Am I ready for CUC

panda0310 · Jan 11, 2026

So I done the turbostart 900 and added a pair of clowns the next day like my LFS recommended. It has been 2 weeks and heres my results. This test kit is only here until I start adding corals once my tank is fully established then im switching to hannas. Feel like PH could use a little boost.

Would you all think its time to maybe add some clean up members and if so what would you all recommend. Hello reef kit currently just running 2 clowns

tbrown · Jan 11, 2026

Do you have algae growing? Once algae is growing you can start adding CUC. Some detrivores (poop and leftover food) crew can be added with the fish so Nassarius snails and hermits if you want them.

TJ42 · Jan 11, 2026

Looks like your tank is still working on doing a good cycle. You still have ammonia and nitrite showing up.
I wouldn't get a cleanup crew until you have something for them to cleanup. They will get very hungry with nothing to eat. I didn't worry about getting helpers until my tank was about 3 months old or so.

tbrown · Jan 11, 2026

TJ42 said:
Looks like your tank is still working on doing a good cycle. You still have ammonia and nitrite showing up.
I wouldn't get a cleanup crew until you have something for them to cleanup. They will get very hungry with nothing to eat. I didn't worry about getting helpers until my tank was about 3 months old or so.

His nitrite and ammonia both look 0 I think. Could be my eyes though.

dedragon · Jan 11, 2026

yea you can add them in if you have algae growing. start small you can always grab more later. right now there shouldnt be too much in algae there and only 2 fish
you dont necessarily need hanna checkers but i do love the ulr phosphate as i have never been able to read phosphate well with any color test kit. nitrate is nice too, but unless you cant see colors they are a bit expensive for all the test kits.
i use salifert and red sea in conjunction with the ulr phosphate. their nitrate test looks great too but i barely monitor nitrate

dedragon · Jan 11, 2026

tbrown said:
His nitrite and ammonia both look 0 I think. Could be my eyes though.

same but hes also had clownfish for 2 weeks so i would be surprised if it wasnt through its initial cycle

tbrown · Jan 11, 2026

dedragon said:
yea you can add them in if you have algae growing. start small you can always grab more later. right now there shouldnt be too much in algae there and only 2 fish
you dont necessarily need hanna checkers but i do love the ulr phosphate as i have never been able to read phosphate well with any color test kit. nitrate is nice too, but unless you cant see colors they are a bit expensive for all the test kits.
i use salifert and red sea in conjunction with the ulr phosphate. their nitrate test looks great too but i barely monitor nitrate

When you you can afford them, Hanna HR Nitrate and Hanna ULR Phosphate or Phosphorus

TJ42 · Jan 12, 2026

tbrown said:
His nitrite and ammonia both look 0 I think. Could be my eyes though.

or mine.... second look they do look close to 0.

Mr. Mojo Rising · Jan 12, 2026

Clean up crews should be added as needed. There are different cuc, there are carnivore that will eat leftover meaty foods, such as nassarius snails and bumble bee snails. There are omnivores that eat both meaty food and algae, such as hermit crabs. And there are herbivores that eat only algae such as turbo snails. Personally I suggest to start with a few hermits and then increase the cuc as you need. If you find a lot of food is going uneaten then get more nassarius snails, if you find more algae is growing then get more algae grazers.