CUC Combo

[gnashty]

Hey all, Im in need of a pretty big CUC of at least 100, mine has dwindled over the last several months and I lost a ton in the 210 debacle. I need some suggestions...If I had to order today I'd probably get 30 astrea, 20 red legs, 40 Nassarius, 10 blue legs. Ive done this before and I just end up with a ton of empty shells and some fat hermits.

Astrea Snails: I know are pretty popular and I have had plenty and they dont seem to do a whole heck of alot other than get turned over, get in the way during glass cleaning, or get mauled by hermits. I either spend time flipping them over each day or pulling out empty shells...thoughts?

Blue/Red Legs: Ive heard they are known CUC murderers....

Nassarius Snails: I like them and plan on dedicating no less than 25% of my CUC

Any other good working CUC members I should consider?

If anyone is interested in running an unnoficial GB on a CUC let me know, I'd even entertain a side deal with one or two peeps offline if someone wants to coordinate (distance contingent.)

 

[holabird]

Gary, check out these guys. I have ordered from them a couple times and been happy with the service and price.

 

[cr500_af]

Turbos can knock stuff over occasionally, but they are the best cleaners in my tanks.

FWIW, I'll never put another hermit in any tank ever ever again unless snails go on some protected list.

 

[hud3339]

I will be in for some nass snails

Edit: I will be in for some nass snails

 

[morganatlanta]

I bought two dozen astreas a couple weeks ago and I don't think I have any left. I've found them all flipped over and emptied. I've got some fat hermits, I think. I don't have much luck keeping turbos alive either.

What about ceriths?

Edit: I'm very pleased with the emerald crabs I added along with the astreas. They seem less prone to pushing frags around than the hermits are.

 

[crewdawg1981]

I pretty much just stick with a mix of hermits and turbos. Astreas fall off and die behind your rocks only to be eaten or... rot... My Melanaurus wrasse makes short work of any ceriths or nass snails I add, so they're on the banned list for now. In general, the mix works well for me. No major algae issues... sides the turbos take care of 10x as much as any group of astreas would AND they tackle hair algae .

 

[gnashty]

I do have a couple of emeralds, one died but havent seen the other in months....maybe Ill add one to the list.

I havent had much luck keeping turbos alive much either. I had 3 and they slowly perished over time.

Ive heard about the ceriths but I need to research them a little more..

Edit:

holabird;663462 wrote: Gary, check out these guys. I have ordered from them a couple times and been happy with the service and price.

http://www.reeftopia.com/Reeftopiaspecials.html">http://www.reeftopia.com/Reeftopiaspecials.html</a>[/QUOTE]

This is perfect Dave, thank you....

 

[blind1993]

i would be interested in ordering a CUC with you

 

[KrisDeitz]

I got some Vortex snails or something from Tim when he sold out and they have been the best snails ive ever had. They work all the time!

 

[mlevant]

Hey check out ccritters.com. I got my CUC from them about a month ago and everything is alive an well. Plus they were the cheapest I found yet on CUC.

 

[cr500_af]

PFCDeitz;663476 wrote: I got some Vortex snails or something from Tim when he sold out and they have been the best snails ive ever had. They work all the time!

Nassarius Vibex.

 

[stacy22]

Gary, I have used these guys for CUC in the past and recommend them if you cannot get the package you need locally. reefcleaners.org

 

[misu]

Gary let me know if you order a pack online please, I need some critters too for my frag tank.

 

[jef4y]

I bought some bundle from reefcleaners.org and it has worked pretty well. The only exception is that there is one kind of snail (look at their descriptions) which hangs out at the water line. They're big enough that they could clog my overflow and did literally nothing but sit on the top of the water so I pulled them.

I'm a huge fan of hermits. I have red & blue legged hermits. Somewhere around 20 - 30 for my 60 cube. I buy small snails by the hundred so if they eat them, I don't really care =) circle of life man...

I will say that I'm a fan of smaller snails over monsters. Yes, the big ones can mow some stuff down, but the small ones get into tiny places which is super beneficial IMHO.

 

[brianjfinn]

Ceriths are probably my favorite. They'll hang out on the glass, and sometimes burrow shallow into the sand. Plus, they don't die if they get turned over.

Stay away from Nerite. They're great cleaners and really hardy, but they'll crawl out of your tank and end up dried on the floor. I think they naturally live in coastal areas and are used to tides, so being out of the water doesn't scare them. Unfortunately, they won't find their way back.

 

[jef4y]

brianjfinn;663625 wrote: Ceriths are probably my favorite. They'll hang out on the glass, and sometimes burrow shallow into the sand. Plus, they don't die if they get turned over.

I love my ceriths. They're like freaking ninjas. When food hits they all come up from the sand. You never knew they were there until you drop food and all of a sudden BAM 50 of 'em all katana's & nun-chucks flying around to get that food.