Fixing the lack of algae

[fisherdonk]

So this may sound weird, but I don't have enough algae. I added a full CUC to a bare tank, and I can tell they're hungry because they keep sticking to the coral plugs (which have coralline algae and others on them). I'm scared that this is bothering my coral though. How can I feed these suckers and have them leave my corals alone?

 

[Lavey29]

Just drop some algae wafers or rubber band some nori to a rock.

 

[fisherdonk]

Over the last 48 hours I have discovered the shells of my TINY nassarius snails are empty. I fear that the scarlet hermit crabs I keep, which are all much much larger than the snails, have eaten them. Is this possible? How do I avoid my hermits eating the other snails? Only food I've been dosing is benereef every 2 days. I tried putting a small piece of dried kelp in there but there was no interest.

 

[vetteguy53081]

best food to offer them:

 

[Sean Clark]

Scarlets are harmless when they are not hungry.

 

[fisherdonk]

Is this because they're hungry or could it be something else?

 

[fisherdonk]

Fed a pellet of this today. Practically no interest from all tank inhabitants except two nassarius snails. I even manually moved the crabs near the pellet in case they didn't see it. Ended up cutting it in half and leaving half in. It's been 45 minutes.

I think I will leave the half in for another 2 hours, before removing it (don't want to spike my tank, and it's making the water a bit cloudy).

 

[Sean Clark]

Is this because they're hungry or could it be something else?

I only keep Scarelts in my tanks. They may not be small enough to get into really tight spaces but they are beautiful and very productive. I would not consider them a risk to anything in the tank.. but any hungry crab will be opportunistic.