CUC Questions

Evan28395950 · Nov 23, 2018

Hey all, so I have a 24gal biocube (31 including back filtration area). I only have 2 trochus snails for my cuc, I was wondering how many inverts should I have? Also I was wondering your thoughts of adding nassurius snails and blue hermit crabs, because I have a Valentini Puffer. So not sure how that would end. Thanks

Evan28395950 · Nov 23, 2018

Bump #reefsquad

saltyhog · Nov 23, 2018

With the puffer any invert is in some danger. I think nassarius would be good along with dwarf ceriths . Not a big fan of hermits but if you choose to use them I would favor scarlet hermits over the blue legs. They have caused me nothing but grief.

Maritimer · Nov 23, 2018

Puffers can definitely be rugged on the CUC ... just exactly how rugged would depend on the individual puffer. Exactly how much CUC you "should" have will vary from tank to tank, as well. Got algae? Drop in a few more trochus. Like to get the sand gently stirred, and some organics removed? Add a few nassarius or a sea-cucumber (being mindful of the possibility of toxins from the latter . . . )

Research who eats what you want gone, and try a few of those critters; see how your puffer reacts.

~Bruce

Big G · Nov 23, 2018

Blue leg Hermits are little terrorists. They killed off most of my CUC.

Lasse · Nov 24, 2018

From Fish Base on Valentine puffer

Feed mainly on filamentous green and red algae, tunicates, and on smaller amounts of corals, bryozoans, polychaetes, echinoderms, mollusks, and brown and coralline red algae.

Probably works well with most CUC at least as youngster. I have not tested.

I prefer to put in a rather large CUC very early - before I see any algae at all. If you do like that - you will not have any problems with algae taking over IMO. Note - this fish can be seen as an CUC too, it is eating algae.

Sincerely Lasse