Few Questions: Algae? Coral Bleaching? Flow? Hermit Crab?

Beausoleiljacob · Feb 17, 2016

Hi Reef 2 Reef,
I have a few questions. Just recently I noticed a complete bloom for algae in my refugium. My Chaeto has definitely grown but besides from this growth; I have noticed green hair algae, diatoms & also coralline algae that is actually purple. However, in my tank, there is no algae what so ever besides from the algae that showed up during cycling green algae on the rock work that is going away real fast! However, I have noticed on the glass these little green specs of algae that won't come off with the algae scrubber and require the metal scrapper side of my algae scrubber to remove. Is this green coralline algae? Secondly, my goniastrea has lost color and puffiness since it was first added to the tank. At night it acts normal and has its feeders out. I will attach a photo. Third, today while feeding my corals I accidently squirted my rock work with a blast of water and tons of sand came out of the rock work, is this sand all from when the tank was first filled? Is this a sign of not enough flow in this section of the tank? Lastly, I have this hermit crab that is huge! He just recently moved into a new shell and is knocking all my frags over and crawling all over them. Does this cause any harm? Should he be rehomed?

Thank you in Advance!

DannyB · Feb 17, 2016

Beausoleiljacob said:
Hi Reef 2 Reef,
I have a few questions. Just recently I noticed a complete bloom for algae in my refugium. My Chaeto has definitely grown but besides from this growth; I have noticed green hair algae, diatoms & also coralline algae that is actually purple. However, in my tank, there is no algae what so ever besides from the algae that showed up during cycling green algae on the rock work that is going away real fast! However, I have noticed on the glass these little green specs of algae that won't come off with the algae scrubber and require the metal scrapper side of my algae scrubber to remove. Is this green coralline algae? It could be green coralline algae. Secondly, my goniastrea has lost color and puffiness since it was first added to the tank. At night it acts normal and has its feeders out. I will attach a photo. Sorry i am of no help on this one. Third, today while feeding my corals I accidently squirted my rock work with a blast of water and tons of sand came out of the rock work, is this sand all from when the tank was first filled? It could be kicked up sand or more than likely detritus. It will show up and you should dust it off periodically so it doesn't collect but i wouldn't say it is directly related to a lack of flow. Is this a sign of not enough flow in this section of the tank? Lastly, I have this hermit crab that is huge! He just recently moved into a new shell and is knocking all my frags over and crawling all over them. Does this cause any harm? Should he be rehomed? I may be biased because I don't like any crab in a reef tank but I would say if he is causing problems, rehoming is probably the solution. Crabs are clumsy and opportunistic and may steal food from corals or make food of your corals/fish if they are given the chance.

Thank you in Advance!