Thoughts on CUC from Petco? Is it safe?

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

Hello everyone,

I have little bit of brown algae and want to get ahead of it before it gets out of hand. What are your thoughts on a CUC from Petco? I don’t currently have a QT to put them in and it will be until middle of January before some of my CUC arrives from QT purchase.

Any thoughts and guidance

supernanoguy · Dec 18, 2020

What’s in the tank now? You can always fresh water dip them before putting them in. Why not go to a local fish store not a Walmart style? You could find some coralline encrusted snails for cheap at a local shop.

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

supernanoguy said:
What’s in the tank now? You can always fresh water dip them before putting them in. Why not go to a local fish store not a Walmart style? You could find some coralline encrusted snails for cheap at a local shop.

Currently the only thing I have for inverts are a cleaner shrimp, pistol shrimp that never comes out but is happy mounding up my sand and I have and sand sifter star. Petco is the closet I have. The local fish shop that is closest to me other than Petco is a little over an hour away.

supernanoguy · Dec 18, 2020

I feel you on the distance. You’d be surprised how much the inverts can take. People ship stuff so you should have luck driving them home. You can get a cooler to keep them in so temps don’t swing to bad. It can be worth it to get some coralline into the tank ASAP. I bought CUC and my clowns from petco because it’s 1 mile away. But I’ve also bought corals from my “local” fish store which is 45 mins away. So far everyone happy.

xxkenny90xx · Dec 18, 2020

Why are you hesitant to buy from petco? Have your fish and shrimp been quarantined?

Imo you should either quarantine everything or nothing... That being said there are a few inverts that actually don't require qt (humblefish has a guide on the subject).

Fwiw I have bought lots of fish and inverts from petco over the years without qting.

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

supernanoguy said:
I feel you on the distance. You’d be surprised how much the inverts can take. People ship stuff so you should have luck driving them home. You can get a cooler to keep them in so temps don’t swing to bad. It can be worth it to get some coralline into the tank ASAP. I bought CUC and my clowns from petco because it’s 1 mile away. But I’ve also bought corals from my “local” fish store which is 45 mins away. So far everyone happy.

Yeah the drive is a little long and I can get to Petco in a few minutes just didn’t know if your thoughts on Petco CUC be a good bc of possible unwanted pest on the CUC

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

xxkenny90xx said:
Why are you hesitant to buy from petco? Have your fish and shrimp been quarantined?

Imo you should either quarantine everything or nothing... That being said there are a few inverts that actually don't require qt (humblefish has a guide on the subject).

Fwiw I have bought lots of fish and inverts from petco over the years without qting.

Yes my fish have been QT and I paid for them to be shipped since I don’t have a QT. Im still just new to reef tanks and trying to keep it safe as possible. I only have two fish at the moment which are clowns

xxkenny90xx · Dec 18, 2020

Reefer1485 said:
Yes my fish have been QT and I paid for them to be shipped since I don’t have a QT. Im still just new to reef tanks and trying to keep it safe as possible. I only have two fish at the moment which are clowns

Keeping it safe requires qt. Except for starfish and urchins which just need rinsed (check out this chart)

Coral/Invert Quarantine Time Frames

Coral/Invert Quarantine Time Frames Preface: The purpose of this article is to outline time periods required to properly quarantine (QT) marine corals & invertebrates. While unable to host ectoparasites the way fish do, corals/inverts are still able to “carry” fish diseases in one of two ways...

www.reef2reef.com

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

xxkenny90xx said:
Keeping it safe requires qt. Except for starfish and urchins which just need rinsed (check out this chart)

Coral/Invert Quarantine Time Frames

Coral/Invert Quarantine Time Frames Preface: The purpose of this article is to outline time periods required to properly quarantine (QT) marine corals & invertebrates. While unable to host ectoparasites the way fish do, corals/inverts are still able to “carry” fish diseases in one of two ways...

www.reef2reef.com

Awesome!!! Thank you so much just what I was looking for. Dang I have been looking for something like this

MichaelReefer · Dec 18, 2020

I wont buy anything for my fish tanks, fresh or salt, at Petco.

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

MichaelReefer said:
I wont buy anything for my fish tanks, fresh or salt, at Petco.

Well the wife comes in a saves the day now I have a reason to head over to the trusted LSF a ways away. Haha have to go get a Christmas gift that she couldn’t find local to us “within 20 minutes haha so I will go pick up some. Now on that topic what would you recommend me get to start off? I don’t care how many just need help to strategize my CUC. Currently dealing with look like brown algae

Uncle99 · Dec 18, 2020

Just get them.
The risk of getting ick on a CUC from any retail outlet is about the same. Low.
I never use any crabs at all (cause they destroy all they can catch) but I do use snails. I brush the shell with a toothbrush and in the go.

MichaelReefer · Dec 18, 2020

Reefer1485 said:
Well the wife comes in a saves the day now I have a reason to head over to the trusted LSF a ways away. Haha have to go get a Christmas gift that she couldn’t find local to us “within 20 minutes haha so I will go pick up some. Now on that topic what would you recommend me get to start off? I don’t care how many just need help to strategize my CUC. Currently dealing with look like brown algae

Really depends on a lot of things, how big is your tank? I would start with Turbo snails for sure. I have a good 20 hermits in my 150 gallon and never have problems.

Uncle99 · Dec 18, 2020

Mexican Turbos, 1 per each 20g should mop up the browns/reds.
Ninja Astrea for the green.
Nassarius for the sand.

Since banning crabs 5 years ago, occurrences of mysterious disappearances and corals just gone overnight is virtually zero. What a difference!

xxkenny90xx · Dec 18, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Just get them.
The risk of getting ick on a CUC from any retail outlet is about the same. Low.
I never use any crabs at all (cause they destroy all they can catch) but I do use snails. I brush the shell with a toothbrush and in the go.

+1, no crabs!

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

MichaelReefer said:
Really depends on a lot of things, how big is your tank? I would start with Turbo snails for sure. I have a good 20 hermits in my 150 gallon and never have problems.

It’s only a 20 gal IM

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Mexican Turbos, 1 per each 20g should mop up the browns/reds.
Ninja Astrea for the green.
Nassarius for the sand.

Since banning crabs 5 years ago, occurrences of mysterious disappearances and corals just gone overnight is virtually zero. What a difference!

Awesome okay!

Reefer1485 · Dec 18, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Just get them.
The risk of getting ick on a CUC from any retail outlet is about the same. Low.
I never use any crabs at all (cause they destroy all they can catch) but I do use snails. I brush the shell with a toothbrush and in the go.

Yeah the only thing I am mainly worried about is ick