do Emrald crabs help with the satrt up process? Ive had one in my bio cube for 2 weeks, are they considered stater (fish)?
emerald crabs eat algae and are good to start with if you have enough to keep them feed well. I've had several in the past and they didn't live but a few months so I started using hermit crabs and still have some of the same ones I bought two years ago.But they will help the tank get started.
Most of the time people get them to help control bubble algae. How long has your tank been set up? Size? Maybe a pic or two? ..... Sam is sneaking in posts on me LOL
If you are cycling a tank... I would suggest no fish or critters until the cycle finishes... I would add one deli shrimp. Then test daily & watch for the Ammonia to spike followed by a Nitrite spike... Ammonia > Nitrite > Nitrate - Once the nitrites are gone, then do water changes to reduce nitrates.
I would agree with nanoreefing that it is best to cycle a tank without fish, however most people can not resist setting up a tank without putting critters in which is understandable. But on a scale of what will do best with the environment fluctuations in your tank during cycling invertebrates would pretty much always rand below fish. The are much more susceptible to temp., chemical levels, ect. Best to try and be patient with the cycling. It took about 6 wks to cycle my new 180 by adding fish food when I was feeding my other tanks on a suggestion from fisher12.
