The CUC lovers thread!

[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’d look at what reef cleaners recommends. It looks like a lot but they provide a lot of the smaller CUC you don’t get elsewhere but is important for your tank

 

[tbrown]

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).

Halloween Hermits live in Conch shells, yes. So do some Scarlet Reef hermits and some Grey Stripe hermits.

I have a Scarlet, a Halloween, and a Grey Stripe all living in Conch shells. I have a Tiger Conch and a Fighting Conch plus 3 "spare" conch shells in the tank.

 

[Slocke]

Snail trail of clean!

Just realized the urchin is now wearing all the coralline it cleaned!

 

[tbrown]

Just realized the urchin is now wearing all the coralline it cleaned!

Saving it for later.

 

[JoJosReef]

Just realized the urchin is now wearing all the coralline it cleaned!

 

[mythesis]

I’d look at what reef cleaners recommends. It looks like a lot but they provide a lot of the smaller CUC you don’t get elsewhere but is important for your tank

I saw they have a request for suggestion form, submitted! Thanks for the direction

 

[Slocke]

I saw they have a request for suggestion form, submitted! Thanks for the direction

I was actually talking about this but I’m sure that works even better

All Algae Crew (90 Gallon)

Shipped for free via Priority Mail you will get: 80 Dwarf Ceriths - these smaller Cerith snails range in size from a half and inch to almost 1'', but are slender. Their tiny size allows them to...

www.reefcleaners.org

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I was actually talking about this but I’m sure that works even better

All Algae Crew (90 Gallon)

Shipped for free via Priority Mail you will get: 80 Dwarf Ceriths - these smaller Cerith snails range in size from a half and inch to almost 1'', but are slender. Their tiny size allows them to...

www.reefcleaners.org

Just put an order in for the first time with them today... will see how it goes...

 

[mythesis]

Just realized the urchin is now wearing all the coralline it cleaned!

Urchins seem like they'd be so fun to watch.

 

[Slocke]

Urchins seem like they'd be so fun to watch.

Maybe in a time lapse video. They are a bit slow

 

[mythesis]

I was actually talking about this but I’m sure that works even better

All Algae Crew (90 Gallon)

Shipped for free via Priority Mail you will get: 80 Dwarf Ceriths - these smaller Cerith snails range in size from a half and inch to almost 1'', but are slender. Their tiny size allows them to...

www.reefcleaners.org

Oh wow... If that's the suggested CuC size I've got plenty of room!


Also, wife just noticed a Vermatid hiding on a stalk of a Hammer we've had for a month.

Crushed the tube best we could, but definitely including bumble bee snails in our order!

 

[tbrown]

Oh wow... If that's the suggested CuC size I've got plenty of room!


Also, wife just noticed a Vermatid hiding on a stalk of a Hammer we've had for a month.

Crushed the tube best we could, but definitely including bumble bee snails in our order!

Keep in mind, that's typically for a mature tank that needs a full CUC for every type of algae.

 

[kingranch2003]

Every little bit helps.

 

[mythesis]

Got my shipment from Reef Cleaners in today (thanks for the rec @Slocke !)

Looks like they're getting right to work!

 

[Slocke]

Anyone else find that nerite snails like to climb out of the tank and die? I’ve had to toss 3 back in in the last couple days.

 

[mythesis]

Anyone else find that nerite snails like to climb out of the tank and die? I’ve had to toss 3 back in in the last couple days.

They actually asked if I had a rim on the tank before recommending (I do have both a rim & a cover)

 

[PR_nano]

The one time they’re next to each other normally on opposite sides.

 

[Slocke]

They actually asked if I had a rim on the tank before recommending (I do have both a rim & a cover)

That would make sense…
I bought the wrong pack lol

 

[tbrown]

Anyone else find that nerite snails like to climb out of the tank and die? I’ve had to toss 3 back in in the last couple days.

Yep! But they're great cleaners.

 

[JoJosReef]

Anyone else find that nerite snails like to climb out of the tank and die? I’ve had to toss 3 back in in the last couple days.

They are intertidal snails. So they leave your tank looking for the next tide pool and meet your carpet wasteland instead, their version of a Mad Max post-apocalyptic world. If only they'd turn back, but no, must find next tide pool.