emerald crabs eatin my lr

[wattsupdoc]

OK im a newbee and am in the process of converting to saltwater. I purchased some lr(not much just 5 lbs. to start) and got 2 hitchhickers. Both emerald crabs. The rock has some beautiful algea on it and i noticed the crabs are picking away at it. One is almost all white now? My question is. Ill be purchsing some more rock 2moro and adding it in.Are the crabs gonna devore all my algea?should i take em out? will the rocks recover from this if i leave em alone? will adding more rock help as it wil give them more to devour? Tank is still cycling i believe and not readt for fish yet so its kinda nice to have something to look at besides just the rock and water. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.
THANX!!!!!

 

[puffer32]

Not sure those crabs will make it through a cycle. But as far as them eating your algae, thats a good thing! You do not want that kind of algae in your tank anyway! It will spread, so let them eat it all!

 

[dfox]

Is the algae on the rocks purple and hard, or is it slimy and green? If it is hard and purple/red/green, then it is likely coraline algae. It is normal for this type of algae to turn white after being placed in a new tank. The difference in lighting takes some getting used to. Mine all did exactly the same thing, but it began turning back to purple, red, and green after about a month.
I have an emerald crab also, and I don't notice a reduction in coraline algae as a result of him.

 

[wattsupdoc]

YES the algea is puple pink and green and hard. It is turning white then and not being devored i take it? I dont believe im going to have a real dramatic cycle with this tank becuase of the way ive converted. Its been almost 2 weeks and im not seeing any real changes in the tests. Testing almost daily and the crabs are doing great.One has molted i belive, found shell peices in tank so its seems theyre doing great. Thanks for the help sounds like i need to just leave em in there and watch em. THANX!

 

[pallan]

my emerald will pick corraline off at times. probbably wont be such an issue for you once your tanks is loaded with rock. with just 5 pound sof rock in there it is probably just amplifing it where as with 50 pounds or more of rock you wont even notice it.

 

[wattsupdoc]

GOTCHA!
THANX for the tips!