My proposed re-freshing CUC for my (almost) 200 gallon tank

travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
I have a 180 gallon tank, sump is about 20 gallons, so I guess total about 200.
My inhabitants are purple and hippo tang, clarkii clownfish, panther grouper, 4" domino damsel, 2" 3-stripe damsel.
I have a blue-legged hermit crab, but that is not nearly enough to keep the tank clean.
This is my proposed CUC for algae and detritus:
100 red leg reef hermit crabs
Arrow Crab
2 emeralds
2 Sally Light Foots
10 Nassarius Snails
too much?
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member

I have a 180 gallon tank, sump is about 20 gallons, so I guess total about 200.
My inhabitants are purple and hippo tang, clarkii clownfish, panther grouper, 4" domino damsel, 2" 3-stripe damsel.
I have a blue-legged hermit crab, but that is not nearly enough to keep the tank clean.
This is my proposed CUC for algae and detritus:

100 red leg reef hermit crabs
Arrow Crab
2 emeralds
2 Sally Light Foots
10 Nassarius Snails

too much?

Will the grouper eat them?
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
I would do much LESS hermits and more snails. LOTS more snails....Nassarius, star astraea, astraea cone, cerith, pacific nerite, tongan nassarius, or turban (Tectus fenestratus) are all reef safe, and will do more to keep thr rock/susbtrate clean. For a system your size I'd go with several of each species listed and shoot for a total of 75or so. And I keep a few astraea cones - like 10-15 in my refugium too. Brittle stars are good too, probably 2-3 would be ok.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
ok thanks!
so this is my new CuC:
50 red leg reef hermit crabs
1 Arrow Crab
2 emeralds
2 Sally Light Foots
10 Nassarius Snails
10 Cerith Snails
10 Astraea Snails
10 Bumble Bee Snails
1 Atlantic Pincushin Urchin
2 Black Brittle Starfish
Would this be good?
Would my grouper try to eat the starfish?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Would my grouper try to eat the starfish?
IDK its ur fish!!!!!
U still have a crap load of hermits!
I believe the grouper would only be a threat to mainly shrimps imo
Id go for 4 emeralds and drop the arrow imo
Arrow crabs arent that nice. They are known for eating or at least trying other inverts and will eat a fish if they can catch one!
I had a SLF once, unfortunalty it broke its legs well molting I THINK lol, needless to say it didnt make it. Cool crab but would swipe at others with its legs!
I have 3 emeralds, assorted snails, some hermits, and a banded seaserpent, fighting conch....good cuc but urs would be on a bigger scale lol
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Okay, look have you done any research on a panther grouper? They are a fish only critter an are not something that can be kept in a mixed reef tank long term.
Seriously go do some reading on the fish.
here is some to start you off.
The Panther Grouper, also known as the Polka-Dot Grouper, is an off-white fish with orderly polka-dots over the entire body that add a festive touch to your aquarium. It is found in crevices and swims along the reefs of the Indo-Pacific, where it can attain a size of up to 20". The polka-dots camouflage the fish and act as a disrupter by breaking up the body shape so that other fish and would-be predators cannot identify it.
This is a very hardy and long-lived animal provided it is kept in an ample-sized, fish-only aquarium of 300 gallons or larger, with sufficient filtration. They grow rapidly, so be sure that the tank you have them in is of sufficient size. The Panther Grouper will eat any fish and invertebrates it can swallow.
In the aquarium, it can be fed a number of different foods such as dried or fresh fish, squid, prawns, silversides, freeze-dried krill, or other comparable foods.
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///forum/thread/386085/my-proposed-re-freshing-cuc-for-my-almost-200-gallon-tank#post_3389560
ok thanks!
so this is my new CuC:
50 red leg reef hermit crabs
1 Arrow Crab
2 emeralds
2 Sally Light Foots
10 Nassarius Snails
10 Cerith Snails
10 Astraea Snails
10 Bumble Bee Snails
1 Atlantic Pincushin Urchin
2 Black Brittle Starfish
Would this be good?
Would my grouper try to eat the starfish?
Avoid bumble bee snails - they are only good for eating tiny ammounts of alage, and prefer eating the good things like pods, scuds, and worms. They never get much bigger than 3/8" long in the home tank and because they stay so small - they never eat much alage. The sallylightfoot is only good for feeding to the grouper, if you wanna actually spend that much on a snack for him...Sadly, he'll likely also eat the arrow too. I've never kept a grouper, but am aware of some of their habits. I do know that as he grows up, and gets to the 15" size, he will likely be the only fish left in your tank, as he will have long since eaten all the other fish you have listed. I doubt he'd eat the star or urchin, but I think most crab types would'nt be safe in his presence, and I know most other fish that could fit in his mouth, will one day.
 
travelerjp98

travelerjp98

Active Member
my edited CuC:
50 red leg reef hermit crabs
2 emeralds
20 Nassarius Snails
10 Cerith Snails
10 Astraea Snails
5 Bumble Bee Snails
1 Atlantic Pincushin Urchin
2 Black Brittle Starfish
 
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