Cleaning a Decorator crab

[jordanrb]

I recently received a decorator crab. It is covered in GHA. While it looks cool i also dont want to have a constant issue with it in the tank.

If I had a sufficient CUC could the GHA be stopped from spreading in my tank or does it need to be removed off the crab.

If the latter, what is the best way to do so without harming the crab.

 

[Michael71]

Hopefully if your tank isnt nutrient rich enough to grow gha the algae on the crab will starve and wither away. If you have a sump...maybe banish it to the sump in the dark for awhile so the algae is starved for light. No light...no photosynthesis....no algae growth.

 

[56longroof]

Wait until it molts.

 

[jordanrb]

Hopefully if your tank isnt nutrient rich enough to grow gha the algae on the crab will starve and wither away. If you have a sump...maybe banish it to the sump in the dark for awhile so the algae is starved for light. No light...no photosynthesis....no algae growth.

Unfortunately no sump. And my nutrients are quite high Phosphates are at 0.2 and Nitrates habe always been steadily at 20ppm

 

[jordanrb]

Wait until it molts.

Ahh I never even thought of that. So when a decorator molts they have to restart every time?

 

[exnisstech]

It looks like some of my snails. It doesn't hurt anything so I ignore it. On my astraea snails it works as a parachute to keep them upright when they fall off the rocks or glass.

 

[jordanrb]

It looks like some of my snails. It doesn't hurt anything so I ignore it. On my astraea snails it works as a parachute to keep them upright when they fall off the rocks or glass.

Ok good to know. He looks super cool so I wasnt mad that he came with it but as long as I can tame the gsp in the tank from it I will be good.

 

[56longroof]

Unfortunately no sump. And my nutrients are quite high Phosphates are at 0.2 and Nitrates habe always been steadily at 20ppm

Those are not really too bad. The only thing I would lower is the phosphate.