The CUC lovers thread!

[JoJosReef]

@tbrown with the save!

 

[tbrown]

@tbrown with the save!

I feel like it was a group effort!

 

[tbrown]

 

[kingranch2003]

This guy... Tonight he gets drunk and falls in the bushes.

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[mythesis]

Would a sand sifting star have any issues with the crushed coral aragonite sand?

We figured a sand goby would have a hard time with the larger pieces. Same issue with star?

 

[tbrown]

Would a sand sifting star have any issues with the crushed coral aragonite sand?

We figured a sand goby would have a hard time with the larger pieces. Same issue with star?

My sand Gobies did fine in aragonite sand.

 

[TommyP]

Here’s my biscuit starfish. Gimme a follow on the ig if yous can!

 

[Slocke]

Conches!

 

[JoJosReef]

Money Cowrie with mantle down, plus photobombing pink streak wrasse.

 

[EricR]

Even the best CUC have their limitations

I got a huge chuckle out of this because my trochus snails always seem to have massive GHA wigs while all of my other snails never do.


Trochus hair:

Turbo examples -- I think they're just way better at cleaning each other:
*same frame at same time,,, just focused/cropped differently

 

[Slocke]

Some conch in conch

 

[JoJosReef]

Ms. Scarlett trying to make it over the spare shells.

 

[kingranch2003]

Getting drunk by the blastos.

 

[Slocke]

Snail trail of clean!

 

[mythesis]

None of the 3 LFS in my area carry conches.

Given how frequently I see you all mention them, why aren't they more popular, do you know?

Also, given they're not available locally, where would I obtain one?

(90 gal, 2 months in with live rock start, brown uglies fully present)

 

[Slocke]

None of the 3 LFS in my area carry conches.

Given how frequently I see you all mention them, why aren't they more popular, do you know?

My LFS has two species

Also, given they're not available locally, where would I obtain one?

(90 gal, 2 months in with live rock start, brown uglies fully present)

Reefcleaners has a variety

 

[mythesis]

My LFS has two species

Reefcleaners has a variety

Nice!

How do you guys balance CuC loads? Given the cost of shipping a conch, I'm inclined to get several things, but don't want to "over clean" the tank.

Current Crew:
- 6 Nassarius
- 6 Astrea
- 24 - (6?) Blue legged Hermits (we've seen a few bodies, and assume there are more)

Installed about 2 months ago

We've got a deep sand bed and diatoms are definitely present (brown film everywhere and water clarity noticeably diminished) in a 90 gal.

So, considering adding:​

- 1 Fighting Conch (Reefcleaner doesn't have juveniles currently)
- 2x Halloween Hermits (the wife/kids love the look, even if they're inefficient)
- 2x Bumble Bee Snails (I'm paranoid about Vermatid...although I don't currently see any)
- (2?)x Nerite? Was thinking the back wall is just covered in film...would love to see more cleaning happening.

But, I'm very new and don't want to overload the system with cleanup crews unnecessarily

 

[Slocke]

Nice!

How do you guys balance CuC loads? Given the cost of shipping a conch, I'm inclined to get several things, but don't want to "over clean" the tank.

Current Crew:
- 6 Nassarius
- 6 Astrea
- 24 - (6?) Blue legged Hermits (we've seen a few bodies, and assume there are more)

Installed about 2 months ago

We've got a deep sand bed and diatoms are definitely present (brown film everywhere and water clarity noticeably diminished) in a 90 gal.

So, considering adding:​

- 1 Fighting Conch (Reefcleaner doesn't have juveniles currently)
- 2x Halloween Hermits (the wife/kids love the look, even if they're inefficient)
- 2x Bumble Bee Snails (I'm paranoid about Vermatid...although I don't currently see any)
- (2?)x Nerite? Was thinking the back wall is just covered in film...would love to see more cleaning happening.

But, I'm very new and don't want to overload the system with cleanup crews unnecessarily

I think Halloween hermits eat conch

 

[JoJosReef]

Nice!

How do you guys balance CuC loads? Given the cost of shipping a conch, I'm inclined to get several things, but don't want to "over clean" the tank.

Current Crew:
- 6 Nassarius
- 6 Astrea
- 24 - (6?) Blue legged Hermits (we've seen a few bodies, and assume there are more)

Installed about 2 months ago

We've got a deep sand bed and diatoms are definitely present (brown film everywhere and water clarity noticeably diminished) in a 90 gal.

So, considering adding:​

- 1 Fighting Conch (Reefcleaner doesn't have juveniles currently)
- 2x Halloween Hermits (the wife/kids love the look, even if they're inefficient)
- 2x Bumble Bee Snails (I'm paranoid about Vermatid...although I don't currently see any)
- (2?)x Nerite? Was thinking the back wall is just covered in film...would love to see more cleaning happening.

But, I'm very new and don't want to overload the system with cleanup crews unnecessarily

Nice!

How do you guys balance CuC loads? Given the cost of shipping a conch, I'm inclined to get several things, but don't want to "over clean" the tank.

Current Crew:
- 6 Nassarius
- 6 Astrea
- 24 - (6?) Blue legged Hermits (we've seen a few bodies, and assume there are more)

Installed about 2 months ago

We've got a deep sand bed and diatoms are definitely present (brown film everywhere and water clarity noticeably diminished) in a 90 gal.

So, considering adding:​

- 1 Fighting Conch (Reefcleaner doesn't have juveniles currently)
- 2x Halloween Hermits (the wife/kids love the look, even if they're inefficient)
- 2x Bumble Bee Snails (I'm paranoid about Vermatid...although I don't currently see any)
- (2?)x Nerite? Was thinking the back wall is just covered in film...would love to see more cleaning happening.

But, I'm very new and don't want to overload the system with cleanup crews unnecessarily

Fyi, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Halloween hermits steal conch shells for their homes?

If you have lots of film algae and a good lid, I'd get a bunch of nerites, maybe 10 or so. Maybe about 6 trochus as well.

I'd probably do 3 strawberry/tiger conches instead of one fighting conch. Mine keep the sand and lower glass well vacuumed (2 in a 40 gal).