I had to do it....

newman330 · 02/26/2007, 10:31 AM

Got the 120g up and running this weekend. 100lbs of live rock and one big, hairy, nasty looking crab. Spent 3 days trying to get the rascal. Finally ended up on the end of skewer. I dont like killing stuff, but I guess it sometimes happens.

Will post a pic later, but he was covered in tan 'hair', had red eyes and black tipped pincers.

I also have aiptasia and lots of smaller crabs running around. I was told that the rock had been cooked, but apparently it wasn't done.

spleen93 · 02/26/2007, 11:08 AM

Aips and crabs can both generally survive the cooking process so the presence of both doesn't necessarily mean that a bad job was done with the cooking ... remember that the cooking process is meant to get rid of algae and rid the rock of shedding phosphates and detritus.

Spleen

newman330 · 02/27/2007, 08:19 AM

Any advice on how to clear out the aiptasia and crabs during the cycle process? I was told to put a bucket load of kalkwasser in the tank for the aiptasia.

I really dont want to nuke the tank, but if that is what it takes to get it clear of undesirables, I will. Really want to keep as much 'stuff' as I can.

Advice?

spleen93 · 02/27/2007, 12:48 PM

Do you actually have a cycle going on? Your ammonia and nitrite levels elevated? If not, you could try biological removal of the aiptasia by adding peppermint shrimp, Berghia nudibranchs, or even a copperband butterfly (though probably wouldn't risk the fish at this stage of the tank). Personally, I manually removed each rock from the tank and scrubbed off all the aiptasia I could see/find with a heavy duty kitchen scrubbing brush and then watched like a hawk afterwards. Inevitably, a few small ones survived the process and I got those with Joe's Juice/kalk paste. Haven't seen any new ones pop up in a while so I may have gotten them down for now.

Otherwise, for crabs, trapping them is your best option. I got lucky and took out one of my unwanted reef crabs with grabbing him by tweezers when he perched on top of an accessible rock Mr. Miyagi-style but don't expect them to be so cooperative. They sell reef traps at most of the internet reef stores - bait them with a small piece of shrimp and wait for them to enter the trap. You could try making your own by using a 1 or 2 liter soda bottle, cutting off the top and inverting it into the base of the bottle (to make a funnel) and putting a piece of shrimp inside - prop the opening next to some rocks and see if you have any crabs in there the next morning ...

Spleen

newman330 · 02/27/2007, 05:29 PM

Thanks for the reply spleen,

To answer your question... No my cycle has not started. This is why I am open to more 'drastic' measures if necessary.

As for crabs, I built a small trap like you described a few days back. The shrimps are getting pretty nasty, but no crabs.... Last night I think I skewered another 'hairy' beast and had a go a few others, but they are fast and I am a little too slow.

The problem I am going to have with aiptasia is that I have already epoxied my rocks together. This is not totally permanent, but I was hoping to keep my rock formation as it is. Guess I may have to start dragging rocks out this weekend... Atleast I have an empty tank right now

Thanks for your advice

spleen93 · 02/27/2007, 11:51 PM

Good luck!

Spleen

02/26/2007, 10:31 AM	#1
newman330 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 55	I had to do it.... Got the 120g up and running this weekend. 100lbs of live rock and one big, hairy, nasty looking crab. Spent 3 days trying to get the rascal. Finally ended up on the end of skewer. I dont like killing stuff, but I guess it sometimes happens. Will post a pic later, but he was covered in tan 'hair', had red eyes and black tipped pincers. I also have aiptasia and lots of smaller crabs running around. I was told that the rock had been cooked, but apparently it wasn't done.

02/26/2007, 11:08 AM	#2
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	Aips and crabs can both generally survive the cooking process so the presence of both doesn't necessarily mean that a bad job was done with the cooking ... remember that the cooking process is meant to get rid of algae and rid the rock of shedding phosphates and detritus. Spleen __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet

02/27/2007, 12:48 PM	#4
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	Do you actually have a cycle going on? Your ammonia and nitrite levels elevated? If not, you could try biological removal of the aiptasia by adding peppermint shrimp, Berghia nudibranchs, or even a copperband butterfly (though probably wouldn't risk the fish at this stage of the tank). Personally, I manually removed each rock from the tank and scrubbed off all the aiptasia I could see/find with a heavy duty kitchen scrubbing brush and then watched like a hawk afterwards. Inevitably, a few small ones survived the process and I got those with Joe's Juice/kalk paste. Haven't seen any new ones pop up in a while so I may have gotten them down for now. Otherwise, for crabs, trapping them is your best option. I got lucky and took out one of my unwanted reef crabs with grabbing him by tweezers when he perched on top of an accessible rock Mr. Miyagi-style but don't expect them to be so cooperative. They sell reef traps at most of the internet reef stores - bait them with a small piece of shrimp and wait for them to enter the trap. You could try making your own by using a 1 or 2 liter soda bottle, cutting off the top and inverting it into the base of the bottle (to make a funnel) and putting a piece of shrimp inside - prop the opening next to some rocks and see if you have any crabs in there the next morning ... Spleen __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet

02/27/2007, 11:51 PM	#6
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	Good luck! Spleen __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet

02/27/2007, 08:19 AM	#3
newman330 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 55	Any advice on how to clear out the aiptasia and crabs during the cycle process? I was told to put a bucket load of kalkwasser in the tank for the aiptasia. I really dont want to nuke the tank, but if that is what it takes to get it clear of undesirables, I will. Really want to keep as much 'stuff' as I can. Advice?

02/27/2007, 05:29 PM	#5
newman330 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 55	Thanks for the reply spleen, To answer your question... No my cycle has not started. This is why I am open to more 'drastic' measures if necessary. As for crabs, I built a small trap like you described a few days back. The shrimps are getting pretty nasty, but no crabs.... Last night I think I skewered another 'hairy' beast and had a go a few others, but they are fast and I am a little too slow. The problem I am going to have with aiptasia is that I have already epoxied my rocks together. This is not totally permanent, but I was hoping to keep my rock formation as it is. Guess I may have to start dragging rocks out this weekend... Atleast I have an empty tank right now Thanks for your advice