CUC questions

I will be buying a CUC in the next few weeks or so and I've heard/read different things about them. Like, don't get hermits, don't get conchs, different things like that. I would like to know what the general opinion is. I'll give a wish list for my FOWLR. Keep in mind, fishes listed with a / between them are either, not both. I know some of them will not work well with each other, that's why I have them listed as either/or. Also, It will be at least a year before I have any corals. So, I won't list any. I have a 75g DT, 20L sump/fuge will be filled 1/2-2/3 full, at least 75lbs LR, 1-1.5" SB in DT and a SB that is a little deeper in the Sump, Chaeto in the fuge area. I do have a hood built. Not decided on lighting yet, probably LED, possibly T5 if not LED.

-Wish list-

2 - O Clowns
1 - Bicolor/Flame/Coral Beauty Angelfish
1 - Copperband Butterfly
1 - Bristletooth Tang(if it will be compatible w/the others)
Possibly a Blenny or Goby
1 - Sand sifting Star

If this doesn't belong in this forum, I apologize.

 

i have both hermits and a conch in my reef, they do fine. so i dont see the problem if you have a fowlr. i also have a bicolor angel. gorgeous fish. love her. that would be my vote.

 

Check out reefcleaners. I and many others have been very satisfied with their livestock and customer service. They also have the best prices...

 

+1. Also, If you describe your system to John he will recommend what critters and how many you need.

 

+1 to all the above. For a FOWLR tank, hermits, true crabs, conch or nassarius snails will all be fine. I would recommend, however, that you not get the sand-sifting star. They scour the live sandbed actively preying on the infauna, and once depleted, it will starve. The same is also true of sand-sifting sleeper gobies. Watchmans, otoh, are fine.

 

So, when is is the recommended time to add the CUC? I'll be cycling with Dr. Tim's One and Only with a couple O Clowns.

 

Don't cycle with clowns, cycle with damsels.

 

don't use damsels or clowns.

 

Why not? I have used Biospira that completed my cycle in under a week with NO spiking of levels over a lethal or near lethal reading. Cycling your tank with shrimp is old school, BioSpira works I should have recorded my results.

 

This is just my opinion but I wouldn't use any fish to cycle a tank even with bio spira or one and only which I did use but after my cycle began and to control the Nitrite spike. I just can't stand the thought of putting a fish in harms way even if the levels are minmal it's still stress on a fish, no matter how hardy they are.

Jmann PM johnmaloney from reefcleaners.org he's on the site. He will hook you up with what you will need. I did and got a really great CUC. My red hermit's were full of coraline algae and it's spreading like crazy in my tank which is only two months old.