Diary of an Emerald crab

[dc_909]

So I have been battling some major algae lately (cyano, bubble, gelidium, some patches of bryopsis and a nasty slimy/fuzzy kind) and needed to find a way to combat it. I have done the usual...replace RO/DI filters & membrane, get new bulbs, increase WC, test...I even added a seahare (which is doing great on the nasty slimy/fuzzy kind).

I always see mixed opinions on these guys so I decided to test a couple out in my sump. I bought 2 crabs on Th and put them in with a small rock that has all the types of algae on it. My sump has some eggcrate in it, which has a few types of zoas on it, and a container that has a few rics in it. If they do good with the corals in here I will move a few pieces from my frag section in with the crabs to see if they will do good with my SPS and chalices.


Day 1
Notice all the nasty algae on it

Emerald crab at work

Day 3
Notice all green strands of algae are gone, the bubble algae to the left that had 3 babies on it and the 2 by the RPE are gone, the area directly around the RPEs is MUCH cleaner and the overall amount of algae on the rock has gone down.

 

[barometer]

Cool Daryl, I swear by these guys. Will always have a mithrix or two in the tank, they really are great cleaners. thanks for sharing

 

[Kbra]

They are a must have in my tanks. I like the picture log btw

 

[elvis142]

hello, i put a few in my tank. it was cool for a week or 2, then the one of them started nipping on the bali slimer. needless to say that one went into the fuge.

 

[dc_909]

Update

Day 11
Notice the significant reduction in algae (Especially the gelidium)

I also added this zoa frag as another tester

Day 1

Day 8
Almost clean

Also note I have not witnessed him eating any of the zoas, nor have I noticed a reduction in the number of zoas on my mini rack in the sump.

 

[Letsgotothezoo]

Emerald crabs are great. But they are NOT reef safe. They munched on my zoas before and I noticed many of them gone.

I guess yours has been trained.:elefant:

 

[dc_909]

Did you SEE them eat them or were they just disappearing?

 

[FOSELONE]

wow...he kicked butt...day 8 looks alot better

 

[Letsgotothezoo]

After I removed the emerald crab from my tank, everything is back to normal. So, it must be the evil emerald.:stoned:

Did you SEE them eat them or were they just disappearing?

 

[MechaSamurai]

I've had 2-3 in my tank for about 6 months and they haven't touched my zoas, polyps, softie, or any other tankmates. Mine do look a bit smother than the one in the pic. Just my $.02

 

[EyeReef]

Emeralds are a hit or miss in my experience...
Ive always had an emerald or two in my tank and only once have I found one pick at zoas

 

[supmar85]

i love my emerald crab, had some bubble algae on one of my zoa plugs so i moved it from the frag rack to the sand bed and in the morning all the algae was gone!