Do CUC require lights during fallow?

[ReefGeek90]

I have introduced my snail only CUC from reef cleaners and they are doing well. I plan on putting in a pistol and cleaner shrimp in the next week or so. I am in a fallow period with no corals in the tank.

Do I need to run my lights for the cuc? If I can minimize the potential of a nuisance algae breakout by turning the lights off I’d like to go that route. Happy reefing and happy hump day!

 

[Idoc]

Lights are not needed for a clean up crew of just snails. But if you put in the pistol shrimp or new snails, your fallow time starts over. Those hard shells can carry encysted ich and velvet... this is the reason snails and other inverts are quarantined for 72 or 76 days. A shrimp is safe after it molts.

 

[ReefGeek90]

Lights are not needed for a clean up crew of just snails. But if you put in the pistol shrimp your fallow time Starts over.

Thanks for the reply. Yes I plan on starting the fallow period from the beginning once i introduce the shrimp which will be the last thing I put in. So no lights when shrimp are in there also huh?

 

[GlassMunky]

Lights are not needed for a clean up crew of just snails. But if you put in the pistol shrimp or new snails, your fallow time starts over. Those hard shells can carry encysted ich and velvet... this is the reason snails and other inverts are quarantined for 72 or 76 days. A shrimp is safe after it molts.

I was under the impression from many invert QT threads o. Here that the time does NOT start over if you introduce new inverts...

 

[ReefGeek90]

I was under the impression from many invert QT threads o. Here that the time does NOT start over if you introduce new inverts...

The encysted stage of external parasites (ex. ich) is capable of sticking to rock, sand, corals, snail shells, even the glass, etc. So, removing the sand would only eliminate one form of "temporary housing" for them.

 

[GlassMunky]

ok, i get what he wrote but what im saying is that there are multiple threads here on R2R that go agaisnt what hes saying and ive been told many times that the clock for each frag/invert in QT is 72 days, but adding new stuff doesnt restart that clock.

now i dont know who to believe cause everyone is contradicting each other

 

[pecan2phat]

I was under the impression from many invert QT threads o. Here that the time does NOT start over if you introduce new inverts...

I was under the same belief but will learn from my mistakes. Did a 76 day fallow but added CUC during the process. Transferred fish back after multiple treatments of Chloroquine Phosphate and General Cure during the 76 days and within a week, infestation was observed with much teeth gritting!

 

[GlassMunky]

restarting the 72 day count would almost make adding new frags impossible.....

 

[ReefGeek90]

Glassmunky, from what I’m understanding this is why your fallow period starts over after introducing cuc.

 

[GlassMunky]

restarting the 72 day count would almost make adding new frags impossible.....

this means that without multiple qt tanks you can only add coral 4x a year.... :-/


Edit: 4x a year

 

[ReefGeek90]

I was under the same belief but will learn from my mistakes. Did a 76 day fallow but added CUC during the process. Transferred fish back after multiple treatments of Chloroquine Phosphate and General Cure during the 76 days and within a week, infestation was observed with much teeth gritting!

I can only imagine the frustration

 

[pecan2phat]

I cannot go through that process again, it was truly painful and I did lose 25% of the QT'd fish from stress and secondary bacterial infection.
Literally had to disassemble the tank in multiple Brute cans, rubbermaid bins and 5g buckets to catch all the fish, took half a day and what a mess. Was literally wiped afterwards.

 

[GlassMunky]

The encysted stage of external parasites (ex. ich) is capable of sticking to rock, sand, corals, snail shells, even the glass, etc. So, removing the sand would only eliminate one form of "temporary housing" for them.

right so the encrusted stage is on the hard surface, but then by waiting 72 days in a tank with no fish, once it leaves the rock itt has no host so dies out....

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

I had ich in my display tank about a year ago. No way I could catch out all of the fish, so I rode it out. Only lost one fish, a powder blue tang. Other five tangs, clowns, angel, wrasse, etc. survived. Now I don't see any signs of ich anymore, but I understand it is always going to be present at some low level.

 

[ReefGeek90]

right so the encrusted stage is on the hard surface, but then by waiting 72 days in a tank with no fish, once it leaves the rock itt has no host so dies out....

That’s what I’m hoping. I feel you on the contradicting threads tho. I figured this is the safest route so even tho it might not start over with the introduction of cuc I am going to plan as if it does and from @pecan2phat experience it sounds like it does start over with the cuc.

 

[Lasse]

Do I need to run my lights for the cuc? If I can minimize the potential of a nuisance algae breakout by turning the lights off I’d like to go that route. Happy reefing and happy hump day!

The snails need food - food for most snails is algae - algae needs light in order to grow - growing algae feed snails. Yes you need to have your light on - in order to produce algae for the snails. But you do not need 100 % intensity - if algae grow faster than the snails eat - turn time or/and intensity down on the lights. But basically - you need lights

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ReefGeek90]

The snails need food - food for most snails is algae - algae needs light in order to grow - growing algae feed snails. Yes you need to have your light on - in order to produce algae for the snails. But you do not need 100 % intensity - if algae grow faster than the snails eat - turn time or/and intensity down on the lights. But basically - you need lights

Sincerely Lasse

Lasse, I want to ghost feed regardless for the nitrifying bacteria population would this suffice as a cuc food source. Perhaps a combination of the light regiment you suggested and some ghost feeding every 2-3 days? Thanks for the input

 

[TheGulag]

Lasse, I want to ghost feed regardless for the nitrifying bacteria population would this suffice as a cuc food source. Perhaps a combination of the light regiment you suggested and some ghost feeding every 2-3 days? Thanks for the input

The majority of snails in a CUC aren't meat eaters like Lasse mentioned so ghost feeding of shrimp or mysis wouldnt work. Guess you could drop in a nori sheet if you were 100% against running lights during your cycle and fallow time.

 

[phatduckk]

That’s what I’m hoping. I feel you on the contradicting threads tho. I figured this is the safest route so even tho it might not start over with the introduction of cuc I am going to plan as if it does and from @pecan2phat experience it sounds like it does start over with the cuc.

my understanding is that the 76 days does NOT restart.

Again my interpretation is: eggs may come in on hard surface, they hatch, little dudes swim looking for a host, no host... so they die. Ie the parasite can’t lay eggs if they haven’t fed. This means the new frag/shell from “batch 2” won’t end up with any new eggs on it... once it’s individual 76 days is over it should be “clear” after a simple rinse to detach any potential free swimmers.

 

[ReefGeek90]

The majority of snails in a CUC aren't meat eaters like Lasse mentioned so ghost feeding of shrimp or mysis wouldnt work. Guess you could drop in a nori sheet if you were 100% against running lights during your cycle and fallow time.

Thanks for the info. I’m not 100% against running lights just exploring my options. Sounds like a modified low intensity light schedule is best.