Reef tank....which is more important....snails or crabs?

sean obergfell · 09/19/2007, 01:03 PM

Snails or hermit crabs? which is more benificail to the reef?
It seems my snails eat all my coraline algae....it gets nice purple and then they get to it and its gone.....
are snails that important?

Travis L. Stevens · 09/19/2007, 01:08 PM

It depends on the situation. Both are very important. Hermit Crabs tend to scour the rocks for meaty goods and will munch on algae from time to time. A variety of specific snails will take care of the rest. I wouldn't worry about the Coralline algae though. It will grow back.

mile sq. reefer · 09/19/2007, 01:13 PM

Majority of snails , nassarius, cerith, astrea, turbo with some red leg hermits thrown in. You can also add a tiger tail cuke, and a serpent star to round it out the recipe.

Joe · 09/19/2007, 01:22 PM

Over the years, I've found that crabs are more trouble than they're worth. I don't have any. A nice mix of snails are beneficial. I can't say I've ever had snails consume coraline in my tanks. I have urchins that eat my coraline, and that's a good thing. As your rocks get covered with coraline algae, this hinders their stabilizing ability. "Opening up" the rock is beneficial.

Joe

frederickk · 09/20/2007, 09:51 AM

I only keep a few scarlets crabs and a variety of snails, nassarius astreas, ceriths and three mexican turbo snails.

bpd964 · 09/20/2007, 09:53 AM

I would say snails... They are less destructive and less violent and won't try to eat sleeping fish..

hyperfocal · 09/20/2007, 10:15 AM

Yup... "It depends"

I like trochus snails for overall algae cleanup, and nassarius and cerith for sand bed maintenance. Hermit crabs can really help with GHA problems, but come at a cost -- like many (most?) crabs, they are omnivorous and can cause problems by predating livestock. For example, I can't add conchs to my tank because of them; the little buggers see the conchs as a Manhattan rent-controlled apartment. The tasty conch flesh is a much appreciated move-in bonus.

I wouldn't add hermits unless you have a specific problem for them to solve. It's too bad, they really add a fun spark of activity to a reef.

sixspeed · 09/20/2007, 10:30 AM

What would you guys recommend for a clean up crew in a bare bottom tank?

SDguy · 09/20/2007, 11:23 AM

snails. astrea, trochus.

frederickk · 09/21/2007, 12:20 PM

I wpuld say astreas and cerith have a good mix of them.

fred fishstone · 09/21/2007, 01:14 PM

Astreas and ceriths are great at cleaning the small spaces that are hard to reach with a magnet. They keep my powerheads and overflow clean.

oct2274 · 09/21/2007, 01:16 PM

snails are much better in my own experiences. my favorites are cerith, nassarius, purple banded trochus, and mexican turbo's = can knock over frags if not held down.

Dr Begalke · 09/21/2007, 02:16 PM

snails, i like trochus, cerith, strombus, and nassarius.

i've never heard of a snail that eats coralline though...

i have had a chiton that did, but never a snail...

m2434 · 09/21/2007, 05:22 PM

I keep a FEW crabs and lots of snails.

09/19/2007, 01:03 PM	#1
sean obergfell Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Olean, ny Posts: 852	Reef tank....which is more important....snails or crabs? Snails or hermit crabs? which is more benificail to the reef? It seems my snails eat all my coraline algae....it gets nice purple and then they get to it and its gone..... are snails that important? __________________ Live Out Truth

09/19/2007, 01:08 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It depends on the situation. Both are very important. Hermit Crabs tend to scour the rocks for meaty goods and will munch on algae from time to time. A variety of specific snails will take care of the rest. I wouldn't worry about the Coralline algae though. It will grow back. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

09/19/2007, 01:22 PM	#4
Joe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Amish Country, PA. USA Posts: 978	Over the years, I've found that crabs are more trouble than they're worth. I don't have any. A nice mix of snails are beneficial. I can't say I've ever had snails consume coraline in my tanks. I have urchins that eat my coraline, and that's a good thing. As your rocks get covered with coraline algae, this hinders their stabilizing ability. "Opening up" the rock is beneficial. Joe __________________ I put the laughter in slaughter. Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Oceanic Tech Tank, Two MP40W Gen 2 Vortechs, H & S A-150-F2001 External Skimmer, Oceanic Model 3 Sump, Current Outer Orbit Pro 250 Watt MH/T5 Combo

09/20/2007, 10:15 AM	#7
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Yup... "It depends" I like trochus snails for overall algae cleanup, and nassarius and cerith for sand bed maintenance. Hermit crabs can really help with GHA problems, but come at a cost -- like many (most?) crabs, they are omnivorous and can cause problems by predating livestock. For example, I can't add conchs to my tank because of them; the little buggers see the conchs as a Manhattan rent-controlled apartment. The tasty conch flesh is a much appreciated move-in bonus. I wouldn't add hermits unless you have a specific problem for them to solve. It's too bad, they really add a fun spark of activity to a reef. __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

09/20/2007, 11:23 AM	#9
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	snails. astrea, trochus. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

09/19/2007, 01:13 PM	#3
mile sq. reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,045	Majority of snails , nassarius, cerith, astrea, turbo with some red leg hermits thrown in. You can also add a tiger tail cuke, and a serpent star to round it out the recipe.

09/20/2007, 09:51 AM	#5
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	I only keep a few scarlets crabs and a variety of snails, nassarius astreas, ceriths and three mexican turbo snails.

09/20/2007, 09:53 AM	#6
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	I would say snails... They are less destructive and less violent and won't try to eat sleeping fish..

09/20/2007, 10:30 AM	#8
sixspeed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 416	What would you guys recommend for a clean up crew in a bare bottom tank?

09/21/2007, 12:20 PM	#10
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	I wpuld say astreas and cerith have a good mix of them.

09/21/2007, 01:14 PM	#11
fred fishstone Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 242	Astreas and ceriths are great at cleaning the small spaces that are hard to reach with a magnet. They keep my powerheads and overflow clean.

09/21/2007, 01:16 PM	#12
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	snails are much better in my own experiences. my favorites are cerith, nassarius, purple banded trochus, and mexican turbo's = can knock over frags if not held down.

09/21/2007, 02:16 PM	#13
Dr Begalke Moved On Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: OH Posts: 246	snails, i like trochus, cerith, strombus, and nassarius. i've never heard of a snail that eats coralline though... i have had a chiton that did, but never a snail...

09/21/2007, 05:22 PM	#14
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	I keep a FEW crabs and lots of snails. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman