CUC help

[rdahlke1105]

Okay, I am trying to figure out when the time comes what I will need to get for the CUC. I really don't like hermit crabs, so unless my son insists I would like to avoid them. This is what I am thinking so far, but how many I am unsure of.

Cleaner shrimp
Nerite snails
Mexican Turbo snails
Purple short spine pincushion urchin
Sand sifting starfish

 

[ErinCahir]

Maybe some nass?
I'm quite cuc-challenged myself...

 

[rdahlke1105]

Aren't nass the ones that people are frequently finding had wandered out of the tank?

 

[Hiker4twenty]

Stay away from Nerite snails. They're dumb and will constantly climb out of your tank and fall to the floor. Nass snail are the ones that go under the sand and have the trunks like an elephant.

 

[rdahlke1105]

Okay, I got those reversed. :lol: So this is the new list. In a 28 gallon how many of each would I need?

Cleaner shrimp
Nass snails
Mexican Turbo snails
Purple short spine pincushion urchin (1)
Sand sifting starfish

 

[BL1]

You can have nerites since you have the lid on your tank, they are my main cleaner in my nano cube. The sand sifting star would probably starve though in a tank so small.

 

[rdahlke1105]

Which is why he is at the bottom of the list. I'm not so sure about it. Really only thing on that list that I really want is the urchin. :lol:

 

[Rufio808]

A lot of my snails cling to the glass and avoid all the algae in the rocks. I even put them on the rocks and they'll run away. Ugh, only a couple will tend to the rocks. Nassarius will help turn the sand bed also.

 

[rdahlke1105]

Ok so how many of each?

Cleaner shrimp
Nass snails
Mexican Turbo snails
Purple short spine pincushion urchin (1)

 

[Rufio808]

1 cleaner shrimp
8~10 Nassarius
6 turbos

I'm of course takin into account that some of the turbos may be glass clingers. You can more or less depending on the situation.

 

[rdahlke1105]

Ok thanks. I just didn't want to overload on CUC. :lol: Is that even possible?

 

[Rufio808]

I don't think so. I guess it could be an eye sore to see all snails and not any rock, corals, ect.

 

[Cathic]

You can overoad to the point they starve, and most of the time the snails will simply look like rock anyways when their shells cover with coraline. 1 cleaner and 1 shortspine for sure, then normally 1-2 snails a gallon, id go here ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home and look at what they suggest for a 28 bio. like this http://reefcleaners.org/index.php?p...ategory_id=20&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=34

 

[rdahlke1105]

Yea I looked there already. They recommended hermits in their 28 package. I really don't want any hermits unless my son makes a big stink about it, then I may put 1 in.

 

[Cathic]

why not blue legged hermits are great additions to a clean up?

 

[rdahlke1105]

I guess because hermits kinda give me the creeps. Don't know what it is about them, but they creep me out.

 

[BL1]

If you go to that site again, they'll make a custom crew for you. There's a form on their site you fill out and it has everything they'll need to make one from you and you can tell them things you won't want in your tank too.

 

[Cathic]

yep though normally those crews come out a little more loaded.

 

[rdahlke1105]

Thanks BL. I was planning on going with them when I'm ready. I think I remember seeing that form or the link for a "custom cleanup crew". But since I had to force my cycle to start yesterday I think its going to be awhile.

 

[BL1]

yep though normally those crews come out a little more loaded.

Well you have the option to pick a small medium or large crew with that option too.