I have a 230 gallon tank and looking to add CUC soon.. I had issues with diatoms, cyano and now fighting some hair algae, but nothing out of control.. what clean up crew shall I add to the tank and in what numbers? Can you all please share in a list form.. I don’t like looking at inverts at all, and don’t want them all over my sand bed and glass, hence numbers are important for me.. also please suggest any QT tips for inverts.. thanks in advance
What CUC to get for my tank?
- Thread starter spuri87
- Start date
H2OPlayar
Supporting Member
Have you tried this? Really ups the toothbrush game.
230 gallon tank, gets ~230 small cleanup crew. I like snails more than hermit crabs because the crabs sometimes eat the snails.
Something like this would make you not have to pick anything out.
200 Gallon Standard Reef Cleanup Crew
Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.
www.saltwateraquarium.com
I've ordered from them and been happy before. I really like the fuzzy chitons, and they have pretty good selection if looking for specific things.
For hair algae control, my favorite is a rabbitfish.
If you are serious about qt for the inverts, it is just like any other qt in terms of time and a small tank but do not use copper as it will kill them all. I am not the qt expert so I don't know if you can use any meds. I am more of a let it ride kind of reefer, and the stories of cuc bringing a pest in do exist, but I feel are rare.
Last edited:
PizzaOven
Supporting Member
I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip.
And you gotta feed them! Some people just leave them in there without nori or algae wafers and they just die.
Have you tried this? Really ups the toothbrush game.
230 gallon tank, gets ~230 small cleanup crew. I like snails more than hermit crabs because the crabs sometimes eat the snails.
Something like this would make you not have to pick anything out.
200 Gallon Standard Reef Cleanup Crew
Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.
I've ordered from them and been happy before. I really like the fuzzy chitons, and they have pretty good selection if looking for specific things.
For hair algae control, my favorite is a rabbitfish.
If you are serious about qt for the inverts, it is just like any other qt in terms of time and a small tank but do not use copper as it will kill them all. I am not the qt expert so I don't know if you can use any meds. I am more of a let it ride kind of reefer, and the stories of cuc bringing a pest in do exist, but I feel are rare.
PjFish
Supporting Member
Alot depends on your tank! Hard to have an actual rule or tell you exactly what you need. Every tank is different and every point in a tanks life is also different so start small and build or replenish till you overcome and reach a balance.. Example my larger bare bottom system roughly 230 gallons are only three Trochus snails plus a small army of Asterina starfish which are nocturnal.
Most tanks go through uglies because the tank has to catch up to nutrient levels. Ideally you want nutrient levels catching up to the tank.
That said....
Sand bed cucs
Tiger Sand Conchs are cool.. Fighting Conchs get a bit bigger and fun to watch ( 2)
Tiger Tail Cucumbers are even cooler (one)
Kenny over at High Tide Aquatics in Oakland usually has them in stock or can order you anything you need especially Qt fish. He's a BAR sponsor and has hosted many events which are fun and extremely knowledgeable!
Sand sifting Gobies are fun to watch but can spread sand all over rocks and corals so pass if OCD lol.
Nassarius Vibex are great additions stay hidden under sand mostly and suddenly pop out when feeding tank scavenging for extra food however they do appear nocturnal so will roam the sand and walls when lights out ( 3-5 )
Side Note Rant....
DO Not GET Nassarius Ilyanassa or Ilyanassarius obsoleta they are sold cheap in great numbers on Ebay or especially Carolina vendor locationa..These ones are highly carnivorous and very invasive..Our SF Bay is full of these ****** pests that were introduced which are diminishing local species especially in the south bay literally hundreds per square meter. Just do some homework so you can tell the differences most reputable vendors list Vibex but if not verify or move on..Got a couple of these mixed in a batch order of Nassarius Vibex which proceeded to canibalize other small snails and several small pom pom crabs I had..
FYI Im bare bottom now so no need for sand cucs..
>>>>Tiger Trochus Snail, Banded Trochus Snail are my go to since they are one of the only snails that can flip themselves over. They will spawn and breed in tank a plus Maybe start (5-10)
Turbo snails are amazing algae bulldozers and can flip themselves over on bare bottom tanks but can get stuck on their backs at times on sand beds unless using the larger crushed coral.. They do a great job but would not roll with them on sand Im done flipping snails by hand
People recommend dwarf ceriths and all different sized snails so they can clean all the small cracks and crevices. But they can possibly get into overflows and pipes and cause issues at times or breed like crazy swarming the tank but easy fix if you get a loving puffer or larger wrasse for them to dine on.
I've used sea slugs which are great but need to pass them on or they will die if they eat all the algae unless you feed them alot..
