Good sand sifters

sgallagher7 · 04/05/2008, 09:17 AM

Im looking for some good sand sifters to clean up my sand. I seem to have the rook under control with crabs, turbo's and astral's but am now looking to the sand. I have 2 ceriths and 1 serpent star, but they only come out when food is in the water. My tank is a 75.

ihopss · 04/05/2008, 09:39 AM

I like to use gobies,I have a sleeper goby and it is a worker.

DOTZ · 04/05/2008, 09:46 AM

Nassarius snails and a couple of conches can go a LONG way in getting your bed turned over. In my 30L I have two conches,3 jumbo nassarius and two small and together they do a great job.

sgallagher7 · 04/05/2008, 09:50 AM

what kind of conches? Do all gobies clean the sand. I was hoping to head out to the LFS to get my critters today.

Duff Man · 04/05/2008, 10:03 AM

Not all gobies sift the sand. I have a diamond watchman goby that sifts pretty well.

sgallagher7 · 04/05/2008, 10:09 AM

Thanks. I had a feeling not all gobies did what I wanted. I will put the watchman on my list.

Duff Man · 04/05/2008, 10:16 AM

I don't have much experience with other gobies, but my diamond watchman is so animated and fun to watch. He's always busy in the sandbed. Probably my favorite in the tank.

sgallagher7 · 04/05/2008, 10:19 AM

I see you have a 75 like I do. Is one watchman enough for your sand or do you have other sand sifters?

Duff Man · 04/05/2008, 10:30 AM

I have 6 nass. snails that move around some also. The snails along with the goby do a good job of keeping the sand sifted and clean. The goby likes to keep the tank orderly and picks up small pieces of rock or whatever and pile them up in one corner. Makes it easy to take them out and add to the rubble collection in my sump. I've even seen him grab a hermit crab with his mouth and drop it on the other side of the tank. Lots of fun to watch.

sgallagher7 · 04/05/2008, 10:36 AM

Very cool. He will be top of my list. Looks like I need some nass's also. The ceriths dont do as much as I had hoped.

DawnOctopus · 04/05/2008, 10:39 PM

Try a dragon/banded goby. They LOVE to sift sand.

toaster77 · 04/05/2008, 10:43 PM

nassarius snails are great, also some people recommend brittle stars. ceriths will sift too, but they don't seem nearly as active...

DOTZ · 04/05/2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sgallagher7
what kind of conches? Do all gobies clean the sand. I was hoping to head out to the LFS to get my critters today.

They are fighting conches. Don't know why they're called that as they are extremely docile. If I remember right they were just under 4.00 each at my LFS.

Playa-1 · 04/06/2008, 04:02 AM

I've got a lawnmower blenny thats good for spazzing out and making sand storms

Nassarius snails are good cleaners.

iwishtofish · 04/06/2008, 05:09 AM

Research your gobies well. The diamond watchman is a great sandsifter, but will probably make a snowstorm of your tank - at least for a week or two while the detritus built up in your substrate filters out. It also is prone to jumping, starvation (if it doesn't take well to offered food), often requires target feeding, does best (some say) with another diamond goby, and can coat corals near the substrate with sand. I think it would do best with a fine substrate as well.

Just an example of the complexities of one particular goby!

sgallagher7 · 04/06/2008, 11:06 AM

Thanks for the info on the gobies. All ready have one "flying fish" with my wrasse. From what I have read, most if not all gobies need meaty foods. Im thinking nass snails and possibly a fighting conch?

PSU REEFER · 04/06/2008, 11:23 AM

I have a diamond goby and it does a good job at moving around the sand and I would also recommend Nassarius snails--I have 2 and they do a great job.

sgallagher7 · 04/06/2008, 11:38 AM

Other than moving the sand, does the goby actually eat the algae and detrius, or is that better suited for the snails?

bretdajet · 04/06/2008, 12:24 PM

I use 1 goby and 10 nassarius snails in my 120. The boby can be found here. If you are picky about the way your sand lays you may not want the goby. Mine love to move it it best suit his taste. I beleive tey will eat detrius fron the sand and has picked up my snails on more then one occasion. He will also pick at algae sheets. Mine is the banded goby. Listed as a Sleeper Banded Goby at Saltwaterfish.com.

drillsar · 04/06/2008, 12:29 PM

Cucumber (Tiger Tail) is the best sand sifter, Conches can get huge. Gobies will eat beneficial Fauna.

sgallagher7 · 04/06/2008, 03:03 PM

Thanks for all the good information. Seems to be a trnd of gobies and and nass snails. Do cucumbers leave a great deal of waste? iv read on other threads that they may.

suzimcmullen · 04/06/2008, 03:25 PM

My algae blenny also digs and throws sand around. But he only does it in the back of the tank.

Suzi

sgallagher7 · 04/06/2008, 03:30 PM

saltwaterfish.com has free shipping on lots of critters. Do these critters ship well and survive? My LFS is out of nass's, cucumbers, and gobie's.

drillsar · 04/06/2008, 03:36 PM

Cucumbers dont waste, they poop clean sand.

drillsar · 04/06/2008, 03:58 PM

make sure you get a tiger tail only though or sand sifting cucumber, There the best beleive me. Kind of have to watch hermits though with them. You have to accilimate them for 2hrs there very sensitive to change.

