Am I starving my CUC?

[StrayAmoeba]

So recently I have seen a few more shells on the sand than I remember being there and I took a closer look at the CUC. I am afraid I may not be feeding enough to not starve them... I feed frozen mysis, 1/2cube if I feed once a day or ill feed twice and its about 1/3 each time, or other days I use Hikari Marine S pellets. My nitrates are 0 as is my phos.

75Gal Display
Current Fish
1-Starry Blenny
2-Clown fish
2-Benggai Cardinals
1-Royal Gramma
1-Yellow Eye Kole Tang

All fish are on the smaller side

CUC
1-cleaner shrimp
1-sand sifting starfish
~5-blue leg hermits
~3-red leg hermits
4-Astrea Snails
3-Nassarius
4-Cerith

 

[Redfoxtang]

CUC come and go, they may flip themselves and fish pick at them and eat them. I order CUC almost every other week to make sure the ones I lose are replaced. I would also feed more as 0 N03 and P04 are asking for trouble.

 

[Dallascowboys16]

When it comes to clean up crew, I think we typically over do it. Every online retailer tries to convince you that you need 65 snails, 40 hermits, and 25 emerald crabs for a 75 gallon tank and it is honestly just a marketing thing. I have had a single hermit in my 10 gallon for my CUC for over 4 years and I really do not think the tank could support much more than this. I wouldn't worry about shoveling more snails and crabs into your tank if they are not surviving as is. All that does is just fuel nutrient explosions as they die off. I would let the tank reach its natural equilibrium and add some more critters as you see fit over time. Also, 0 NO3 and PO4 is typically not common unless you have a decent amount of algae growing. How are you doing on that front?

 

[StrayAmoeba]

Not a whole lot of algae... I do have a refugium with chaeto that grows like crazy. A little bit of algae in the tank but I have a couple of grazing fish that eat it all day long.

 

[Dallascowboys16]

Not a whole lot of algae... I do have a refugium with chaeto that grows like crazy. A little bit of algae in the tank but I have a couple of grazing fish that eat it all day long.

The refugium probably explains the zeros of NO3 and PO4. Nothing to really worry about there then.