How big is too big? CUC

[Mgoc]

Hi everyone, I went to reefcleaners.org and filled out the online form they have in which you tell them a little about your tank and they design a customized clean up crew for you.

They replied today and said I should get the following:

120 Dwarf Ceriths - small effective cleaners
32 Nassarius
44 Florida Ceriths
35 Assorted Hermits
30 Nerites

3 Emerald Crabs

2 Fighting Conchs

I already have 6 Nassarius snails, 1 emerald crab, 5 snails (astrae and turbo) and 8 hermit crabs.

I have a 180g tank with a 40B sump and I dont want my clean up crew to do it's job and then starve to death. Also,I don't want my clean up crew to be overwhelming when staring at my tank.

Isn't this a bit too many creatures for my tank? Or is it the right amount? Would it look awful with so many little guys crawling around everywhere?

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

So the total amount of your critters would be a round like 300. If you think it's about 1.7 clean up crew per gallon which seems like the right amount. I am a beginner :) so I don't know too much

 

[Mgoc]

So the total amount of your critters would be a round like 300. If you think it's about 1.7 clean up crew per gallon which seems like the right amount. I am a beginner :) so I don't know too much

Based on that, I guess it would. But I'm afraid it would look more like an ant hill than a reef tank. I am a beginner in this wonderful hobby and therefore I don't know if the creatures will hide and clean up the waste in little tight spaces in the rock or just crawl around everywhere and become like a little ant army or something like that.

 

[Bow]

I don't remember what size I got for my 90 but the only time it looks overwhelming is when I feed. But it's kind of cool to see them come out from the sand all at once. I guess what I'm saying is that a lot of the snails will hide in the sand bed and the crabs grow coralline so they blend in pretty well. If in doubt start with less and go from there. At least you have an estimate to start with.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I'm a beginner too! :) but ya they will hide too! All my snails hide in the sand bed until night! :) if you are nervous just be a little and if you want more get more! :)

 

[mcarroll]

Unless your tank is filthy and you currently have NO clean up crew, that's way too many.

Even if you still wanted as many as they recommend for some reason, I would say only add 1/2 or 1/4 of that at once and live with them for a little while before adding more.

As you know, starvation is very likely, so adding a huge CUC up front is not wise. :)

-Matt

 

[Mr. D]

Unless your tank is filthy and you currently have NO clean up crew, that's way too many.

Even if you still wanted as many as they recommend for some reason, I would say only add 1/2 or 1/4 of that at once and live with them for a little while before adding more.

As you know, starvation is very likely, so adding a huge CUC up front is not wise. :)

-Matt

Agreed.

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[teddy13]

i was always told 1 snail and 1 crab per gallon

 

[mcarroll]

i was always told 1 snail and 1 crab per gallon

That can't be right - that only gives each hermit one snail to kill. ;)

(match the CUC to the job, not the tank)

-Matt

 

[Mgoc]

That can't be right - that only gives each hermit one snail to kill. ;)

(match the CUC to the job, not the tank)

-Matt

Agreed