04/05/2008, 09:17 AM	#1
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Good sand sifters Im looking for some good sand sifters to clean up my sand. I seem to have the rook under control with crabs, turbo's and astral's but am now looking to the sand. I have 2 ceriths and 1 serpent star, but they only come out when food is in the water. My tank is a 75. __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/05/2008, 09:50 AM	#4
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	what kind of conches? Do all gobies clean the sand. I was hoping to head out to the LFS to get my critters today. __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/05/2008, 10:09 AM	#6
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Thanks. I had a feeling not all gobies did what I wanted. I will put the watchman on my list. __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/05/2008, 10:19 AM	#8
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	I see you have a 75 like I do. Is one watchman enough for your sand or do you have other sand sifters? __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/05/2008, 10:36 AM	#10
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Very cool. He will be top of my list. Looks like I need some nass's also. The ceriths dont do as much as I had hoped. __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/05/2008, 09:39 AM	#2
ihopss Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilmer,tx Posts: 751	I like to use gobies,I have a sleeper goby and it is a worker.

04/05/2008, 09:46 AM	#3
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	Nassarius snails and a couple of conches can go a LONG way in getting your bed turned over. In my 30L I have two conches,3 jumbo nassarius and two small and together they do a great job.

04/05/2008, 10:03 AM	#5
Duff Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago's far NW burbs Posts: 629	Not all gobies sift the sand. I have a diamond watchman goby that sifts pretty well.

04/05/2008, 10:16 AM	#7
Duff Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago's far NW burbs Posts: 629	I don't have much experience with other gobies, but my diamond watchman is so animated and fun to watch. He's always busy in the sandbed. Probably my favorite in the tank.

04/05/2008, 10:30 AM	#9
Duff Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago's far NW burbs Posts: 629	I have 6 nass. snails that move around some also. The snails along with the goby do a good job of keeping the sand sifted and clean. The goby likes to keep the tank orderly and picks up small pieces of rock or whatever and pile them up in one corner. Makes it easy to take them out and add to the rubble collection in my sump. I've even seen him grab a hermit crab with his mouth and drop it on the other side of the tank. Lots of fun to watch.

04/05/2008, 10:39 PM	#11
DawnOctopus Octopus in Training Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Billerica, MA Posts: 113	Try a dragon/banded goby. They LOVE to sift sand.

04/05/2008, 10:43 PM	#12
toaster77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 323	nassarius snails are great, also some people recommend brittle stars. ceriths will sift too, but they don't seem nearly as active...

04/06/2008, 04:02 AM	#14
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I've got a lawnmower blenny thats good for spazzing out and making sand storms Nassarius snails are good cleaners.

04/06/2008, 05:09 AM	#15
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Research your gobies well. The diamond watchman is a great sandsifter, but will probably make a snowstorm of your tank - at least for a week or two while the detritus built up in your substrate filters out. It also is prone to jumping, starvation (if it doesn't take well to offered food), often requires target feeding, does best (some say) with another diamond goby, and can coat corals near the substrate with sand. I think it would do best with a fine substrate as well. Just an example of the complexities of one particular goby!

04/06/2008, 11:06 AM	#16
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Thanks for the info on the gobies. All ready have one "flying fish" with my wrasse. From what I have read, most if not all gobies need meaty foods. Im thinking nass snails and possibly a fighting conch? __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/06/2008, 11:23 AM	#17
PSU REEFER Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 713	I have a diamond goby and it does a good job at moving around the sand and I would also recommend Nassarius snails--I have 2 and they do a great job. __________________ Rob __________ __________________ Current Tank Info: 500g w/ a few fish & little coral, but that will change. 4 MH(400w-2-10K & 2-20k), 4-6' VHO, CL thru eurobracing, 2-Tunze's, OCT 5000ext., RKE, 2-550's LFR(GFO & Carbon), 2-part, and more equipment to add down the road.

04/06/2008, 11:38 AM	#18
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Other than moving the sand, does the goby actually eat the algae and detrius, or is that better suited for the snails? __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/06/2008, 12:24 PM	#19
bretdajet Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Solon, Ohio Posts: 113	I use 1 goby and 10 nassarius snails in my 120. The boby can be found here. If you are picky about the way your sand lays you may not want the goby. Mine love to move it it best suit his taste. I beleive tey will eat detrius fron the sand and has picked up my snails on more then one occasion. He will also pick at algae sheets. Mine is the banded goby. Listed as a Sleeper Banded Goby at Saltwaterfish.com. __________________ Brett S. Wilford

04/06/2008, 12:29 PM	#20
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	Cucumber (Tiger Tail) is the best sand sifter, Conches can get huge. Gobies will eat beneficial Fauna.

04/06/2008, 03:03 PM	#21
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Thanks for all the good information. Seems to be a trnd of gobies and and nass snails. Do cucumbers leave a great deal of waste? iv read on other threads that they may. __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/06/2008, 03:25 PM	#22
suzimcmullen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 890	My algae blenny also digs and throws sand around. But he only does it in the back of the tank. Suzi

04/06/2008, 03:30 PM	#23
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	saltwaterfish.com has free shipping on lots of critters. Do these critters ship well and survive? My LFS is out of nass's, cucumbers, and gobie's. __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

04/06/2008, 03:36 PM	#24
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	Cucumbers dont waste, they poop clean sand.

04/06/2008, 03:58 PM	#25
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	make sure you get a tiger tail only though or sand sifting cucumber, There the best beleive me. Kind of have to watch hermits though with them. You have to accilimate them for 2hrs there very sensitive to change.