CUC for FOWLR (I know, right?)

PacsAdmin77 · Apr 27, 2019

Hi All,

I’ve been running a 100G FOWLR setup for about a year now. Previously, it’s filled with mostly LPS until my tank crashed. Lately, I’ve noticed nuisance algae growling on the live rock and sandbed. I have a Niger trigger (4”), harlequin tusk wrasse (3”), mappa puffer (4”), Skeletor eel (5”), and a few tangs and angelfish. I’m hoping the answer isn’t a resounding “NO!” but I would like to know if there are any CUC that I can add safely to my current FOWLR to deal with the nuisance algae.

Lasse · Apr 27, 2019

I would suggest one of the bristletooth tangs from the Ctenochaetus family as a CUC that will not be killed by the others

Sincerely Lasse

PacsAdmin77 · Apr 27, 2019

Lasse said:
I would suggest one of the bristletooth tangs from the Ctenochaetus family as a CUC that will not be killed by the others

Sincerely Lasse

Will the bristletooth tang be compatible with a blue tang and a yellow tank that I currently have? And I’m assuming from your reply that there are no invertebrates that I can add as CUC?

Lasse · Apr 27, 2019

Probably there is some of the large hermits you can use but in a FO I prefer bristletooths. Yellow tangs work well (normally) with bristletooths - the blue - 1do not know.

Sincerely Lasse

cracker · Apr 27, 2019

Large turbo's & urchins seem to do well in my fish only.....so far

jorahx · May 8, 2019

snails are cheap, just get a bunch and replace once a year. all my not cuc safe fish ignore the snails, except my puffer every once in awhile picks at a nas snail.

PacsAdmin77 · Jul 2, 2019

Just dropped two Pincushion Urchins into DT with puffer and triggerfish. So far so good, though mine don’t seem to do anything but stay in place. I don’t see any change in algae removal on the rocks. Maybe urchins aren’t designed for high-flow setups like mine?

Bhor217 · Jul 3, 2019

I have a larger tank, but similar stocking, and have seen some success with using larger hermits. My tank currently has a Harlequin tusk, mappa puffer, porcupine puffer, V lionfish, Picasso Triggerfish and a snowflake eel.

I got 7 larger red legged hermits last week and one has already been picked off. I have been told that it is more a matter of when, not if the harlequin tusk will figure out how to get to the hermits, and they become hermit snipers of sorts.

Snails do not seem to last in my tank, once they get tipped over, they become a buffet.

I am considering Conchs, but the thought of that big of a shell bulldozing around my tank somewhat worries me.

My next "CUC" will be a reef lobster of some sort and potentially some larger scarlet hermit crabs. I view these as animals that are large enough that my fish will not bother them.

The fact of the matter is CUCs are basically exactly what these fish you have listed eat in the wild, so my view is fish can only contain themselves so much. I take the positive out of this that at least their natural hunting instincts are getting stimulated.