CUC for fluval evo 13.5

[Parsely]

Hi, I have just gotten my fluval evo 13.5g tank cycled and added 2 clownfish to it last week, it has live sand / rock in it as well. I am researching CUCs right now and like everything I am learning in this hobby I am seeing a lot of conflicting opinions / information so I am just looking to clear some things up.

I was thinking of getting for the CUC:

1 Nassarius Snail
2 hermit crabs
2 trochus snails OR 2 astrea snails

Is this appropriate for a 13.5g tank?

Also is it the right time to add them? Ive gone through a bunch of forum posts and websites and have seen people advocate for adding the CUC before you even add fish, and others saying waiting until you visibly see algae. Currently my tank has just the 2 fish but I cannot see any algae yet.

 

[fishski13]

I think your list is a good starting point.

I usually add a CUC as a cycle finishes as that is when you expect to see an algae bloom.

To be honest it all depends on you on when you want to add it. At the end of the day, even when you do have algae, they are only going to tackle so much of it, you are going to have to clean it yourself or wait for the phase to pass.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I had a portion of my cuc before I even had fish.
Right now that’s good, but I would aim for 5-10 of everything in the tank. It takes a lot of inverts to have a noticeable effect.
I would do trochus over astrea. They cost more, but it’s well worth it considering trochus is a much better worker and has a much better survival rate.

 

[Parsely]

I think your list is a good starting point.

I usually add a CUC as a cycle finishes as that is when you expect to see an algae bloom.

To be honest it all depends on you on when you want to add it. At the end of the day, even when you do have algae, they are only going to tackle so much of it, you are going to have to clean it yourself or wait for the phase to pass.

Perfect thank you!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

the nassarious and the crabs eat the leftover food, I would add them in whenever I added fish, and any other carnivorous inverts, like shrimps for example. For a small tank, I would just get one or two of everything, and increase as needed.

I wait until I see algae before adding algae grazing inverts like astrea and turbo snails, conches, emerald crabs, etc...

 

[Parsely]

I had a portion of my cuc before I even had fish.
Right now that’s good, but I would aim for 5-10 of everything in the tank. It takes a lot of inverts to have a noticeable effect.
I would do trochus over astrea. They cost more, but it’s well worth it considering trochus is a much better worker and has a much better survival rate.

Ok thank you, I didnt know that about trochus so i will be on the look out.

Do you mean 5-10 total members of the clean up crew or 5-10 hermits and 5-10 snails as well?

 

[Parsely]

the nassarious and the crabs eat the leftover food, I would add them in whenever I added fish, and any other carnivorous inverts, like shrimps for example. For a small tank, I would just get one or two of everything, and increase as needed.

I wait until I see algae before adding algae grazing inverts like astrea and turbo snails, conches, emerald crabs, etc...

Perfect! thank you!

 

[jfoahs04]

That's a good start for a new tank. In my EVO I currently have 4 blue leg hermits, 5 trochus (they can right themselves if they fall, astreas cannot), and 3 nassarius (there are different sizes and breeds - 1 big one may be fine, but 3 little ones are great in my tank).

I also have 9ish bumblebee snails which tackle vermatids well, a skunk cleaner shrimp, a peppermint shrimp (scavenges leftovers and keeps aiptasia in check), 2 pom pom crabs, and 2 sexy shrimp, and one randall's pistol shrimp. But I added these over a long period of time.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Ok thank you, I didnt know that about trochus so i will be on the look out.

Do you mean 5-10 total members of the clean up crew or 5-10 hermits and 5-10 snails as well?

5-10 of each.
I had 8 hermits, 5-10 nass, 5 or so astreas, a trochus, a pistol shrimp, an emerald crab by the time I upgraded my 13.5.

 

[Parsely]

Wow, OK thanks guys. I was way under estimating what was needed given the last 2 posts!

 

[jfoahs04]

Wow, OK thanks guys. I was way under estimating what was needed given the last 2 posts!

Yeah, it can end up being a lot. I think you've got a good start though. What you ultimately end up with will depend on your preferences, stocking, feeding habits, algae growth, etc.