refugium

[Mac1999]

Hi I just bought an in tank refugium and i have a small emrald crab and som mangroves. I was wondering if I bought some Chaetomorpha macro alge would it grow back in time so the crab dosent eat it all. Also could I keep copepods with the crab in the refugium thx

[reef thief]

Remember that chaeto is for nitrate removal and if your crab eats it you are just putting nitrate back into the system via crab waste. The rate of growth for macro algae depends on the available nutrient level as well as lighting quality. Your crab's appetite is variable although I've never seen them not eating. In conclusion removing excess algae from the tank entirely will close the loop on nutrient export. Your crab will just end up going potty in his play pen and make a poopy poopy problem. On a similar note, if you don't like someone just pee in there tank.

[rt67ghy]

Crabs won't be able to harm the pod population and I think if your lighting is good the crab shouldn't be able to out-compete its growth.

[Subsea]

First, it depends on the crab.

In general. Copepods and amphipods will compete with Emerald Crabs for undesirable algae in our marine tanks. It would be best for amphipods & copepods to have hair algae in refugium.
Consider your refugium to be an ecosystem that processes nutrients using several differrent nutrient pathways to grow bacteria and larvae from detrivores to feed display tank inhabitants. Nutrients are also processed through photosynthesis and can be a perfect place to grow macro and pods in a living filter that feeds the tank.