Pico Jar CUC Suggestions

[Blitz7737]

Our little ocean has had quite the struggles, but it still thrives. We are finally in a wave of our first major algae bloom (fingers crossed for just diatoms and not dinos).

Current livestock:
GSP
Clove Polyps
Tiny Zoa
Blue legged hernits
Asterina starfish
Random tiny sand worms

Next up is linking in some chaeto and getting some pods rolling.

Tried an Astrea once, it didn't survive having to be righted constantly.

Debating maybe adding a nassarius, a trochus, or a small shrimp (peppermint, saron, or candy pistol)...

Sexy shrimp have also been mentioned many times.

Any other good suggestions of tiny CUC to help keep this little ocean nice and diverse?

 

[Nomer Penaranda]

Our little ocean has had quite the struggles, but it still thrives. We are finally in a wave of our first major algae bloom (fingers crossed for just diatoms and not dinos).

Current livestock:
GSP
Clove Polyps
Tiny Zoa
Blue legged hernits
Asterina starfish
Random tiny sand worms

Next up is linking in some chaeto and getting some pods rolling.

Tried an Astrea once, it didn't survive having to be righted constantly.

Debating maybe adding a nassarius, a trochus, or a small shrimp (peppermint, saron, or candy pistol)...

Sexy shrimp have also been mentioned many times.

Any other good suggestions of tiny CUC to help keep this little ocean nice and diverse?

Margarita snails might work, Ive seen some small and they eat a lot of algae on my tank

 

[Blitz7737]

@Nomer Penaranda can they right themselves? We had a bad experience with an Astrea who got caught upside down and led to a mini crash. With a pico, a bad issue can make hours dangerous.

 

[Nomer Penaranda]

@Nomer Penaranda can they right themselves? We had a bad experience with an Astrea who got caught upside down and led to a mini crash. With a pico, a bad issue can make hours dangerous.

Yea thats true with a small tank it will have a huge impact, bumy margaritas are able to right themselves but Ive also heard some can't but I never had problem with mine

 

[Pkunk35]

Sounds way cool!

Have you added a bag of like 250 amphipods? It will be the actual cleanup crew imo. They’ll look huge in there too which is always dope

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Id check out reef cleaners website, they have dwarf ceriths. They are tiny, like the size of a grain of rice.

Dwarf Cerith

Resides : Sand, rocks and glass Consumes : Film Algae, Diatoms, Hair Algae, Detritus, and some species of Cyanobacteria Max Size : .5 or 15mm Origin :...

www.reefcleaners.org

 

[Blitz7737]

@Nomer Penaranda thanks for the suggestion, I will look into them.

@Pkunk35 no pods yet. They are on the list. Thinking some tiger pods and then I would have to research amphipods. Was waiting for the algae bloom to hit and planning to get some chaeto linked in as well to ensure there is plenty of yum yums for them. Any particular suggestions on type of amphipods?

@ReeferWarrant I will look them up! A dwarf cerith was the next one I was thinking about after the pods!

 

[92Miata]

Dwarf ceriths would probably work well.

 

[Pkunk35]

@Nomer Penaranda thanks for the suggestion, I will look into them.

@Pkunk35 no pods yet. They are on the list. Thinking some tiger pods and then I would have to research amphipods. Was waiting for the algae bloom to hit and planning to get some chaeto linked in as well to ensure there is plenty of yum yums for them. Any particular suggestions on type of amphipods?

@ReeferWarrant I will look them up! A dwarf cerith was the next one I was thinking about after the pods!

So amphipods are different than copepods, they are much larger crustaceans that scurry about and eat algae and just about anything from what I believe. Imo prob the best actual cleaner in the tank from their sheer populations and ability to eat macro foods like pellets ,mysid, etc. they hide in the day but come out at night. In tanks with no fish they can stay out all day.

This place was pricey but one example of where you can buy (there are many including retailers here on this site) : https://www.aquaculturenurseryfarms.com/refugium-starter-packs/16oz/

FWIW I had no doubt of the number of amphipods I got from them: Amphipods

highly recommend!!

 

[mzaslove]

Id check out reef cleaners website, they have dwarf ceriths. They are tiny, like the size of a grain of rice.

Dwarf Cerith

Resides : Sand, rocks and glass Consumes : Film Algae, Diatoms, Hair Algae, Detritus, and some species of Cyanobacteria Max Size : .5 or 15mm Origin :...

www.reefcleaners.org

I went with them for dwarf ceriths in my 2 gallon reef jar, along with some smaller trochus. Totally worth it!