Is now the right time to add CUC?

[Barry_Cuda]

My BioCube has just finished cycling, and I was planning to add a minimal CUC tomorrow, but a comment someone made elsewhere on the Internet has me questioning that.

I cycled the tank with uncured aquacultured rock and tried to remove as much algae as I could before it went in the tank, but there's still a little present. I'm expecting a larger algae outbreak any time now that the lights are on, and wanted to have some grazers in the tank to help keep that under control. But as of right now, it's minimal. Is it better to wait to add CUC until I actually see some algae growth, so they have something to actually eat?

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Has your diatoms started showing? I would turn the lights on and wait for enough to show up to sustain life or they will starve out.

 

[Retro Reefer]

With the aquacultured rock you could go ahead and put a small CUC in so the little bit of algae you have doesn’t get away from you, maybe half dozen mixed snails and a couple hermits then watch your algae growth and ramp up CUC as needed.

 

[Barry_Cuda]

No diatoms or anything yet. With the lights on now I'm expecting it any time.

I think I'll hold off until I start seeing some growth. Thank you both for your advice!

 

[ReefEco]

Hey Barry - and check out algaebarn.com or Biotaaquariums, which sells aquacultured CUC - trochus snails (best snail grazer IMHO), nassarius and cerith snails as well. No hermits, but I tend to shy away from hermits in a CUC since they are opportunistic, often bother corals, and can kill snails. You might need to feed the CUC initially as well, especially in a young tank, depending on how much algae is present.