Help me wait

[bearsfish]

I hate waiting for the cycle. I am only 7 days in (3 days with the shrimp).. help me wait.

I want to start planning my stock. I will get to fish and corals later. Let's start with the CUC.

Tank is a 40 gallon corner bowfront (see build)

I was thinking
2 nasarius snails
2 turbin (turbo?) Snails
4 hermits (blue red yellow and ??)

I was thinking more snails..

Thought, recommendations?

Pictures and links welcome..

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

If you go to reefcleaners.org, they already have packs for just about every tank already made up. You can also customize one for your needs.

 

[ihavecrabs]

If you add snails without the snails having appropriate food sources, you will make your cycle much worse than it needs to be.

Add a few at a time and go slow!

 

[bearsfish]

Oh sorry I was not clear. I am not adding anything for a long time yet.

Just want to plan it out and get feedback..

 

[ihavecrabs]

Ah ok, makes sense!

I always add hermits with snails.. I don’t know why I never learn, but my black foot trochus snails (my favorites) always get eaten by the hermits or killed for their shells.

I like large turbo snails. Very hearty. Small ones can be touch and go.

Shrimps are a good alternative to hermits for cleaning up scraps. Hermits just add some personality and they are fun to watch.

 

[bearsfish]

I agree.. I love hermits.. just need to be sure the snails have a chance.. is there any place extra shells can be purchased for the hermits?

Perhaps a few extra in the tank would be a really good idea..

 

[ihavecrabs]

I agree.. I love hermits.. just need to be sure the snails have a chance.. is there any place extra shells can be purchased for the hermits?

Perhaps a few extra in the tank would be a really good idea..

Definitely. Even LFS will likely have a bunch of shells from deceased snails that they’d sell you cheap.

I’m sure eBay has them too

 

[DHill6]

Red Banded Trochius, hard workers and look good. Asterea snails when you need the gha taken out. Not a fan of crabs or hermits since I have LPS mouths to feed.

 

[bearsfish]

Red Banded Trochius, hard workers and look good. Asterea snails when you need the gha taken out. Not a fan of crabs or hermits since I have LPS mouths to feed.

I did not realize that they would compete for the food.

My plan is to do Zoas, Paly, and various softies - but i have notes a few LPS that I like and that may do well in my system once everything is settled in and running for a time.

 

[William Mumford]

I agree.. I love hermits.. just need to be sure the snails have a chance.. is there any place extra shells can be purchased for the hermits?

Perhaps a few extra in the tank would be a really good idea..

Reef cleaners. you can give the guy your tank size and what you want and he will email you back with a list that is perfect for your tank. He also sells the empty shells.

 

[bearsfish]

I was just looking them over. The packages he has seem REALLY big for each size.

I was thinking that if I do order from there I would likely grab a package that is labeled for a smaller tank. I would hate to have so many critters and not enough food resources for them all.

Then again perhaps a custom design based on the recommendations here... hmmmmmmm