Snails and Hermit Crabs

[Camona2333]

Hi everyone,

I am taking care of a 110-gallon reef tank attached to a 50 gallon refugium with spaghetti algae and some kind of red algae. The tank had an octopus in it for about a year and a half, but the octopus was given away and there are now 6 BTAs and 3 Clark's Clownfish in the tank. So to make the anemones grow, I had to get a 500 Watt metal halide SunPod lighting system. Now after it has been on (it has a 12-hour cycle) for a few weeks, I am having a HUGE algae problem. At first it was only red algae, which I could scrub off, but now there is green algae growing on the glass as well, which is extremely hard to scrub off. There are also pieces of coral on the bottom of the tank that are now covered in algae that are pretty hard to scrub. So I bought something called Algaefix (by API), but it hasn't seemed to help much.

So now I am planning on ordering snails and/or hermit crabs to eat the algae, but I wanted to get some experienced opinions first. Is it ok to get both snails and hermit crabs? Will either of them hurt my BTAs or will my clownfish go after them? The snail types I will choose between are Nassarius, Trochus, or Cerith snails. Does anyone know about these types/have suggestions on which kind(s) would be best? And for the hermit crabs, I would get Blue leg reef hermit crabs. Is it ok to combine hermit crabs and snails? Or would it be better to stick to one or the other? Any suggestions or answers to any of these questions, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[rageybug]

You are 100% safe mixing snails and hermits into this tank. They play a vital role in keeping your tank clean. I'm surprised you have not had other problems from not having a proper "cleaner crew".

I order all my inverts online from www.reefscavengers.com and have been very happy. They will even do free shipping if you order more than $100. They have "cleaner crews" specifically for certain tank sizes or you can make your own.

They usually carry a bucnh of corals too but are getting a new supplier so the stock is limited right now.

I only recommend this site because I have used it several times with great success. You can order from any online store or go to your LFS too.

[kaybee]

You may want to consider reducing your photo-period to perhaps 8-9hrs. Additionally you may need to increase nitrate and phosphate management. What are your phosphate and nitrate levels? (and in regards to phosphate which test kit or device was used to measure the levels?).

Ideally, both should be maintained at undetectable levels, or as close to 0ppm as possible. You may want to consider measures which will reduce nitrate and phosphate production in the tank. A tank which produces 1ppm of phosphate and 3ppm of nitrate weekly but has algae in the tank which consume those same amounts weekly will render false low/undetectable levels and still has a phosphate and nitrate issue).

You may want to consider a deep sand bed and more live rock to tackle any nitrate issues and a phosphate reactor to handle any PO4.

Nasarius snails are useless in an algae-control role, they are scavengers (consumers of left over food, detritus, decaying flesh). Hermits may or may not tackle algae (if better 'picking's such as uneaten food exists in the tank, they'll go for that first and ignore the algae). From my observations hermits are more likely to sort through algae looking for detritus and things like than than actually eat the algae itself.

You may want to consider a mithrax crab since they're more apt to consume algae (though as with most crustaceans, and crabs in particular, they're largely opportunistic in regards to what they will eat).

Trochus and turban snails, and certain sea urchins are great at tackling algae. Astrea snails are good too, but they're doomed if they fall (which they often do) and land upside down (which they often do). A rancid dying snail will only contribute to the algae problem.

However, in my opinion, using 'biologic controls' (i.e. animals) to tackle an algae problem is treating the symptom (nuisance algae) rather than the cause (nitrates and phosphates which fuel nuisance algae). However nitrate/phosphate control combined with biologic controls and competition (macroalgae) and a reduced photoperiod should all result in reduced or eliminated nuisance algae.

[Camona2333]

I did reduce the nitrate level (which was never very high) but the phosphate is pretty much impossible to reduce seeing as the water used for water changes has 5 ppm phosphate in it (I checked yesterday). But I guess that's what the algae in my refugium is supposed to filter out. I may be able to get a reverse osmosis filter, but it won't be soon. I also shortened the light period over my main tank (where the algae problem is) to 9 hours and lengthened the light period over my refugium (my Chaetomorpha in the refugium isn't growing well).

They do have nassarius, trochus, and turbo snails at my LFS, so I think I'm going to go there this week and get a combination of those three.

I heard hermit crabs steal food from sessile invertebrates, so I don't think I'm going to get hermit crabs because they might steal food from my anemones who aren't growing well as it is.

[rageybug]

I doubt many hermits will brave the tentacles of an anemone for a meal. They may end up on the menu themselves. Most small hermits (blue leg, white leg, scarlet) should be okay in your tank. They do a fantastic job of keeping the tank clean. If you ever lose a fish and it settles into the LR, the hermits will quickly eat the carcass saving you the hassle of tearing out the LR to get at it.

[labnjab]

I doubt many hermits will brave the tentacles of an anemone for a meal. They may end up on the menu themselves. Most small hermits (blue leg, white leg, scarlet) should be okay in your tank. They do a fantastic job of keeping the tank clean. If you ever lose a fish and it settles into the LR, the hermits will quickly eat the carcass saving you the hassle of tearing out the LR to get at it.

Our crabs were getting close to our BTA the other day trying to steal its food, lol. They didn't have any luck, nor did they get hurt.

They are awesome at keeping the tank clean. We had a yellow clown goby go missing a month or so ago and we never had a ammonia or nitrate spike and we've yet to find any remains. I know for a fact it didn't jump out, so it had to be eaten by the crabs and maybe our coral banded shrimp