replenishing CUC

This is probably an odd question but how do you guys know when to replenish your cuc (snails and hermits in my case)? it is not like my tank is huge but it is tough for me to get a feel on just how many snails and hermits i still have living in there. Do you guys just throw in some more snails from time to time? are you able to tell when you are getting low and just add then? or did you just fill it up in the beginning and let nature take its course? just curious.

 

The best way to get a good number is the check your take out a few hours after lights out that when most of my clean up crew comes out. trust me you will know when you need to put more in

 

Personally, I'm not a fan of bundled "cleaner packs" or the x-number-per-gallon rule on which they are based. I add CuC members as they are needed from the very beginning based on algae growth and which type it is.

 

+1 if you have algae that is not readily dealt with via nutrients reduction adding specific CUC for that specific task it useful. If there isn't anything for them to do they will die.

 

i am not having an algae issue but i think that is more due to the tangs than anything else. My concerns are more with detritus that could be building. My nitrates have steadily increased over the last couple of months and i was just considering a dwindling cuc as one of the possible causes.

 

Nassarius snails and hermit crabs, among others can help with detritus. As can flow. Detritus could definitely be effecting nitrates.


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