CUC aka Clean up Crew

[RayAllen]

Now my tank has been runnig for 2 weeks. LR has officially been in 1 week today. Obviously the tank still has about another 3 weeks of cycling so im not going to introduse any fish nor coral untill its through the roller coaster cycle. But when is a good time to introduce hermits and snails to start cleaning up the die off?

[Ram_Puppy]

well, lots of inverts are sensetive to amonia & nitrate that is in your water during the curing process. However, if this is not an issue (i.e. water tests show your skimmer etc.. is keeping up w/ this) then you can add some crabs w/ will help clean up the liverock.

there is really no reason to add snails or other creatures until you see a need for them, i.e. algae = time for some snails.

However: i would like to encourage you to take this VERY slowly.

here is why, the minute you add anything to your tank, even something as simple as a crab, you have added an opportunistic predator that has 'limited' your tank. i.e. that crab is going to eat microfauna and other goodies as well.

my reccomendation - and one I followed for almost a year on my first tank.

Don't add anything but snails for around 6 months. this will allow all the microfauna, bristle worms, pods, sponges, etc... to develop in your tank in peace.

You don't have to do this by any means, it's just an idea that i enjoyed, and i liked the micro-life in that tank more than any other tank i have ever had since.

[RayAllen]

Now this isnt my first SW tank, had a FO tank 4 years ago but it is my first reef. Im in no hurry by any means. Just wasnt sure about the Cleaners. I will just wait untill I know the cycle is complete. Right now its moving along nicely. Fortunatley there arent a whole lot of dead critters in my rock, majority of it was in the bottom of the box when I opened it. Now I can see waiting 2 months which is my plan for my first coral (tank will only be Softies and LPS), but know way I can wait 6 months, Id go crazy, lol. Great advice Ram Puppy, I follow your threads closely and think you are a great person to look to when we have questions.

[Ram_Puppy]

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...

[RayAllen]

sounds COOL and a great plan. Eventually when I have a large reef 180g+ I plan on doing a large rubber maid container 100g or bigger in the garage just for curing/cooking rock. Right now im content with my 29g nano. For now............;)

[Ram_Puppy]

me too... (content w/ 30 gallon cube)

smaller tanks are harder to care for, i think it's an excellent way to hone your skills.

[MKCindy]

I also have a new tank just up a week w/live rock. I have some Dragon's Breath in my other tank which my new Tang loves. Since DB is considered an algae, will it be ok in the new tank while it is still cycling?

[Ram_Puppy]

Cindy, it would probably fare well as there would be plenty of nutrients... but I doubt it has the biomass to outcompete nuisance algae... so if your rock is curing in tank, then I would say no, keep the lights off, however if the rock is allready cured, then yes, go for it.