What critters to add for CUC and timeline

[Mombo]

Ok so something I am considering for my tank. Let me know which ones you think are a good idea and if any are bad ideas. Also if you have an opinion on the timeline at which to add them or when the tank will be able to support them.

For context I have a new 120g tank with all Dry rock and Dry sand. Ive added ammonia and a bacteria booster to get the cycle going.

Ok so the basics I am thinking about adding Astrea and Trochus Snails. I am leaning away from the Cerith's right now. I feel like I have 100's of them in my smaller tank and they dont get much done.

Currently planning on adding these snails once the uglies start.

Next are the things I am not so sure about. I feel like I need to wait at the LEAST until I add fish and start feeding the tank. But I am looking at adding Nassarious Snails, Bristle Worms, Spaghetti Worms, Brittle Stars.

I am planning on avoiding crabs as I dont want them poking stuff on my sand bed and killing my snails.

What do yall think about that second batch? For brittle stars do they need to be added later? Are bristle worms worth adding or can they cause problems? I cant think of anything bad about spaghetti worms. If I have brittle stars and bristle worms would I need Nassarious snails?

 

[Mombo]

Also I have a fuge in my sump and I am planning on adding chaeto and a light to that section. So as another part of the CUC ill be seeding with pods. Probably wont add the pods until I add the chaeto.

On that note would yall add the pods to the Fuge or the DT when adding them? I feel like going with the DT and turning off the skimmer for the night and then back on in the morning is the best choice.

 

[OrthoVet05]

I am in the same boat Mombo. From what I have read, I have heard that the astreas can flip upside down and they don't have the ability to right themselves. Another idea would be to get a couple Nassarius snails for your sand.

Not sure about the bristle worms, but have heard they can quickly multiply and breed and be a hit to cosmetics but if you really care they can be very effective t clearing junk.

Your CUC can be more sensitive to water parameter fluctuations as I have heard and it's better to make sure you are totally cycled.

For my tank, I added a couple clowns and am waiting to add the CUC.

 

[OrthoVet05]

Also I have a fuge in my sump and I am planning on adding chaeto and a light to that section. So as another part of the CUC ill be seeding with pods. Probably wont add the pods until I add the chaeto.

On that note would yall add the pods to the Fuge or the DT when adding them? I feel like going with the DT and turning off the skimmer for the night and then back on in the morning is the best choice.

This is a great article I found on R2R as well that breaks down pros and cons of different CUC components: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/choosing-cleanup-crew-critters.107/

 

[Krzydmnd]

My favorite in my cuc crew are the turban Snails. They come out like clockwork every night and the tank is practically spotless by morning.

They do get big so if you like to place frag plugs around on Rockwork without gluing then down beware.

I ended up with spaghetti and bristle worms apparently from my rock but it was live. As ugly (to me) as they are, they still also do a great job cleanup.

 

[ca1ore]

All just my opinion of course (that, and loooooong experience in this hobby) .....

I think purchasing CUC is a bit of a boondoggle. Maybe not bagged live-sand boondoggle, but boondoggle-ish. Unless one starts with dead rock, and then pursues the hermetically sealed approach to reefing, the reality is that most of what you need for CUC comes along for the ride. My tank is teeming with bristle worms, mini bristle stars, micro stars, isopods, copepods, mysis shrimp, even a small population of tigger-pod-type swimming dudes and of course bacteria that all do an outstanding job of eating any leftover food, detritus and reducing the remains of any deceased animal. OK, none of these will be all that effective against various forms of algae - but that's what my tangs are for ..... so add them to the CUC. I have not found frankly, that the health or aesthetic condition of my tank improves with the introduction of the typical CUC (snails, hermits, etc.) and the death rate of these things in my tank is high (partly because they are not enduring animals and partly because my Dusky wrasses sees them as dinner). I have a quartet of sand sleeping wrasses and a diamond goby, so keeping the sand mixed up is not a problem - plus the aforementioned bristle worms and micro stars help in this regard. If I do occasionally order a commercial CUC, I will get nassarius snails, hermit crabs and emerald crabs - but not so much for their cleaning capabilities but because I think they are cool and add to the biodiversity of the tank.

 

[tankstudy]

For snails, I'd recommend the Mexican turbo snails if your looking for hard workers and aren't a fan of ceriths. Turbo snails do get fist sized though, so as someone who keeps a nano, they really aren't for me. However, I can tell you that ceriths work pretty hard, they are nocturnal so you won't see any activity till lights are out.

As for micro stars, I'd recommend staying away from stars. Unless your able to identify them clearly, some stars are actually pests. Get the wrong ones and your going to have issues. My suggestion is stick to the bristleworms and nassarius snails. The bristleworm populations and sizes are usually directly correlated to how much food you have available in your system. If you feed a lot and there is a lot of left over food, your going to have a lot of them and very larges ones too.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

All just my opinion of course (that, and loooooong experience in this hobby) .....

