I have a 72 gallon bowfront that is finishing up on it's cycle. I am getting ready to place an order here soon with reef cleaners and this is what I am thinking about getting for my initial cuc. I want to keep it on the light side for the cuc since the demand right now is not very high and don't want to have too many critters and not enough to keep them fed. I am looking at getting a selection of different snails, cerith, nassarius, nerites, and zig zag periwinkles. Total will be about 30 snails in all. If the needs of my cuc change than I plan on adding more when and if needed as the bioload on the tank increases and as it matures. Number wise does this look okay, along with having a good mixture? Any suggestions and input would be appreciated :smile:
Getting ready to get cuc how does this look?
- Thread starter BarbH
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Blake11rebel
Active Member
IMO I would order from John at reefcleaners. He always hooks u up and is a sponsor for this site.
Reefcleaners.com is the way to go IMO.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I think it is probably more than what I need at the moment. Along with that other than the two blue legged hermits that I have already, I am not wanting to add any more to the tank. The two I feel could be a risk when it comes to my snails possibly even with empty shells available. More than that and I have a feeling that my snails most definitly would get picked off by the crabs.
Thanks Blake, that is who I am going to be placing my order through. Just wanting to check that my numbers that I am planning on getting seem to be on the right track. I'd rather have to order additional cuc members later because the orginals can no longer keep up, instead of having to many and than having them starve and die off.
I would get rid of the blueleg because they will eat your snails.
feh
Valuable Member
I went with a 29gal or 30gal quick crew. I can't remember which and I still think it was too much for my 75 gallon. Mainly the dwarf ceriths were too many, but I also waited for a while after the cycle to get them. I'm with REEFKEEPER10 - I'd skip the the hermits. Crabs are opportunistic feeders. I have around 4 ceriths, way too many dwarf ceriths, and 4 nerites and I think 12 nassarius. The nassarius are good for cleaning up after feeding and will stir the sandbed when they pop out at feeding time. If you don't have any algae problems I'd wait on the CUC until they're needed.
creefer
Valuable Member
I agree with others, Barb. Order from John at Reefcleaners and skip the hermits. I ordered from John with my tank and was pleased with what he provided. For my new tank, I'll be doing the same but no hermits for me this time.
Thanks everyone, placed my order with John at reefcleaners this evening. Getting a total of about 25 snails to start off with, a mix of ceriths, dwarf ceriths, dwarf planaxis, nerite, and nassarius. Also ordered some chaeto and pods to work on eventually preparing the tank for a mandrian dragonet down the road. I already have the hermits, I am thinking about placing them into my qt tank and allow them to help clean up in there.
The few I have went I my fuge now I need to build up my snails in my display.
