Need help on ID this, is it safe for the reef tank?

[comets55]

Hi guys,

I bought this from LFS. They said it is a Maiden Hair Algae & it came with 2 green tiny crab which live in this algae.

I just want to know if this algae is safe in the reef tank? Will it cause the ugly hair algae? Are they the same thing.

I attached a picture of the Maiden hair algae and my current 90 gallon reef and fish tank.

Thank you in advance!

 

[comets55]

Anyone?

 

[AquaRick]

Maiden's Hair is a reef safe macro algae that many folks keep in their DT or fuge. IME my tangs never ate it. As for if the crabs are reef safe, would need a pic to determine.

 

[aadair22]

Maiden's Hair is a reef safe macro algae that many folks keep in their DT or fuge. IME my tangs never ate it. As for if the crabs are reef safe, would need a pic to determine.

What is the difference between this algae and hair algae..? They look very similar to me

 

[AquaRick]

Doesn't really look like hair algae to me. Reminds me more of Irish moss.

 

[comets55]

Will wait until the Green crabs come out and take a picture to share.

Irish moss....good stuff for Beer making...thirsty now

 

[comets55]

Guys!! Finally I can spotted the Green crab. It had been disappeared since the day I posted. And I finally found him today.

Can you tell me if he is reef safe?

 

[aquariumlover10]

I don't have a sw tank but i would ask your lfs qnd if they don't kno anythng put it in your quaritne tank with a small frag and see if he does anything.

 

[Ingy]

If I was a betting man (I don't have anything to loose here), I'd say it was a type of acropora, based on the front leg design. Although I have not heard of an acro that hosts hair algae, that doesn't mean it doesn't exhist.

 

[comets55]

To Aquariumlover:

Yep...I think I am going to try that first.

To Ingy:
I agreed with you. It looks similar to the crab in Acropora. I just want to keep him. I rarely see the crab this green and got very nice pattern.

 

[aquariumlover10]

I would put small frags of ever or most of the corals you have and maybe some iverts and fish if you want to be sure it doesent attack them.

 

[mr_X]

Pretty awesome looking crab. From the looks of it, it belongs in the algae.

 

[mr_X]

Here-
IT’S OUT! SYSTEMA BRACHYURORUM! EVERY CRAB IN THE WORLD IN A BOOK! | Raffles Museum News
Click on the book..