I think purchasing CUC is a bit of a boondoggle. Maybe not bagged live-sand boondoggle, but boondoggle-ish. Unless one starts with dead rock, and then pursues the hermetically sealed approach to reefing, the reality is that most of what you need for CUC comes along for the ride. My tank is teeming with bristle worms, mini bristle stars, micro stars, isopods, copepods, mysis shrimp, even a small population of tigger-pod-type swimming dudes and of course bacteria that all do an outstanding job of eating any leftover food, detritus and reducing the remains of any deceased animal. OK, none of these will be all that effective against various forms of algae - but that's what my tangs are for ..... so add them to the CUC. I have not found frankly, that the health or aesthetic condition of my tank improves with the introduction of the typical CUC (snails, hermits, etc.) and the death rate of these things in my tank is high (partly because they are not enduring animals and partly because my Dusky wrasses sees them as dinner). I have a quartet of sand sleeping wrasses and a diamond goby, so keeping the sand mixed up is not a problem - plus the aforementioned bristle worms and micro stars help in this regard. If I do occasionally order a commercial CUC, I will get nassarius snails, hermit crabs and emerald crabs - but not so much for their cleaning capabilities but because I think they are cool and add to the biodiversity of the tank.

Bio diversity. Really little stuff eats even smaller stuff. IMO the rampant sterility craze causes a lot of problembs. Good Micro faunal populations take care of stuff you don't even know you had.

As far as snails, the R2r critter guide is awesome. Def use you're eyes on what's growing in the tank and pick the snail accordingly. And buy a few more than you think you need. And keep the selection diverse as well. Again, cleaning stuff you didn't even know you had.

 

[ca1ore]

As for micro stars, I'd recommend staying away from stars. Unless your able to identify them clearly, some stars are actually pests. Get the wrong ones and your going to have issues.

While there certainly is some risk, I think it's minimal - and more presumed than actual problems. Plus many of the small stars come whether you want them or not. Your post did remind me that I neglected to mention asterina stars in my list of hitchhikers.

 

[ca1ore]

IMO the rampant sterility craze causes a lot of problems. Good Micro faunal populations take care of stuff you don't even know you had.

I couldn't agree more. The occasional mantis or bobbit worm is a small price to pay for all these cool little critters.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I couldn't agree more. The occasional mantis or bobbit worm is a small price to pay for all these cool little critters.

Garf grunge , Fiji mud , and IPS packs are pretty cool and safe ways to avoid those for folks not ready to deal with that.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

Garf grunge , Fiji mud , and ISP packs are pretty cool and safe ways to avoid those for folks not ready to deal with that.

Is GARF still in operation? That's a website that would for sure benefit from a redesign, but the circa 1996 setup is sort of endearing at this point...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is GARF still in operation? That's a website that would for sure benefit from a redesign, but the circa 1996 setup is sort of endearing at this point...

Yea. Kinda makes me smile.

Yup and Sally Jo got some fresh blood in there too.
The shipping is now lower , the corals are cheaper. They are even on FB now.

When her husband Roy passed things def went downhill for her, and she's also quite elderly.
I was pretty happy to see her make a comeback.

Fwiw, everything I read on their site was repeated in academic books and articles on biodiversity and microfauna. It's just the tools that have changed. Not the science.

 

[ca1ore]

I routinely ask my LFS for a few cups of the crud that collects in the bottom of their live rock tubs. Seeded my cryptic refugium/RDSB with the stuff.

 

[LuizW13]

I have about 10 or so small blue legged hermit crabs and 5 trochus snails in my 26 AIO. I think they're great, especially the T. snails - who recently spawned! Didn't know they spawned until I saw a few babies crawling around in the rocks.

 

[Mombo]

Ya my smaller tank feels pretty sterile and ive been working to remedy that. My big tank is going to feel the same way. If you dip stuff or inspect stuff before it goes in the tank I haven't experienced much in the way of hitchhikers. Other then those worm things that build the little calcium cave and shoot out the strings....whatever they are called.... They dont bother me much. TBH

Also I agree with Salty and want some diversity. So I am thinking Bristle Worms, Brittle Stars, Snails, Pods of all types, and Spaghetti Worms are all things I am interested in.

Turban Snail is probably a Trochus snail right? I really like Trochus snails...

I still think I am going to shy away from Hermits, Emeralds etc. I dont want them poking stuff. On that note do Bristle Worms or Brittle Stars poke or kill coral on the sand bed?

 

[LuizW13]

Turban Snail is probably a Trochus snail right? I really like Trochus snails...

I think they're two different animals if i remember correctly. I recommend the Trochus, just because i like mine so much. You'll occasionally see them 'Outside' of the tank.
One day i came home and found one upside down on the floor, don't know how long it was there, but i thought i had lost it. Luckily, i decided to put it back in the tank anyway because it was still alive.

 

[MTBake]

I have nerite snails, 2 astrea snails, some nassarius and three varieties of cerith snails in my tank. They do a good job of cleaning pretty much everything. The nerites end up on the outside of the tank/floor once in a while. Never have found a dead one outside the tank yet. My Labrador Retriever had one in his mouth the other day. I think he knew I'd want it and brought it to me, lol.

 

[Mombo]

snail wise I’ll probably get nerite, trochus, turban, cerith, and nassarious.

Prob do spaghetti worms, brittle star, bristle worms as the tank matures. I’m on the fence still with bristle worms...

 

[MTBake]

I'm not sure I'd spend money on spaghetti or bristle worms. There's a good chance that they'll hitchhike in on something eventually. They've shown up in all my tanks without purposely stocking them.