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CUC for my new bc29 (now just my random questions)


fishfreak0114

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fishfreak0114

Hi all,

I'm new to the saltwater hobby and this forum (though I've been reading on here for quite some time). I recently started a bc29. The lights are stock, but I'm getting the intank media+fuge basket combo and I didn't use the bioballs. I have a wp25 for circulation. I just wantedto ask if my planned CUC sounded good.

This is what I plan on getting as long as I my LFS can get them for me (if I need morelater I will add, this is just a start)

2 nassarious

2 money coweries

2 ninja star astreas

3 cerith

2-3 nerite

2-3trochus

1 emerald crab

5 blue leg hermits

maybe 2 scarlet reef hermits

and a hRlequin serpent star

 

Future inverts include 2 pom poms, maybe a porcalin crab, aa few shrimp and an urchin. Coral too.

THanks in advance :D

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Emerald crab might not be the best choice because of some unpredictability in aggressiveness towards sessile organisms.

Amphipods and polychaetes are very good in a cuc but usually you get them free with rock.

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fishfreak0114

Thanks for the quick reply. I am hoping to get lucky and get a female emerald as ive heard they stay smaller than males. I dont mind keeping a close eye or target feeding it. With feeding it directly is it still likely it will harm anything?

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fishfreak0114

Would I be able toget a second serpent star in a tank that size? And are there any sea cucumbers that arent toxic (not willing to risk a cuke nuke) thati could keep. I dont want anything that will outgrow my tank.

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You could get a second star, but you might have to target feed it. They aren't very showy critters. Pretty much nocturnal is they come out of the rocks at all.

There are also smallish cucumbers that you might be able to keep in there for awhile, but I'm not so sure I would risk it. Standard CUC should handle what the cucumber would take care of without the risk.

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fishfreak0114

Ok thankyou slowtwitch. I dont mind target feeding if I got a second. I just really like how they look even if I dont get to see it much. I thought they had to be target fed no matter what. Is there any chance it would eat my fish? Good to know on the cucumbers. I definately wont getone then. They're cool but not worth the risk.

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Thanks for the quick reply. I am hoping to get lucky and get a female emerald as ive heard they stay smaller than males. I dont mind keeping a close eye or target feeding it. With feeding it directly is it still likely it will harm anything?

as I said before they are unpredictable, but with plenty of food theythey probably may never touch other things or they may refuse the food as soon as some tasty corals come along. I'm not saying its a terrible idea to put the crabs in but they have unique and individual behaviors that make them somewhat unpredictable in a setup.

Would I be able toget a second serpent star in a tank that size? And are there any sea cucumbers that arent toxic (not willing to risk a cuke nuke) thati could keep. I dont want anything that will outgrow my tank.

all cucumbers have toxins, if you don't want to take the risk there is none that will work.
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Is there any way to know if I have polychaete or pods?

come at night when it's dark, get a very dim flashlight, and shine it on the bottom for a beginning check. If none than put some food near the rock and leave the room totally dark, come back in a few minutes, maybe 10 and shine the light where the food was if there is a high concentration of scavenging amphipods and polycheates you will see them on the food. Also do you live near the ocean?
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I'm a newbie as well so take my input with a grain of salt. I did a lot of research on CuC for my 20L. In the end I determined snail-only was the most reef safe and effective for a tank of this size. Other options seem to be better suited to larger tanks or to people who are willing to spend energy or take some risk around the CuC. For me, the emphasis should be on the other livestock and corals. Can speak to limited experience with some of the snails.

 

Nassarius - pretty good in the sand bed. You won't see them except at night or at feeding time when they (not my quote) "burst out of the sandbed like the worms in Dune".

 

Astrea - pretty cool looking shell and they do an OK job cleaning but they are SLOW

 

Cerith - Awesome all around snail, cleans the sand, rocks, everywhere. Moves at a moderate speed and looks nice too.

 

Nerite - Pretty good all around snail as well. Moves at a moderate speed. They seem to be more glass/rock than sand.

 

Good luck!

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Thanks amphipod. No I I'm not by the ocean. I live about 3 hours away. The closest ocean is in vancouver.

if you ever are by the water on a road trip or something pick some wet beached algae or flip a few stones, you usually find tons that wayway, be careful though some amphipods can be extremely jumpy and fast, best to scoop a little surface substrate and fill that jar with water. Its pretty fun to get them, you just have to get the hang of it.
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fishfreak0114

Thanks mr.lang. You ever have issues with the a streaks not being able to flip themselves back over?

I will definitely do that amphipod. When my tank has been up for a whole, I was thinking of going to vancouver to go to the pet stores (I live in a tiny town with a pet store that doesn't even sell saltwater). Funny thing is I went to this beach once and it was covered in these bug like things that made the beach appear to be moving. Amphipods?

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I haven't had them too long but the astreas have stayed right side up. Nerites flipped once and needed an assist but none of the others so far.

 

 

Just today I had a rock that is absolutely COVERED in brown and green slime and long green strands. I was trying to hold out and have some faith in my snails but thought I would give them a little more time to find it on their own. Came home today and a single cerith snail had cleared half the rock already. This was an area maybe 5" by 5" and 1/2" deep with slime and hair, so pretty impressive for a single snail.

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So should I target feed the emerald?

If you have an algae issue let the emerald find it. Don't start supplementing until you have to. It might like the nori better and stop eating your problem algae.
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fishfreak0114

Ok thanks slowtwitch. Just went to the LFS. They only have two of the things I wanted :( and one that I don't what it was (sand sifting cerith) but I ordered 2 because she recommended them. Her prices seemed high to me. Is 12 for an emerald crab and 3 bucks per blue leg hermit normal? I'm going to phone up Petland in kamloops to see if they have more. They don't actually have saltwater but they said they could special order in for me.

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Thanks mr.lang. You ever have issues with the a streaks not being able to flip themselves back over?

I will definitely do that amphipod. When my tank has been up for a whole, I was thinking of going to vancouver to go to the pet stores (I live in a tiny town with a pet store that doesn't even sell saltwater). Funny thing is I went to this beach once and it was covered in these bug like things that made the beach appear to be moving. Amphipods?

if they looked like my profile pic and sometimes jumped certainly they are, also some terrestrial to aquatic isopods will swarm in mass but they can't jump and are more flattened looking.
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fishfreak0114

Oh these sure jumped! They were hopping all over the place, scared the heck outta me! They were orangish though. This was on a trip to Washington a few years back. I'm most likely getting my stuff from petland now. The LFS doesn't have voice mail though and they're supposed to be ordering the couple things they did have right early in the morning. Hope I can cancel. They're not even sure if the stuff would come in.

Is there such thing as a sand sifting cerith? It was on the list at the LFS.

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