Tank cycled can I put my cleanup crew in how.

[florida joe]

There seems to be an obsession with getting a cleanup crew in a tank with a newly established cycle. Lets see if we can have a discussion on why and when we should add our cuc. My thoughts on the subject are as follows. The reasons IMO to introduce a cuc is to sift your sand to add in bio filtration, clean up detritus, and control unwanted algae. In starting our cycle if we chose to use live rock and we have die off I believe a CUC should be introduce as soon as the cycle is establish to deal with any dead hitchhikers that came along with the rock. The cleanup crew will also deal with any unwanted algae that were present on the rock. If we use the shrimp method and we remove the degrading shrimp when we spike ammonia I don’t feel that a cuc must be added immediately after the cycle is established especially if we started our cycle without any illumination in our tank. This lack of illumination would greatly inhibit the growth initial algae. The hobbyist also has to remember there is most likely very little food in our tanks after the initial establishment of the nitrogen cycle so there is the risk of starving the cuc.

 

[geoj]

I like to go with the lazy mans method. If I have to clean the glass, sand, or rocks to make the tank look good to me, then I am working, and :sad: on that.... This tells me it is time to put the clean up crew to work, so I can get back to being lazy... )):

 

[florida joe]

Totally agree my friend I was referring to hobbyist that have just completed the establishment of the nitrogen cycle and feel they have to run out and get a cuc ASAP

 

[geoj]

Yes, I would have to say that there is no need to stock a CUC right after the cycle. I think for most it is a want not a need, after having stared at an empty tank for some weeks.
I would also say that the wave of algae that will come as the tank ages will happen with or without a CUC. I also don't try to get rid of all the algae with the CUC. I try and balance my like of a algea free tank with the need to let there be food for the CUC...

 

[saxman]

As you say, Joe...there's really no need to stock the CUC right away. Certainly not to the levels you always hear about or what the sellers recommend (that one snail per gallon thing is just plain wrong in a young tank). Why spend money on critters that will starve back to what the tank will support anyhow? IMHO, it's best to stock lightly at first, and as the tank matures, build on the CUC based on that particular tank's needs (film algae, hair algae, diatoms, detritus, carrion).
The cycle time is also a great time to RESEARCH your CUC critters. Which ones do best at which job, which ones die at warm temps (such as margarita snails), which ones eat what, etc. I think folks end up with "tossed together" CUC's that don't do a good job because of lack of research or they just buy a pre-packaged CUC that may be good, but typically have inappropriate critters in them. I'd LOVE to see someone come up with a "new tank CUC" offering that isn't just a "this many gallons = this many critters, period".
Now, if a person wants to pick up a few critters to have something in the tank, that's fine, but they should consider the next thing that is going to happen...the diatom bloom, so they should get a few critters that will feed on diatoms. If the tank is stocked, maybe something to eat leftover food.
Great thread Joe!

 

[slice]

+1 on Great Thread! I agree on everything said.
My meager experience with keeping a CUC in balance has been a work in progress. My CUC members have been reinforced or thinned out (traded back to the LFS) in quantity and mixture as
tank conditions change, especially during the first year.
I don't believe in any one size fits all formula for a CUC at any point beginning at cycle establishment moving through tank maturity. Research and observation is the key.

 

[florida joe]

Excellent post Greg
Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/387462/tank-cycled-can-i-put-my-cleanup-crew-in-how#post_3410139
As you say, Joe...there's really no need to stock the CUC right away. Certainly not to the levels you always hear about or what the sellers recommend (that one snail per gallon thing is just plain wrong in a young tank). Why spend money on critters that will starve back to what the tank will support anyhow? IMHO, it's best to stock lightly at first, and as the tank matures, build on the CUC based on that particular tank's needs (film algae, hair algae, diatoms, detritus, carrion).
The cycle time is also a great time to RESEARCH your CUC critters. Which ones do best at which job, which ones die at warm temps (such as margarita snails), which ones eat what, etc. I think folks end up with "tossed together" CUC's that don't do a good job because of lack of research or they just buy a pre-packaged CUC that may be good, but typically have inappropriate critters in them. I'd LOVE to see someone come up with a "new tank CUC" offering that isn't just a "this many gallons = this many critters, period".
Now, if a person wants to pick up a few critters to have something in the tank, that's fine, but they should consider the next thing that is going to happen...the diatom bloom, so they should get a few critters that will feed on diatoms. If the tank is stocked, maybe something to eat leftover food.
Great thread Joe!

 

[kiefers]

Great thread Joe! As I was reading this I paused and thought to myself "Self" I said,...... why snails? I personally have an out break of these very little snails in my system. Literally hundreds of them, white with tan swirles on the round shell. Typically I hate the snail thought in the systwm because they knock things down, but some hobbiest swear by them and i'm confused. If one has hermits, why add snails?

 

[saxman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiefers http:///t/387462/tank-cycled-can-i-put-my-cleanup-crew-in-how#post_3410403
Great thread Joe! As I was reading this I paused and thought to myself "Self" I said,...... why snails? I personally have an out break of these very little snails in my system. Literally hundreds of them, white with tan swirles on the round shell. Typically I hate the snail thought in the systwm because they knock things down, but some hobbiest swear by them and i'm confused. If one has hermits, why add snails?
Your snails sound like Collonista sp., which are great little hitchhikers. They don't get any larger than about 1/4" so they won't knock anything over, and they feed on film algae.
And hermits don't feed on film algae, and snails are a heck of a lot less destructive than hermits, so that's why one should add some snails to the CUC. Personally, the only hermits I keep are scarlet reef hermits (Paguristes cadenati) because they're the most docile and the least likely to bother your fish or your snails.