Got an aquapod 24 with 3 turbos, need advice before order

[charlesgage]

I am getting to the point of needing a clean up crew. Been set up for a couple of weeks.

 

Have the the typical brown and red, plus a bunch of turf and hair that the turbos have been attacking.

 

I need something for nooks, crannies, and the sandbed.

 

I already have 3 turbos. Do you think that I should do the 20H package, or something smaller?

 

Pic of tank rock with many of the macros on it:

 

[scorpkeeper]

YIPES...three turbos in a 24 is a LOT of turbos. I generally recommend one per 25 gals or so, and only if you have an issue (which you say you have). I'm not sure if you're encouraging macro growth or are trying to stop it, but the turbos will eat it, esp. the red macros.

 

To round out your CUC, I'd add a few more snails at the rate of 1 snail per 2-3 gals:

 

Nerite, Astrea, Trochus.

 

Depending on which species you can get, I'd add 3 to 6 Nassarius snails, which will live in the substrate and pop out to feed on leftover food, detritus, and carrion. Obviously, add fewer of the larger species such as Tongans.

 

When you buy a package, you always receive WAY too many snails for a tank to support, and they will die back to the level that your tank can feed, and the species most-suited for your tank will tend to outcompete the others since snails often feed on only certain types of algae.

 

Add your CUC slowly and see what your tank and the snails "tell" you. Then you can adjust with what does well for you instead of paying for snails that will die back anyhow.

 

HTH

[charlesgage]

YIPES...three turbos in a 24 is a LOT of turbos. I generally recommend one per 25 gals or so, and only if you have an issue (which you say you have). I'm not sure if you're encouraging macro growth or are trying to stop it, but the turbos will eat it, esp. the red macros.

 

To round out your CUC, I'd add a few more snails at the rate of 1 snail per 2-3 gals:

 

Nerite, Astrea, Trochus.

 

Depending on which species you can get, I'd add 3 to 6 Nassarius snails, which will live in the substrate and pop out to feed on leftover food, detritus, and carrion. Obviously, add fewer of the larger species such as Tongans.

 

When you buy a package, you always receive WAY too many snails for a tank to support, and they will die back to the level that your tank can feed, and the species most-suited for your tank will tend to outcompete the others since snails often feed on only certain types of algae.

 

Add your CUC slowly and see what your tank and the snails "tell" you. Then you can adjust with what does well for you instead of paying for snails that will die back anyhow.

 

HTH

 

Great input. The turbos are definitely keeping up. I should probably give one or two away once the tank fully stabilizes.

[slickwill613]

YIPES...three turbos in a 24 is a LOT of turbos. I generally recommend one per 25 gals or so, and only if you have an issue (which you say you have). I'm not sure if you're encouraging macro growth or are trying to stop it, but the turbos will eat it, esp. the red macros.

 

To round out your CUC, I'd add a few more snails at the rate of 1 snail per 2-3 gals:

 

Nerite, Astrea, Trochus.

 

Depending on which species you can get, I'd add 3 to 6 Nassarius snails, which will live in the substrate and pop out to feed on leftover food, detritus, and carrion. Obviously, add fewer of the larger species such as Tongans.

 

When you buy a package, you always receive WAY too many snails for a tank to support, and they will die back to the level that your tank can feed, and the species most-suited for your tank will tend to outcompete the others since snails often feed on only certain types of algae.

 

Add your CUC slowly and see what your tank and the snails "tell" you. Then you can adjust with what does well for you instead of paying for snails that will die back anyhow.

 

HTH

 

 

 

The last paragraph is the best cuc advice I've ever read. I wish it had been available to me when I started.

[johnmaloney]

Thanks guys! If you would like, we also have a custom crew service, we would just need more info about the tank, you can find that here:

http://www.reefcleaners.org/index.php?opti...1&Itemid=78

[MiddReef]

+9 million to Reefcleaners and John.....even since I broke down my tank and moved it I'm STILL finding cerith snail shells everywhere!