CUC recommendations.

[MizTanks]

Outside of hermit crabs and snails, anyone have any ideas?

[Skyhigh]

I like my urchin, but they will move poorly attatched frags, and even some fairly well attatched ones..... I have one hermit crab, hes pretty cool but not for everyone. A good mix of snails is big tho, I have a couple turbos, about 15-20 astrea snails, a few of another type that I cant think of right now (I think cerith but not sure, Ill check later), and a nassarius snail.


Well put, i would add a serpent star or brittle star.

[demonclownfish]

i really wanna get some limpets and chitons. i also really enjoy having my blue royal urchin around, he helps with so much algae and have had him for at least a year and a half now.

[MizTanks]

I'm liking brittle star idea :)

[slapshot]

I love my orange serpent. He is always reach out of someplace.

[Sir Patrick]

I'm liking brittle star idea :)

Stick with the serpents- the ones with smooth arms, and stay away from any green ones, just to be sure.

Couldnt pay me to toss a brittle in my tank- just in case. Ya never know....

[Tom@HaslettMI]

IMO buying most clean up crew animals = throwing money away. Don't get me wrong I've had trochus snails that lived for many years and did a wonderful job at eating algae. The problem is when they finally died their replacements only lasted a few months (as well as their replacements). I have had similar experiences with most other CUC members I've tried.

Now, my CUC is mainly hitchhiker species that reproduce (and subsequently maintain a balanced population with their food source). Currently it's made up of mostly stomatella snails, mini brittle stars, bristle worms, and astrina stars. The traditional CUC members I still have are a Scopas tang, 2 money cowries, and a "super tonga" nassarius snail. I certainly still need to clean my glass and perform other maintenance tasks, but at least I'm not continually spending only to end up with more empty CUC shells.

Tom

[MizTanks]

I hear you Tom. I was just looking for a lil something extra to help out during my extra frozen feedings. I wanna stay on top of any extra nutrients.

[larryandlaura]

What about a cucumber? I have a huge one in the main and a medium in the frag tank!

[MizTanks]

I don't have the algae to sustain a cucumber :)

[binford4000]

I hear you Tom. I was just looking for a lil something extra to help out during my extra frozen feedings. I wanna stay on top of any extra nutrients.

I really like the hermits and emerald crabs.turbo and other snails all do the trick. Astaria can get a taste for coral flesh so I stay away from them so much I have four harlequins just to ensure they stay out. Nuda branch is another good cleaner and will destroy most flat worms. I also consider fish as part of my CUC. Copper bands do an awesome job of getting aptasia out and love the wrasses too ! Food for thought is all. Urchins are cool to ! :jester:

[MizTanks]

I really like the hermits and emerald crabs.turbo and other snails all do the trick. Astaria can get a taste for coral flesh so I stay away from them so much I have four harlequins just to ensure they stay out. Nuda branch is another good cleaner and will destroy most flat worms. I also consider fish as part of my CUC. Copper bands do an awesome job of getting aptasia out and love the wrasses too ! Food for thought is all. Urchins are cool to ! :jester:

Hey :oldman:! Nice to see you grace me with you words of wisdom :jester:

[binford4000]

Hey :oldman:! Nice to see you grace me with you words of wisdom :jester:

Wisdom?? And I thought I was the only one drinking this late. Lol. :oldman:

[MizTanks]

Wisdom?? And I thought I was the only one drinking this late. Lol. :oldman:

You are cuz you obviously missed the :jester: at the end!!! :tongue_out:

[binford4000]

You are cuz you obviously missed the :jester: at the end!!! :tongue_out:

Oh yeah guess that's what I get for misbehaving at my age. Lol. Geratal is better with jack tho. :oldman: