CUC for a 90 gallon

[Sunshine]

I need to get a CUC for my tank. Right now, I only have a few crabs and snails. How does this sound....My tank is 90 gallons.

Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab 5
Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab 5
Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab 3
Peppermint Shrimp 1
Banded Coral Shrimp 1
Nassarius Snails 20
Bumble Bee Snail 3
Astraea Turbo 3
Cerith Snail 4

 

[daugherty]

i would get what you have there and add 3 or four more pepermint shrimps. but add the cleanup crew slowly i would not buy all that list and add them at the sam time unless you tank can keep up with a good supply of food for them.

 

[yote]

+1 James
Drop the Coral Banded Shrimp all together.They AIN'T reef safe.
I'd start with the Astraeas,ceriths,and nassarius snails.Then in a couple of week,if those aren't keeping up,add some more.

 

[dcantucson]

Dang it yote. I've got TWO Coral Banded Shrimps! Got me again. :grumble: :mrgreen:

 

[Wes888]

...,if those aren't keeping up,add some more.

How to tell if they aren't keeping up?

 

[Sunshine]

Well, the tank has been up for 3 months. But, we took all the sand and water from the 46 gallon which was set up for a year and a half. So, do I need a CUC yet, or should I wait a while.

 

[Sunshine]

Oh, and 50 pounds of live rock from the old tank also. Then we added another 50 pounds of cured rock.

 

[daugherty]

go ahead and start adding but add slow you dont want them to starve

 

[KidJ57]

+1 all above (even dave for some reason :12:)

The key thing to remember about a CUC, start small, you can always add more later.

Other than that, I would also add the crabs together as they're either going to get along or not; hence, don't give them a chance to get territorial and then add some smaller newbies that they can snack...:lol: I mean PICK on. Plus, hermits, according to some hermit specific sites, are social creatures and like groups of other similar crabs, and all that fighting/snipping off limbs is a natural social interaction for them.

 

[KidJ57]

How to tell if they aren't keeping up?

If after two weeks the algae seems to be covering more of the tank rather than less...you need more snails

 

[yote]

Dang it yote. I've got TWO Coral Banded Shrimps! Got me again. :grumble: :mrgreen:

I personally watched one eat coral polyps like they were candy bars.

How to tell if they aren't keeping up?

If after two weeks the algae seems to be covering more of the tank rather than less...you need more snails

And if your seeing more detritus laying around,add another star or 2,or maybe a few more hermits.

 

[Sunshine]

Thanks everyone, I will start slow.

 

[Bifferwine]

Coral banded shrimp will also catch and eat your fish.

 

[Sunshine]

I marked him off my list....

 

[dcantucson]

Coral banded shrimp will also catch and eat your fish.

Maybe that's what happened to some of my Chromis? Humm..... Green Brittle Stars and Coral Banded Shrimp. Double trouble.

 

[Sunshine]

What's wrong with Brittle Stars ? I have an orange one.

 

[dcantucson]

yote says it's the Green ones that will eat fish.

 

[Sunshine]

When I get my T5's, will they make the algae grow more ?

 

[yote]

When I get my T5's, will they make the algae grow more ?

Probably:D

 

[dcantucson]

That's the trade off. More healthy growing corals with algae too.