Does any part of a clean up crew eat these? I know they are just part of the game with a new tank but it looks like someone sprinkled 5 lbs of brown sugar in my tank. Cycle is complete (NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 5). Is it ok to start a clean up crew. There is also some algae on my live rock so they won't be without something to eat. Snails, hermits or both? When could I add a couple of cleaner shrimp?
The only creature I have that will eat that stuff or eat it combined with other stuff are mexican turbos and only mexican turbos. Hermits don't even touch it. My conch will just steer away as well.
Looks like your cycle is complete, go ahead and add your CUC. I have one tank with snails only and one with mixture of snails/hermits. I've heard complaints of hermits killing snails but I've never had a problem, just make sure you have some extra shells laying around so they won't feel the need to steal a snail's shell. I added a shrimp at the same time that I added my CUC. Just keep in mind that you'll have to feed it. Congrats on getting to the fun part of the process.
I got 5 Tubos, 2 Trocus and 10 Nerites. Does anyone else have a problem with Nerites climbing the glass like they're leaving? Also got 3 Halloween hermits. Everyone but the Nerites seems content. Lol
My nerites stay at the top of the glass sometimes a little out of the water during the day, but start grazing once lights are out. I've had some crawl out and I noticed them after quite a bit of time and toss them back in. They are tidal zone snails so can live out of water for some time.
Well mine are acting normal then. That's exactly what they're doing. Thanks John! I also found a new hitch hiker today. A small urchin about half the size of a dime. I'm having a blast and haven't got a fish out of QT or bought a coral yet!
Here is that dime sized urchin 3 months later. Second pic for perspective. He's probably 5" across counting spines. The other 6 are a little smaller.
Well the stinking diatoms are back! I have no idea what started this. Haven't changed my lighting schedule or intensity. Bioload/feeding is unchanged. My parameters are good (Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 2, Phosphate 0.04, Ca 440, Mg 1380, Alk 8.3) I don't know of any source of silicates introduced. The only new thing I can think of is I epoxied a bunch of frags a few days before it started. Is there silicate in epoxy?
