Emerald Crabs

angnak · 10-26-2004, 04:38 PM

I am combating algae right now and heard these guys are pretty good at eating this stuff even when it is long. I have also heard they are mean little suckers. So can you guys give me your experience with them? Also, I have a Sally lightfoot, is it a bad idea to put emeralds in there also? My tank is 210gals.

TIA

Woodstock · 10-26-2004, 04:50 PM

I think the Sally lightfoot will eat just about any crab or snail you add? I ahve heard they are very good hunters. Once, it's removed

I would opt for snails..Astrea, cerith, trochus for algae control. If you really like crabs, then get the scarlet hermits. I have found them to be the lest aggressive crabs.

/me waits for Witfull to chime in! haha

Witfull · 10-26-2004, 04:58 PM

what? a crab post...NOOOOOOO

Crabs Are Evil!! crabs are a ticking timebomb, your getter off using snails and to find the source of nuitients that are feeding the growth.

one more thing...Crabs Are Evil...just in case you didnt hear me!

how long did that take?

angnak · 10-26-2004, 04:58 PM

I have Trochus, cerith, astrea, Nassarius, and conches. I also have scarlett, halloween, zebra, electric blue, and two other kinds of crabs i have no idea what they are in there and my sally just picks at the coralline all day. Now I have no idea what she does at night, but recently I found her eating one of my cleaner shrimps. She may have killed it or it may have died some other way who knows but she might have a taste for meat now.

angnak · 10-26-2004, 05:02 PM

I hear ya Wit. My LFS took care of my tank while I was on vacation for three weeks and said he thinks it is my low Alk. Everything else is fine he said. I ran a test and saw my calcium is at 380 and my pH is at 8.6

. So I am trying to get those in check. I am planning a 60 gal water change this week. We will see.

hunterd_67 · 10-26-2004, 05:41 PM

Emeralds r evil, i think it was the murderer of my cleaner, needless to say i have no more....

middletonmark · 10-26-2004, 06:28 PM

I'm anomalous, I guess. Emeralds have not eaten or killed anything, and have done a bang-up job on the bubble algae.

mps9506 · 10-26-2004, 07:27 PM

I've never had a problem with emeralds, and I've always had good luck with them tearing up the valonia.
However the best thing for algae control imo are astrea and cerith snails. And not just a few, a TON (I have 20 of each in my 40 gallon, so at least 100 of each for your tank).
I've also had good luck with the tiny blue leg hermits. they are too small to cause any trouble, seem to clean the rocks well, and are never big enough to pick off my snails.
JMHO.
Mike

10-26-2004, 04:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	Emerald Crabs I am combating algae right now and heard these guys are pretty good at eating this stuff even when it is long. I have also heard they are mean little suckers. So can you guys give me your experience with them? Also, I have a Sally lightfoot, is it a bad idea to put emeralds in there also? My tank is 210gals. TIA

10-26-2004, 04:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,501 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I think the Sally lightfoot will eat just about any crab or snail you add? I ahve heard they are very good hunters. Once, it's removed I would opt for snails..Astrea, cerith, trochus for algae control. If you really like crabs, then get the scarlet hermits. I have found them to be the lest aggressive crabs. /me waits for Witfull to chime in! haha __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

10-26-2004, 04:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have Trochus, cerith, astrea, Nassarius, and conches. I also have scarlett, halloween, zebra, electric blue, and two other kinds of crabs i have no idea what they are in there and my sally just picks at the coralline all day. Now I have no idea what she does at night, but recently I found her eating one of my cleaner shrimps. She may have killed it or it may have died some other way who knows but she might have a taste for meat now. __________________ 210gal AGA SW tank. 3 250w MH 4 160w VHOs, 30 gal refuge, ASM Skimmer, Orange shoulder tang, Black tang, Naso tang, 2 orange percs, 2 black percs, 1 lawnmower blenny, a pair of scooter blennies, 5 cleaner shrimp, 5 peppermint shrimp, zebra crabs, halloween crabs, scarlett crabs, various other crabs and snails, 1 rock anemone, 2 colonies of button polyps, 3 colony of star polyps, 3 BTAs, monti cap, various acros

10-26-2004, 05:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
hunterd_67 Neon dottyback Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: P.A. Posts: 649 View Gallery Karma Komment	Emeralds r evil, i think it was the murderer of my cleaner, needless to say i have no more.... __________________ Honorary Flood Club Member Feb. 13, 2005

10-26-2004, 06:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
middletonmark Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'm anomalous, I guess. Emeralds have not eaten or killed anything, and have done a bang-up job on the bubble algae. __________________ smile smile smile

10-26-2004, 05:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	I hear ya Wit. My LFS took care of my tank while I was on vacation for three weeks and said he thinks it is my low Alk. Everything else is fine he said. I ran a test and saw my calcium is at 380 and my pH is at 8.6 . So I am trying to get those in check. I am planning a 60 gal water change this week. We will see.

10-26-2004, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've never had a problem with emeralds, and I've always had good luck with them tearing up the valonia. However the best thing for algae control imo are astrea and cerith snails. And not just a few, a TON (I have 20 of each in my 40 gallon, so at least 100 of each for your tank). I've also had good luck with the tiny blue leg hermits. they are too small to cause any trouble, seem to clean the rocks well, and are never big enough to pick off my snails. JMHO. Mike __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

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