We got bacteria bloomin' and RIP Hermit crab

[Nick96]

I just got my first ever reef tank and it's been amazing. I have had the tank about 3 weeks to a month now. It (now) has two hermit crabs, 5 snails,two damsels and one small polyp of a green star polyp. All doing well minus the recent hermit crab dying. I have two questions: 1. Should I do anything about the bacteria bloom? 2. Should I remove the hermit crabs body or leave it for cycling?

Tank: Fiji 38g peninsula AIO
Light: Radeon xr30 blue
Pump: fiji subermsible
Powerhead: 1x nero 5
Thanks to all that answer :)

 

[725196]

Hi. Welcome to R2R. I hope you enjoy learning and sharing what you have learned as you grow in the hobby. Great 1st tank btw.

Okay, on to your questions. 1. The bacterial bloom. This is something that often happens in a new tank (but can happen even to established tanks, though less likely). At this time let it run its course. You can get biological additives like Dr. Tim’s One and Only to help the cycle of you have not done so already. Your tank is 3 weeks old so a bloom is not something to worry about unless it smells bad. 2. The dead hermit crab. I would advise you to take it out as the tank is so new and you have not established a bio film yet. One is starting but the ammonia from the damsel will be plenty sufficient and too much ammonia will stall what you have. 3. Okay you didn’t ask a third question but I will answer it anyway. Your tank is too new to support a CuC (clean up crew) at this time. You will likely loose the snails and the other hermit. Learn from this. Slow and steady is the name of the game for you. The time will come and you will be able to slowly add stuff but let that tank age a bit. Another month then add, just a couple CuC. Don’t over stock. You can always add more as you go.

I hope this is helpful for you. Remember the most expensive part of this hobby is impatience!

 

[Goaway]

poor hermit crab. You may need to drop some food for the hermits. There is nothing in there for them to eat. Maybe a small shrimp for them to eat?

And follow above advice.

 

[Nick96]

Hi. Welcome to R2R. I hope you enjoy learning and sharing what you have learned as you grow in the hobby. Great 1st tank btw.

Okay, on to your questions. 1. The bacterial bloom. This is something that often happens in a new tank (but can happen even to established tanks, though less likely). At this time let it run its course. You can get biological additives like Dr. Tim’s One and Only to help the cycle of you have not done so already. Your tank is 3 weeks old so a bloom is not something to worry about unless it smells bad. 2. The dead hermit crab. I would advise you to take it out as the tank is so new and you have not established a bio film yet. One is starting but the ammonia from the damsel will be plenty sufficient and too much ammonia will stall what you have. 3. Okay you didn’t ask a third question but I will answer it anyway. Your tank is too new to support a CuC (clean up crew) at this time. You will likely loose the snails and the other hermit. Learn from this. Slow and steady is the name of the game for you. The time will come and you will be able to slowly add stuff but let that tank age a bit. Another month then add, just a couple CuC. Don’t over stock. You can always add more as you go.

I hope this is helpful for you. Remember the most expensive part of this hobby is impatience!

Got it, I definitely will thank you so much for the advice :)

 

[homer1475]

Looks more like a molt, then a dead crab.

 

[Goaway]

Looks more like a molt, then a dead crab.

That's always possible.

 

[Nick96]

Hi. Welcome to R2R. I hope you enjoy learning and sharing what you have learned as you grow in the hobby. Great 1st tank btw.

Okay, on to your questions. 1. The bacterial bloom. This is something that often happens in a new tank (but can happen even to established tanks, though less likely). At this time let it run its course. You can get biological additives like Dr. Tim’s One and Only to help the cycle of you have not done so already. Your tank is 3 weeks old so a bloom is not something to worry about unless it smells bad. 2. The dead hermit crab. I would advise you to take it out as the tank is so new and you have not established a bio film yet. One is starting but the ammonia from the damsel will be plenty sufficient and too much ammonia will stall what you have. 3. Okay you didn’t ask a third question but I will answer it anyway. Your tank is too new to support a CuC (clean up crew) at this time. You will likely loose the snails and the other hermit. Learn from this. Slow and steady is the name of the game for you. The time will come and you will be able to slowly add stuff but let that tank age a bit. Another month then add, just a couple CuC. Don’t over stock. You can always add more as you go.

I hope this is helpful for you. Remember the most expensive part of this hobby is impatience!

Also I was planning on losing a few, I was advised it'd help the cycle a bit. I definitely am waiting another few weeks to add more

 

[homer1475]

You have living creatures in a month old tank, the thing is cycled. Bacterial blooms can happen for any number of reason. Just let it run it's course.

The molt, or dead crab will not hurt a thing. I would personally leave it be to feed the food chain, but thats me.

Have you tested the tank at all during this month it's been set up?

 

[Nick96]

You have living creatures in a month old tank, the thing is cycled. Bacterial blooms can happen for any number of reason. Just let it run it's course.

The molt, or dead crab will not hurt a thing. I would personally leave it be to feed the food chain, but thats me.

Have you tested the tank at all during this month it's been set up?

Yeah the fish, the coral, crabs and snails have been on there for a good 2 weeks already. So I guess I will leave him to feed the other hermit crabs

 

[fachatga]

Also I was planning on losing a few, I was advised it'd help the cycle a bit. I definitely am waiting another few weeks to add more

Just as a note I wouldn’t put live animals in a tank thinking some will die to help the cycle. That’s cruel. So many ways to add ammonia without sacrificing a live creature. I wouldn’t listen to whoever gave you that advice. Don’t take this as a criticism of you but whoever told you that. We should all strive to always keep all our animals alive.

 

[Nick96]

Just as a note I wouldn’t put live animals in a tank thinking some will die to help the cycle. That’s cruel. So many ways to add ammonia without sacrificing a live creature. I wouldn’t listen to whoever gave you that advice. Don’t take this as a criticism of you but whoever told you that. We should all strive to always keep all our animals alive.

That's a fair point, I should have said this but I tested my water parameters before adding any life into the tank (i added bio cubes a few months ago). I don't want any of my animals to die of course but I was told they should be fine but to expect sometimes they can die when a tank first starts. I did not add the animals hoping they would die or anything

 

[Nick96]

That's a fair point, I should have said this but I tested my water parameters before adding any life into the tank (i added bio cubes a few months ago). I don't want any of my animals to die of course but I was told they should be fine but to expect sometimes they can die when a tank first starts. I did not add the animals hoping they would die or anything

Edit* a few weeks ago not months

 

[fachatga]

That's a fair point, I should have said this but I tested my water parameters before adding any life into the tank (i added bio cubes a few months ago). I don't want any of my animals to die of course but I was told they should be fine but to expect sometimes they can die when a tank first starts. I did not add the animals hoping they would die or anything

And believe me I’m not accusing you of that. Hope it didn’t sound that way. It’s just what somebody told you. I guess it’s not surprising people treat some animals as expendable. Most of us really do care for everytbing in the tank though. I hate when my crabs die. I think sometimes my kids like watching them more than the fish. I never would have thought at the beginning when I started that the CUC needs enough fish to have food. It seems so obvious now but I never would have figured it out til I heard it one day.

 

[Nick96]

And believe me I’m not accusing you of that. Hope it didn’t sound that way. It’s just what somebody told you. I guess it’s not surprising people treat some animals as expendable. Most of us really do care for everytbing in the tank though. I hate when my crabs die. I think sometimes my kids like watching them more than the fish. I never would have thought at the beginning when I started that the CUC needs enough fish to have food. It seems so obvious now but I never would have figured it out til I heard it one day.

Actually there's news, it is alive lol. It found a shell and is now walking around lol