Add emerald crab for algae?

arizonagrace · 01-21-2009, 07:22 PM

I have found 3 bubbles of bubble algae in my larger tank. Normally, I would take the rock out and remove the bubbles, but this is a very large rock and is the centerpiece of the tank, making it very difficult to remove without tearing apart most of the rock.

I have 2 emerald crabs living alone in a smaller tank. Is it a good idea to take one and put it in the tank to see if it will eat the bubbles?

In the 24, I have a starfish, firefish, black cap, watchman goby, pj cardinal and a cleaner shrimp and peppermint. Also, there is a toadstool, several green star polyps, several xenia, a ricordia, some mushrooms, a colt, some zoas and a cup coral in the larger tank.

All the parameters in this tank are perfect.

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 08:17 PM

i would put one in but be sure you acclimate it first just to be safe.

there are no garuantees that they will eat the bubble algae though

arizonagrace · 01-21-2009, 08:26 PM

I didn't know if it would be okay with all the corals and other fish. I know they can get nasty sometimes. I had hoped to just leave him in a day or two and see how he does with the algae. I just hope I can find him again if I put him in there.

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 08:41 PM

as long as there is enough stuff for him to eat it shouldn't bother your corals or fish

Jeremy0322 · 01-21-2009, 08:57 PM

I have one in a tank with about 12 different zoas, mushrooms, and a leather coral, 2 clowns, a yellow tang, snails, hermits, a shrimp, and a scooter blenny with no problems at all. The good thing about them is with the bubble algae they will pop the bubbles creating a never ending food supply for the crab. I say add a few depending on tank size.

arizonagrace · 01-21-2009, 09:14 PM

I don't think the tank will hold more then 1 of them. The other one I will leave in the 5 gallon they currently reside in, which should make that one very happy

dianezoo · 01-21-2009, 09:19 PM

Caution with these guys, their taste changes when they get big. If you start missing snails and shrimp and starfish and small fishes then toss him in your sump.

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 11:01 PM

When we had bubble algae, we would just remove it when doing a WC. Keep the siphon host right next to the algae, and try to pinch or scrape it off at the base (trying to keep it intact). If it is punctured, the siphon hose should slurp up any "spores".
I would not risk introducing a crab for two or three bubbles of algae, unless it (the crab) can be easily removed.

sebastian · 01-21-2009, 11:32 PM

i have one that get to my tank as a hitchhiker - and ..... he is not interested in bubble alg at all - mysis is his fav. /// i wouldn't put him in my tank just to control few bubbles /// the best you can do is

dianezoo · 01-21-2009, 11:36 PM

Here's what I did with success, similar to Teris suggestions
I got a large plastic straw, cut the end on a slant to use it as a sort of spade to get inunder the bubble. Then put your finger over to top straight end of the straw before you enter the water with it. The bottom end (spaded end) slip over the bublle aglae useing the straws slant end to under cut the bubble loose - then you release your finger that was holding air in the straw at the top end and suck up the bubble into the straw. (pippett style) and lift it out. Only works on bubbles smaller in diamerter than the straw. Works well.
Diane

arizonagrace · 01-22-2009, 10:02 PM

Thanks for your suggestions. I think the one is about as big as the end of a straw, so might not work, but I can certainly pop it off during water change and suction that sucker out of there. Will try first thing tomorrow. Finding a hermit crab in the tank later might be a bit difficult, as there are a ton of places for things to hide.

01-21-2009, 07:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Add emerald crab for algae? I have found 3 bubbles of bubble algae in my larger tank. Normally, I would take the rock out and remove the bubbles, but this is a very large rock and is the centerpiece of the tank, making it very difficult to remove without tearing apart most of the rock. I have 2 emerald crabs living alone in a smaller tank. Is it a good idea to take one and put it in the tank to see if it will eat the bubbles? In the 24, I have a starfish, firefish, black cap, watchman goby, pj cardinal and a cleaner shrimp and peppermint. Also, there is a toadstool, several green star polyps, several xenia, a ricordia, some mushrooms, a colt, some zoas and a cup coral in the larger tank. All the parameters in this tank are perfect.

