Is it safe to put a finger leather mushroom in my marine tank?

Question

I have a nano marine tank which has a finger leather mushroom in it (est approx 1yr)....i have just set up my 4ft tank into a marine tank my live rock has only been in about a week and my nitrite levels are high and my ph is slightly low (7.8-8.0) the problem is the leather mushroom keeps closing itself coz the crab keeps on climbing on it and i just wondered if i could put the leather mushroom in the 4ft tank with the nitrite levels being high there is nothing in there apart from live sand and live rock? thanks guys

Answer 1

Do some research on what type of crab you have and whether it's compatible with the coral.  Some crabs will eat corals.  If you end up building a reef tank (with lots of corals) you might want to reconsider adding crabs or (certain types of) snails... they can cause more harm than good.  Shrimp are a much better choice.

The thing about corals and crustaceans and whether they can peacefully coexist has mostly to do with how much food is available.  Reef animals will cannibalize each other if there aren't suitable alternative food sources.

The short answer is, yes you CAN, but whether you SHOULD?  I don't know.  I think putting crabs in with corals will hurt corals. But it depends upon the types.

Answer 2

slice314 its not called coral,  LIVE ROCK it is called. Coral is when its dead the exoskeletons of the lil animals living in it. I've got a male peacock mantis shrimp who is about 9" long and my dad had a 8foot marine tank it was something like 1000gallons lol maybe more looked awesome, but he had to get rid of it cuz he broke up with his wife and they sold the house, he's now downsized it to a 4foot in his apartment, not sure about the leather mushroom tho sorry

Answer 3

NO you can't