Partially Submerged Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I am about to buy a nice 20x20x12 acrylic tank, and I would like to set it up as a system for macroalgae (mainly Halimeda and Caulerpa) and some fat happy crabs. Those crabs will be able to roam around as they please without being accused of eating any corals because there won't be any corals. Well, there will probably be some, but I really want this to be about the algae and the crabs. The tank will get a solid sand bottom and will have some large pieces of rock, but not a classic reef scape obviously. I will also experiment with some driftwood (collected from a SW source). Do you have any suggestions for crabs or other inverts? What about fish? Anything that is okay in a small tank and likes some plants to hide in? I'd also appreciate any input on the technology side. The tank isn't drilled for a sump. I have an AC 70 sitting around that I could use. And I was thinking of just getting a Par38. Do you think that's going to be enough light if I decide to add a few undemanding corals or an anemone? Link to comment
Partially Submerged Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 C'mon, this is a great topic. Opine! Discuss! Advise! Write many posts! Link to comment
kidd reef Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Decorator crab son, Without the worry of it damaging your colonies you can enjoy him attaching algae and cheap zoas for camo(also helps spread them around the tank too.) also im a fan on non symbiotic porcelain crabs. Those dude's are cool Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Get gorilla crabs and larger hermit crabs, and some amphipods, keep aiptasia as your polyps, and get bubble, hair, caulpera and other algaes. Have an underwater forest with crabs roaming around. Try to stay away from wood though because of tannins. Link to comment
Partially Submerged Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Decorator crab son, Without the worry of it damaging your colonies you can enjoy him attaching algae and cheap zoas for camo(also helps spread them around the tank too.) also im a fan on non symbiotic porcelain crabs. Those dude's are cool Yes, I would love one of those sponge crabs! Might get a wee bit too large for the tank. What's a non-symbiotic porcelain crab? Get gorilla crabs and larger hermit crabs, and some amphipods, keep aiptasia as your polyps, and get bubble, hair, caulpera and other algaes. Have an underwater forest with crabs roaming around. This is the second thread you are trying to sell me aiptasia and bubble algae. You really seem to like those. But, yeah, kind of a forest is the idea. I know most crabs will leave Halimeda alone, not so sure about Caulerpa, but I'll definitely give them a try. I want something that grows well in the sand, not just on rocks. Link to comment
kidd reef Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Non symbiotic are any porcelains that arent white, i believe they come in hues of red brown and green. The white ones host anemones and while some say they can survive without one in my experience they fade slowly of the course of a few months and dissappear. Link to comment
Partially Submerged Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Ah, I see. Yeah, I've seen the purple one and love them. They are supposed to be very reclusive, but that's fine. I have a white porcelain anemone crab, and while I can't offer it a real anemone, it seems pretty happy in my GSP. At least it molts/grows like a boss, and it's a sharp little guy. It never moves far away from its coral, but it's always busy and not a bit shy. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Yes, I would love one of those sponge crabs! Might get a wee bit too large for the tank. What's a non-symbiotic porcelain crab? This is the second thread you are trying to sell me aiptasia and bubble algae. You really seem to like those. But, yeah, kind of a forest is the idea. I know most crabs will leave Halimeda alone, not so sure about Caulerpa, but I'll definitely give them a try. I want something that grows well in the sand, not just on rocks. to my knowledge caulpera and bubble work on any substrates. I like the pests because they are resilient, and fun. Gorilla crabs are nice to keep in a cowlr setup, crabs only with live rock, mine never really bother my macros, except ulva mine like to pick at it. Link to comment
kidd reef Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Ah, I see. Yeah, I've seen the purple one and love them. They are supposed to be very reclusive, but that's fine. I have a white porcelain anemone crab, and while I can't offer it a real anemone, it seems pretty happy in my GSP. At least it molts/grows like a boss, and it's a sharp little guy. It never moves far away from its coral, but it's always busy and not a bit shy. Well they dont come out and walk around but they will usually find a little cliff/cave they like and stand outside waving their fan like feeders. Cool thing is they tolerate Other one's as long as theres enough nooks and crannies to go around. and they're 90% filter feeders so no worrying about any "crab" behavior. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 What other crabby crabs would be keepable in a nano setup? Link to comment
kidd reef Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 What other crabby crabs would be keepable in a nano setup? in my opinion it would be very difficult to keep a community of crabs besides maybe mixing porcelains and emeralds. Crabs are D**** Strawberry crabs are interesting species if given a dedicated species tank and look cool. they will WRECK Anything else living though. and can eventually move and bore into large rocks. Also there are two different species of Decorator crabs ive seen in the aquarium trade. The long legged ones with triangular bodies and pointy heads that Look like the sponge is growing out of them. And a Shorter more Squat species That has modified legs on its back to carry a Sponge that tends to grow into a smooth round shape. they can look more like regular crabs when the sponge is gone(aside from the weird holder legs.) This species you can actually even remove the sponge from since its just holding it. The other one sticks stuff to itself and lets it grow on it. Crabs are by far one of my the more interesting inverts in my opinion, i think it worth the risk to keep emeralds in my tank even if they have the potential to be coral munchers at a large size, just find them too cool to exclude. i always get and red and green one. i just wish the other ones were more trustworthy and could be kept in a mixed community. Would definitely do that over fish any day. Link to comment
amphipod Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I also love crabs, and even lobsters can be nice in some setups. But there are too many people keeping really expensive corals so even if Mr. Crabs makes one mistake they are usually killed and other aquarists kill their crabs out of the fear propagated by the few who have had problems. One issue I notice with many arthropods is their tendency many times for cannibalism. My gorilla crabs haven't done it yet, but in other arthropods there is a problem. Those emerald crabs are beautiful. Now I wonder of an aquarium devoted to the blue crabs we always eat. Link to comment
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