Not sure what tangs you currently have but also highly recommend you have one in the Bristletooth family.. Two the better but I've never kept two together successfully without an all out braul but only attempted once..
Ctenochaetus binotatus - Twin Spot Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus cyanocheilius - Blue Lipped Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus flavicauda - White Tail
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis - Chevron/Hawaiian Bristleooth
Ctenochaetus marginatus - White Stripped Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus striatus - Striated Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus strigosus - Yellow Eye Kole
Ctenochaetus tominiensis - Tomini/Gold Rush Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus trunctatus - Silverspot/Indian Yellow Eye Bristletooth
I've never followed the cucs per gallon recommendations or needed even half that..I think they are mostly geared up just to increase company sales resolving the eyesore algae at hand vs what's causing the root issue! Having that many cucs all the time would not be my liking and just become a boneyard.. Regardless if your feeding daily with algae wafers etc you will get die offs regularly with hundreds of recommended cucs..
There are numerous other cucs out there from sea urchins to micro and huge bristle stars etc which you just have to find out if their the right balance how your tanks running...
Whenever I do add new snails I vigorously scrub/ polish their shells with an assortment of nail files, pot scrubbers or dremel if needed. Ive found flatworm and nudibranch eggs glued on their shells numerous times which have been sourced from local LFS in the bay. After that I used to toss them into a small bare bottom 5g tank for a month or two to observe. But don't do that anymore just buff the **** outa their shells lol.. However Fishy Business in the North Bay sells QT cucs who is a sponsor of BAR
Your tank looked pretty clean and in control from the last feeding vids you posted!
Alright dogs attacking my leg time to counter attack and take him for a run!! Best of luck!!
Most tanks go through uglies because the tank has to catch up to nutrient levels. Ideally you want nutrient levels catching up to the tank.
That said....
Sand bed cucs
Tiger Sand Conchs are cool.. Fighting Conchs get a bit bigger and fun to watch ( 2)
Tiger Tail Cucumbers are even cooler (one)
Kenny over at High Tide Aquatics in Oakland usually has them in stock or can order you anything you need especially Qt fish. He's a BAR sponsor and has hosted many events which are fun and extremely knowledgeable!
Sand sifting Gobies are fun to watch but can spread sand all over rocks and corals so pass if OCD lol.
Nassarius Vibex are great additions stay hidden under sand mostly and suddenly pop out when feeding tank scavenging for extra food however they do appear nocturnal so will roam the sand and walls when lights out ( 3-5 )
Side Note Rant....
DO Not GET Nassarius Ilyanassa or Ilyanassarius obsoleta they are sold cheap in great numbers on Ebay or especially Carolina vendor locationa..These ones are highly carnivorous and very invasive..Our SF Bay is full of these ****** pests that were introduced which are diminishing local species especially in the south bay literally hundreds per square meter. Just do some homework so you can tell the differences most reputable vendors list Vibex but if not verify or move on..Got a couple of these mixed in a batch order of Nassarius Vibex which proceeded to canibalize other small snails and several small pom pom crabs I had..
FYI Im bare bottom now so no need for sand cucs..
>>>>Tiger Trochus Snail, Banded Trochus Snail are my go to since they are one of the only snails that can flip themselves over. They will spawn and breed in tank a plus Maybe start (5-10)
Turbo snails are amazing algae bulldozers and can flip themselves over on bare bottom tanks but can get stuck on their backs at times on sand beds unless using the larger crushed coral.. They do a great job but would not roll with them on sand Im done flipping snails by hand
People recommend dwarf ceriths and all different sized snails so they can clean all the small cracks and crevices. But they can possibly get into overflows and pipes and cause issues at times or breed like crazy swarming the tank but easy fix if you get a loving puffer or larger wrasse for them to dine on.
I've used sea slugs which are great but need to pass them on or they will die if they eat all the algae unless you feed them alot..
Not sure what tangs you currently have but also highly recommend you have one in the Bristletooth family.. Two the better but I've never kept two together successfully without an all out braul but only attempted once..
Ctenochaetus binotatus - Twin Spot Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus cyanocheilius - Blue Lipped Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus flavicauda - White Tail
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis - Chevron/Hawaiian Bristleooth
Ctenochaetus marginatus - White Stripped Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus striatus - Striated Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus strigosus - Yellow Eye Kole
Ctenochaetus tominiensis - Tomini/Gold Rush Bristletooth
Ctenochaetus trunctatus - Silverspot/Indian Yellow Eye Bristletooth
I've never followed the cucs per gallon recommendations or needed even half that..I think they are mostly geared up just to increase company sales resolving the eyesore algae at hand vs what's causing the root issue! Having that many cucs all the time would not be my liking and just become a boneyard.. Regardless if your feeding daily with algae wafers etc you will get die offs regularly with hundreds of recommended cucs..
