Underrated Clean Up Crew members?

125gSW · May 7, 2018

Any members of your CUC that are generally underrated or unheard of?

sstanley223 · May 7, 2018

125gSW said:
Any members of your CUC that are generally underrated or unheard of?

I think mine are all over rated... and lazy [emoji1]

savetheocean · May 7, 2018

Urchins?

big deddy · May 7, 2018

My cucumber. He is always cleaning.

mitch91175 · May 7, 2018

Fighting Conch Snails, enough said

savetheocean · May 7, 2018

big deddy said:
My cucumber. He is always cleaning.

Actually planning to get one, do they clean the sand?

big deddy · May 7, 2018

savetheocean said:
Actually planning to get one, do they clean the sand?

Yep. Actually eats the sand. Then poops clean sand. He's a good one. Had him about 3 years.

mitch91175 · May 7, 2018

savetheocean said:
Actually planning to get one, do they clean the sand?

Yes they do. If you really want clean sand, get a sand shifting star. You won't have to worry about dirty sand anymore I guarantee you that. I have 2 and 2 conch snails. Sand has never been cleaner. Also do not have any denitrification issues. This hobby is filled with a lot of myths if you ask me.

savetheocean · May 7, 2018

big deddy said:
Yep. Actually eats the sand. Then poops clean sand. He's a good one. Had him about 3 years.

What kind do you have?

I was looking to get two Atlantic Sea Cucumbers.

savetheocean · May 7, 2018

mitch91175 said:
Yes they do. If you really want clean sand, get a sand shifting star. You won't have to worry about dirty sand anymore I guarantee you that. I have 2 and 2 conch snails. Sand has never been cleaner. Also do not have any denitrification issues. This hobby is filled with a lot of myths if you ask me.

I need to try some new things. I have like brown coralline on most of my sand.. Its so ugly and I cant get it out. If this cucumber thing doesn't work I will get a sand sifting star.

big deddy · May 7, 2018

savetheocean said:
What kind do you have?

I was looking to get two Atlantic Sea Cucumbers.

Not sure the name. I got him/her from a fellow reefer. My kids absolutely love him. His name is plankton, they liked spongebob.

savetheocean · May 7, 2018

big deddy said:
Not sure the name. I got him/her from a fellow reefer. My kids absolutely love him. His name is plankton, they liked spongebob.

Do I have to worry about them climbing walls into my powerheads?

mitch91175 · May 7, 2018

savetheocean said:
I need to try some new things. I have like brown coralline on most of my sand.. Its so ugly and I cant get it out. If this cucumber thing doesn't work I will get a sand sifting star.

Sand shifting star would move around more than the cucumber will. Cucumbers setup a station and munch on sand then move around. You may be well getting one of each (conch, SSS, and a cucumber). You can thank me later

big deddy · May 7, 2018

He doesn't go up very much. His backend is still on the sand here.

savetheocean · May 7, 2018

mitch91175 said:
Sand shifting star would move around more than the cucumber will. Cucumbers setup a station and munch on sand then move around. You may be well getting one of each (conch, SSS, and a cucumber). You can thank me later

I may just have to try that! Thanks!

mitch91175 · May 7, 2018

Forgot to ask what size DT do you have? It will help determine what and how many your tank can handle. You do not want to get say 5 SSS or 4 cucumbers if you do not have enough for them to eat. For example, I used to be worried about how much I feed my tank UNTIL I added the 2 SSS, 2 conch, and some cerith/nassarius snails. Now I just feed how much I want and let the crew mow through the rest.

Also, do not discount your circulation in your tank.

Daniel@R2R · May 8, 2018

My turbo snail is crazy good at cleaning

mitch91175 · May 8, 2018

mdbannister said:
My turbo snail is crazy good at cleaning

They are good cleaners as well. At the end of the day, you really have to have a good variety of cleaners for your tank (I have some large turbos in my tank as well

). Don't think they are on the under-rated list though

User1 · May 8, 2018

big deddy said:
Not sure the name. I got him/her from a fellow reefer. My kids absolutely love him. His name is plankton, they liked spongebob.

If it hasn't been answered it looks like a tiger tail cucumber to me. And yes, if they climb the tank walls and you have a power head it could cause trouble. They typically don't, or shouldn't, be climbing though. Sand grain size is important though - just keep that in mind.