Emerald Crabs help with Velonia?

IPT · May 10, 2023

I have Velonia. Seems common knowledge that Emerald crabs can help. Then I found this paper that said yes they eat it, but they prefer other food; and when they eat Velonia they pop the bubbles and can actually propagate the velonia. I'm curious what people are and have done to battle Velonia. Do tell.

The paper: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/404/

blaxsun · May 12, 2023

The problem with emerald crabs is that they're tank snobs. Whatever algae they initially tackle they'll often stop tending to it in favor of anything tastier.

Borat · May 12, 2023

I hate to say but all these valonia solutions are not effective and is a waste rof your money and time. However much I don't like Vibrant - I would use it to dose for a month or so. This will eliminate valonia for good.

I spent a year fighting valonia - and tried all kinds of things, bought a foxface, emerald crabs, syphoned them, nuked them with death juice - it's impossible to erradicate them. Vibvrant got rid of them in about a month and a half. The trick is to dose it even as you no longer see valonia for a few more weeks.

Hope this helps. Btw - Kazakistant is the greatest country in the world!

littlebeard · May 12, 2023

My foxface keeps it at bay. He didn't solve it over night, but given time he slowly reduced the population to the point it can only survive in areas he can't reach

IPT · May 13, 2023

Yes, I've read about the fox face and will consider getting one.

I also just heard of Vibrant and will research it. I assume people don't like it because it's an additive to that tank, not natural? From the little bit I have read it doesn't appear to have any negative effects on other live stock, or does it nuke multiple algaes?

JoJosReef · May 13, 2023

IPT said:
Yes, I've read about the fox face and will consider getting one.

I also just heard of Vibrant and will research it. I assume people don't like it because it's an additive to that tank, not natural? From the little bit I have read it doesn't appear to have any negative effects on other live stock, or does it nuke multiple algaes?

My understanding after the past year+ of reading about the Vibrant scandal is that it is essentially Algaefix for double the price. I.e., it is a general purpose algaecide and should affect any and all things affected by algaecides.

Recall that the zooxanthellae inside coral that provide 90%+ of the energy a coral needs (and color) are a type of golden-brown algae. I do not know if this class of algae is killed by Algaefix/Vibrant (in the concentration prescribed), but there are many accounts of corals reacting poorly after use of Vibrant... And then of course there are many accounts of no effect whatsoever. I used it twice and got dinos boths times.

Also, people don't like Vibrant because the company lied about what is inside of their bottle. Allegedly.

Bubble algae is horrible. I wouldn't fault anyone resorting to an algaecide to get rid of it.

jda · May 13, 2023

All of the emeralds that I have ever gotten from the Florida Keys will crush all bubble algae that they can reach. Yes, they eat other kinds of algae too. Sometimes you need more than one or two. As long as you keep them fed, they leave everything else alone. They seem to live somewhere around 3 years, so you do have to replace them every so often. I still have some along my top rim, in the wavebox and a few other places, but there is no Val on the rocks.

Foxface and some tangs will eat them too, but they need larger tanks and cannot get to the crevices and stuff.

If you must use an algaecide, just get API AlgaeFix. It is the same thing, is cheaper and does not support a bunch of liars and cheats.

Anemone_Fanatic · May 13, 2023

They'll eat it, but they like other filamentous algae more. If you've got a big tank and you don't want a chemical solution, I'd try a foxface. If you have a really big tank, a blond naso will get rid of it. The very best thing to do is to keep it out of the system in the first place, but once you have it, the best solution will probably be some sort of chemical treatment. It'll put corals at a slight risk and make your fish grow a third eye, but it'll get rid of the bubbles.