There are numerous other cucs out there from sea urchins to micro and huge bristle stars etc which you just have to find out if their the right balance how your tanks running...
Whenever I do add new snails I vigorously scrub/ polish their shells with an assortment of nail files, pot scrubbers or dremel if needed. Ive found flatworm and nudibranch eggs glued on their shells numerous times which have been sourced from local LFS in the bay. After that I used to toss them into a small bare bottom 5g tank for a month or two to observe. But don't do that anymore just buff the **** outa their shells lol.. However Fishy Business in the North Bay sells QT cucs who is a sponsor of BAR
Your tank looked pretty clean and in control from the last feeding vids you posted!
Alright dogs attacking my leg time to counter attack and take him for a run!! Best of luck!!
Wow, so much great information.. thank you for taking time to write it @PjFish .. really appreciate the time you spent to explain everything in detail..
My tank isnt in a bad state, though my nutrients are not that great.. Phosphates too high, but plan to fight this battle once I am done with the Hypo mini-project.. I agree with you that the cuc per gallon sucks.. I got sucked into buying more live rocks than I need coz of the same 1 lb / gallon strategy and I have to move them to my sump now.. Numbers you posted look conservative and I believe suits my requirements in a not too old tank.. I dont have any tang from Bristletooth family, but love white tail so probably will get that one soon.. Thank you everyone for all the help!
My tank isnt in a bad state, though my nutrients are not that great.. Phosphates too high, but plan to fight this battle once I am done with the Hypo mini-project.. I agree with you that the cuc per gallon sucks.. I got sucked into buying more live rocks than I need coz of the same 1 lb / gallon strategy and I have to move them to my sump now.. Numbers you posted look conservative and I believe suits my requirements in a not too old tank.. I dont have any tang from Bristletooth family, but love white tail so probably will get that one soon.. Thank you everyone for all the help!
Hopefully you don't get it as bad as my 210.
Tried gfo reactor still running
Started with 80 plus various snails no luck
Added 50-60 tiny hermits all most likely eaten by the 3 wrasses.
I've tried spinning scrubber, it does work but alage returns crazy fast and longer. Manual beyond that not possible can't reach bottom of tank and can't grab it with tongs without it floating off.
Tangs ignore it all together. The starry blenny noibles but mostly enjoys playing in lol.
I haven't tried a rabbit fish but hopefully for a magnificant foxface soon.
It's probably 3-4 inches tall at this point.
I added 25 turbos from cfm 2 days ago will see if it helps. Until I use reef flux or get foxface or try urchins.
Things will work out sooner or later.
Tried gfo reactor still running
Started with 80 plus various snails no luck
Added 50-60 tiny hermits all most likely eaten by the 3 wrasses.
I've tried spinning scrubber, it does work but alage returns crazy fast and longer. Manual beyond that not possible can't reach bottom of tank and can't grab it with tongs without it floating off.
Tangs ignore it all together. The starry blenny noibles but mostly enjoys playing in lol.
I haven't tried a rabbit fish but hopefully for a magnificant foxface soon.
It's probably 3-4 inches tall at this point.
I added 25 turbos from cfm 2 days ago will see if it helps. Until I use reef flux or get foxface or try urchins.
Things will work out sooner or later.
Corals are looking good in the tank' I've only lost 2or3 since it's been running. Just wanted to hint your on the right track to get ahead of things with clean up crew. I likely miss judged things with this tank and waited way to long to ramp up clean up crew. I'm hopeful things will work out and find a balance point as tbe tank matures.
tribbitt
Supporting Member
That looks like hand-removal time! And then some crabs and urchins, I notice snails don't seem to like filamentous algae as much.
PizzaOven
Supporting Member
Same, when my tank was going through the GHA phase, urchins would bulldoze the long stringy stuff that nothing else would touch.
my tuxedo urchin ignores the gha and just eats corraline. Appetite supposedly depends from urchin to urchin. I’ve found Mexican turbos to do a good job with gha but they also bulldoze everything over so make sure your frags are glued.
Pithos crabs wiped out 90% of my bubble algae in a week, then I lost 3/4 of the population over the next three weeks but two remaining crabs have stayed been alive the past 6 months.
I don’t know if I’ll get ceriths going forward, they like to get into my gyres. No more hermits for me, they had novelty factor in the beginning but now they just hunt snails for their shells.
Pithos crabs wiped out 90% of my bubble algae in a week, then I lost 3/4 of the population over the next three weeks but two remaining crabs have stayed been alive the past 6 months.
I don’t know if I’ll get ceriths going forward, they like to get into my gyres. No more hermits for me, they had novelty factor in the beginning but now they just hunt snails for their shells.