins any more as they usually just eat coralline which can then allow other algaes to grow.
Right now I have a QT Setup with 2 fish. I'm using Copper and Metroflex for 14 days. Then in another room I have a observation tank set up with one fish not being treated, just doing water changes. I going to put the snails, crabs, ect in that tank at 80°F. I'm not too sure how to treat inverts besides at high temp. Do you think this is a ok or is there another way you would be able to suggest? Thanks for the help
 

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Right now I have a QT Setup with 2 fish. I'm using Copper and Metroflex for 14 days. Then in another room I have a observation tank set up with one fish not being treated, just doing water changes. I going to put the snails, crabs, ect in that tank at 80°F. I'm not too sure how to treat inverts besides at high temp. Do you think this is a ok or is there another way you would be able to suggest? Thanks for the help

I would use prazi instead of metro. I would also do minemum 30 days
(81F). 14 is not enough. Out of curiosity, what fish isn't being treated? Most fish tolerate copper power / copper safe very well and I don't know of anything that can't handle prazi.

As for the inverts, as long as they are not cooler water species, 80F is fine. I just keep mine in there for about a month with a cheap UV powerhead I have and some carbon in a hob filter. I've also wiped snail and hermit shells with hydrogen peroxide before.
 

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If you want to quarantine CUC the only way to do it is put them into an observation tank then add them later. How long depends on how safe you want to be. Most safe is 80 days but few people have the patience to wait that long. Even 30 days would reduce the risk of them carrying anything into the display tank.

No need to add a bunch of CUC early on. Add a few slowly over time as the uglies start to appear. The only economical way to do this is use a local LFS or add some CUC to an order of other livestock.
 
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geko522

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I would use prazi instead of metro. I would also do minemum 30 days. 14 is not enough. Out of curiosity, what fish isn't being treated. Most fish tolerate copper power / copper safe very well and I don't know of anything that can't handle prazi.

As for the inverts, as long as they are not cooler water species, 80F is fine. I just keep mine in there for about a month with a cheap UV powerhead I have and some carbon in a hob filter. I've also wiped snail and hermit shells with hydrogen peroxide before.
That's great advice, I appreciate your help! Thank you
 
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geko522

geko522

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If you want to quarantine CUC the only way to do it is put them into an observation tank then add them later. How long depends on how safe you want to be. Most safe is 80 days but few people have the patience to wait that long. Even 30 days would reduce the risk of them carrying anything into the display tank.

No need to add a bunch of CUC early on. Add a few slowly over time as the uglies start to appear. The only economical way to do this is use a local LFS or add some CUC to an order of other livestock.
Thank you for your advice, that's a good idea. I appreciate it!
 

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