RE: CUC aka Clean up Crew
thanks Ray, I appreciate that!
Waiting 6 months is nearly impossible, I admit, and waiting a year to put a invert or vertebrate in that first tank was tough tough tough... but oh so rewarding, i had so many types of micro-fauna it was just insane. losing that tank to an overheating pump was devestating, and i have never had the diversity like that again.
when I get a house i will probably get liverock in it, and hook up a HIATT to cure the rock fast and save as much life (and money (fewer water changes) as I can, then take the hiatt off and switch over to a skimmer/refugium methedology.
once i am through the cycle, I think I would start getting live sand from as many of the really healthy maast tanks as I can, and ordering garf grunge, grunge plus.. etc..
go w/ a massive refugium, way over what is normally reccomended (maybe even a 1 to 1 ratio of water) Refugium would have a massive DSB designed for growing seagrasses, mangroves, and algae of course...
but i am rambling now...
"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind." ~ Jack Handey