glad to see you are starting to win the battle, Pipe-Organ, and that is a good tip ont eh dental tool
with emerald crabs, they will usually eat it, but it can be hit and miss, i dont like recomending a critter to clean the algae, etc.. most of the time certin critters need this stuff to survive and when it is gone so are the critters, not the same w/ emeralds
the point is, most dont think about the long term (which is easy to do)
FYI, emeralds have been known to kill zoanthids and other mat type corals, not meaning to harm the corals, they are just trying to get at the rock below the coral
td