CUC:Algae Balancing- When? How? How Fast?

[Euphylliaphyle]

I have spent months building up my CUC force. It now contains snails (Cerith, Nassarius, Astria, Marginella, Turbo), hermit crabs (red, blue), Emerald crabs, urchins (Purple & White, Pencil), Mini Serpentine Stars, pods, a Feather Duster Worm, a Lawnmower Blenny, and God only knows what may have hitchhiked in.
I'm beginning to turn the corner on my ugly stage algae, and am beginning to think about how to best prevent a mass starvation event.
Each of the ideas in the poll has a downside, so discussion of how to mitigate the downside and why you choose one or several of these over the others in spite of the downside is strongly encouraged.
Any advice on signs to watch, when to act, what to do, how fast to move, etc. will be most welcome!
Too little algae? Now, that's new!

 

[BryanM]

I never gave it much thought, and through different events my cuc has downsized, mostly due to toxic dinos.

Even though I have 5 tangs and a lawnmower blenny (for a year+), they are always finding things on the rocks to eat.

I would only really worry about rehoming things like nudibranches for aiptasia, since when aiptasia is done, they will starve and die.

 

[kdx7214]

I'll let you know when (if) the algae ever disappears.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I don't think I ever worried about my cuc starving just because I had GHA and dinos

 

[dvgyfresh]

If you have a ton of CUC and yr tank is spotless , I would put a sheet of nori under some rock. I have an insane amount of algae lol I don’t need to worry about that

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I never gave it much thought, and through different events my cuc has downsized, mostly due to toxic dinos.

Even though I have 5 tangs and a lawnmower blenny (for a year+), they are always finding things on the rocks to eat.

I would only really worry about rehoming things like nudibranches for aiptasia, since when aiptasia is done, they will starve and die.

Thank you. I never gave it any thought until now because my CUC is now doing a great job - I must have finally hit critical mass in adding them. I still have plenty of algae, but the long and really ugly stuff is limited now in locations. It's remarkable how fast it is being consumed after doing nothing but increasing for nine months.
I have no nudibranchs that I am aware of.
My concern comes from my error of adding herbivorous inverts too soon when the tank was new and seeing them die without connecting the dots.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I'll let you know when (if) the algae ever disappears.

Yeah, I have the feeling that I'm in for a humbling algal event before I actually run out. Thank you.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I don't think I ever worried about my cuc starving just because I had GHA and dinos

I'm probably overthinking this, but it's what I do. Thank you.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

If you have a ton of CUC and yr tank is spotless , I would put a sheet of nori under some rock. I have an insane amount of algae lol I don’t need to worry about that

Thank you. It seems like just last week I also had an insane amount (and didn't worry about it!)

 

[dvgyfresh]

Thank you. It seems like just last week I also had an insane amount (and didn't worry about it!)

Another idea is to start “cleaning” disturbing the sand / dark areas to kick up food / sediment but don’t remove it. let the cuc eat it. I used to have a sump and would turn the return pump to max shooting algae / detritus all over the tank. It turned into another feeding event without me feeding anything lol tangs would go crazy for any algae that came out

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm probably overthinking this, but it's what I do. Thank you.

I think it's human nature to overthink certain things! Nothing wrong, and I would rather be over-cautious than not cautious at all!