Help Selecting a CUC For a 20g L Nano

[docreef]

I am about to undertake the setup of a 20g long nano system. The tank will be starting with live rock and I hope to eventually have a few corals. However, I am just starting to think about the CUC for now. I have a few questions and hope to get some recommendations for the members/numbers. I would like the crew to be fairly robust. I am also on the fence about hermit crabs and an emerald crab. I have heard many mixed opinions about hermit crabs from online searches, but would like to hear about your experiences. I would supply a good amount of empty shells and probably drop a little extra food for the CUC. Hopefully this will avoid snail murders because I do not want to constantly replace them. Additionally, what are the chances of an emerald crab staying peaceful to all tank inhabitants including coral? I have seen some sites that offer limpets, chiton, and brittle stars. Are these guys worth it or do they bring issues for the sake of variety? Finally, suggestions about when and where to purchase these guys would also help.

Thank you!

 

[jarmochin]

I'd stay away from any sorta hermit. Regardless if they say reefsafe, I was unlucky enough to get one that had a taste for my frogspawn. Nearly killed it before I figured out it was one of those little Buggers. Besides that margarita snails are cool. I don't use turbo snails in my 29biocube due to them knocking stuff around and being too big in general to get around in the rock work. Really up to you about what you want to use. Also regardless if you drop food specifically for the crabs, they'll tend to kill off some snails (just to test the shells out)

 

[Igarc009]

I have a 22g. I have 5 snails 1 emerald crab 2 hermits 1 fire shrimp and 1 cleaner shrimp. Works great for me

 

[peter]

I'd stay away from any sorta hermit. Regardless if they say reefsafe, I was unlucky enough to get one that had a taste for my frogspawn. Nearly killed it before I figured out it was one of those little Buggers. Besides that margarita snails are cool. I don't use turbo snails in my 29biocube due to them knocking stuff around and being too big in general to get around in the rock work. Really up to you about what you want to use. Also regardless if you drop food specifically for the crabs, they'll tend to kill off some snails (just to test the shells out)

What kind of hermit did you have? Ive never heard of any eating corals before especially frogspawns.

 

[docreef]

Hmm still not sure what to do about hermits or what may sway their behavior favorably or not. When is it a good time to add a CUC?

 

[reefes pieces]

Add it slowly once the tank has finished cycling. You don't want to heavily stock a CUC if there's no detritus or algae to support their appetite. I'd hold off on the emerald for now and get a few hermits, and some smaller snails. I wouldn't get a turbo unless you have a hair algae problem. Just remember, big inverts can knock over big things. Cleaner shrimps are always cool.

 

[docreef]

Ok thanks. I like the pricing on reefcleaners, but the number they send seems to be pretty high. However, I'm not sure how those prices stack up to Local stores. Some of the bigger online retailers seem to be ridiculous for tiny CUC members.

 

[TH64]

Reefcleaners is very cheap compared to LFS but they send a lotttttttttt more then you order. I would probably only put half of what they send in the tank

 

[docreef]

Ya I wish they had a hermit crab pack for less than 20g.

 

[reefes pieces]

I'd just go to your local fish shop (LFS) and pick up 5-15 hermits. Since your CUC is going to be small, it might be cheaper to buy locally and not pay for shipping

 

[docreef]

Certainly, only deal I found that included shipping was off reefcleaners.