01-21-2009, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? i would put one in but be sure you acclimate it first just to be safe. there are no garuantees that they will eat the bubble algae though

01-21-2009, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? I didn't know if it would be okay with all the corals and other fish. I know they can get nasty sometimes. I had hoped to just leave him in a day or two and see how he does with the algae. I just hope I can find him again if I put him in there.

01-21-2009, 08:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
degibson84 Achilles Tang Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austintown, Ohio Posts: 809 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? as long as there is enough stuff for him to eat it shouldn't bother your corals or fish

01-21-2009, 08:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Tridacna maxima Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 4,753 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? I have one in a tank with about 12 different zoas, mushrooms, and a leather coral, 2 clowns, a yellow tang, snails, hermits, a shrimp, and a scooter blenny with no problems at all. The good thing about them is with the bubble algae they will pop the bubbles creating a never ending food supply for the crab. I say add a few depending on tank size. __________________ UNCW 2011 -Marine Biology Major -Oceanography Minor The old 90 Gallon Build r.i.p Only after the last tree's cut And the last river poisoned Only after the last fish is caught Will you find that money cannot be eaten....

01-21-2009, 09:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? I don't think the tank will hold more then 1 of them. The other one I will leave in the 5 gallon they currently reside in, which should make that one very happy

01-21-2009, 09:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
dianezoo Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: I'm a sun devil - Arizona Posts: 2,104 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? Caution with these guys, their taste changes when they get big. If you start missing snails and shrimp and starfish and small fishes then toss him in your sump. __________________ Dont join dangerous cults; practice safe sects. Two 40 gal reef tanks - PC lights 90gal empty= stand canopy, 6-t5VHO lights, prisim pro and remora C skimmer, new Megaflow 2 sump waiting to be set up and have the two 40 gals dumped in. FW =125 gal community FW =55 gal African Ciclids Calico cat, Bearded Dragon

01-21-2009, 11:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? When we had bubble algae, we would just remove it when doing a WC. Keep the siphon host right next to the algae, and try to pinch or scrape it off at the base (trying to keep it intact). If it is punctured, the siphon hose should slurp up any "spores". I would not risk introducing a crab for two or three bubbles of algae, unless it (the crab) can be easily removed. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-21-2009, 11:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
sebastian Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: lake zurich, il Posts: 423 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? i have one that get to my tank as a hitchhiker - and ..... he is not interested in bubble alg at all - mysis is his fav. /// i wouldn't put him in my tank just to control few bubbles /// the best you can do is __________________ Sebastian member of CMAS 125G AGA + 30G sump (home made) 750W MH + 390W PC light =1140W Wave 2K (4,000 g/h), mag-drive 12 (1,000 g/h) Euro reef skimmer RS 135 Hammer corals, zoo's, green star polyps, neon green button polyps, frogspan, leathers, xenias, 100's mashrooms, ricordias, fungias, green oxypora, snake polyps, brown Caribbean zoanthid (palythoa carribaeorum) regal tang, yellow tang, six line wrasse, cleaner wrasse, (2) lyretail anthias, eibli angel, ocellaris clowns

01-21-2009, 11:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
dianezoo Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: I'm a sun devil - Arizona Posts: 2,104 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? Here's what I did with success, similar to Teris suggestions I got a large plastic straw, cut the end on a slant to use it as a sort of spade to get inunder the bubble. Then put your finger over to top straight end of the straw before you enter the water with it. The bottom end (spaded end) slip over the bublle aglae useing the straws slant end to under cut the bubble loose - then you release your finger that was holding air in the straw at the top end and suck up the bubble into the straw. (pippett style) and lift it out. Only works on bubbles smaller in diamerter than the straw. Works well. Diane __________________ Dont join dangerous cults; practice safe sects. Two 40 gal reef tanks - PC lights 90gal empty= stand canopy, 6-t5VHO lights, prisim pro and remora C skimmer, new Megaflow 2 sump waiting to be set up and have the two 40 gals dumped in. FW =125 gal community FW =55 gal African Ciclids Calico cat, Bearded Dragon

01-22-2009, 10:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
arizonagrace Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 364 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Add emerald crab for algae? Thanks for your suggestions. I think the one is about as big as the end of a straw, so might not work, but I can certainly pop it off during water change and suction that sucker out of there. Will try first thing tomorrow. Finding a hermit crab in the tank later might be a bit difficult, as there are a ton of places for things to hide.

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