reef cleaners CUC

ive had my JBJ 28g nanocube for a month, and i have 8 blue legged hermits, a nassarius, and a trochus snail for my CUC. But i really feel like there is just not enough of them to take on the algae in my tank, and the algae is getting progressively worse. would it be beneficial to add one of these: ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Quick Crew (29 Gallon)

or is it a little too late? i guess what im asking is would this be a huge help or is my current CUC adequate for the job

 

I have always found critters as CUC's to be inadequate. The best CUC is, unfortunately, ME.

 

meaning water changes and not over feeding and less light i assume ahaha

 

A good clean up crew is crucial IMO. They eat things that you cant see or get to. The quick crew from reef cleaners would be great for your tank erik. As for the algae, do you know what kind it is? If not you can post a pic and we can ID it for you. You said your tank was a month old. Is your tank done cycling? The algae bloom you are experiencing may very well be cyano or diatoms. Very common in new setups. I would not however, recommend you add ANY more livestock until the cycle is complete.

 

the cycle is definetly complete, theres just some leftover GHA thats slowly disappearing, but ive got a ton of diatoms

 

You got it.

I have also been known to pick rocks up, one at a time, shake them violently in the water, and even scrub them with toothbrushes. I also clean my sand ultra-frequently, by stirring or syphoning.

 

The diatoms suggests that the cycle may not be completed.

 

my ammonia, trates, and trites have all been at zero for a few weeks, so i think its cycled, theres just not alot competeing with it for nutrients. i have a fuge with chaeto but the chaeto will need to grow alot more before it is effective, i think. I forgot about stirring the sand though, thank you

 

Macon,
Perhaps your CUC was not sized or comprised of appropriate numbers/species.

For me at least, in all of my tanks, a large CUC is the backbone to my tank maintenance. There are certainly things which still need to be done by "ME" like cleaning the glass and servicing equipment - but the sand bed and rocks are kept immaculate by a relatively low nutrient system and a large CUC.

 

how long do you keep your lights on? I loved how my LED's looked i would leave them on almost all day lol... i cut it back to 8-10 hours with one hour of moonlighting and my diatom is all gone. it was everywhere rocks, crushed coral and started growing on the glass.. 55 gallon 6 snails, 4 red legged dwarf hermits,