what not to get talked into buying without a real good reason [FYI] - Page 2

hyrumbradshaw · 12/21/2007, 02:43 PM

ok so I had a diamond goby and he got scared one night and jumped out, I did not notice this til the next day. (he was dead). I went a couple months before I bought a new one. During that few months my sand broke out with what I think is cyanobacteria. I got another goby (which now I read may have been a mistake) but that same spot in the sand where the cyanobacteria was, it is growing again and the goby does not touch that part of the sand. He does however keep the rest of the sandbed clean and also eats frozen shrimp so I dont think he will starve and I dont really want to get rid of him cause I like him... any suggestions?

Sk8r · 12/21/2007, 03:55 PM

That's because cyanobacteria is bacteria, not algae, and your diamond possibly doesn't do bacteria. If he is not kicking up your sand and is eating something else, and not starving, great. I hope he does well for you. Most aren't so willing to eat other things, and if you're fine with his burrowing and sand moving, that's a match. He'll do well for you.
There are several issues with your bacteria problem, however, and it's actually not too hard to fix.
1. that place is getting too little flow in your tank circulation: move a nozzle and see what happens.
2. that spot is getting a sunbeam from a window. Cyano thrives on stray sunbeams---loves the spectrum of light being bounced from a window. Conversely, it dies in the dark. Turn your lights out for 3 days, draw the shades and protect that tank from window light, and do it again once a month for several months running, and it will probably disappear for good and all. You're a 30g, and you'd need a fuge as big as that tank to really make a dent in the nutrients, but don't let those fishes talk you into too much food: that fuels cyano too. See if you can get some bristleworms and keep them alive with your goby in there, and that might also help keep your sand cleaner. Make sure you empty that skimmer when full and tune it to get the most action out of it, daily.

12/21/2007, 03:55 PM	#27
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	That's because cyanobacteria is bacteria, not algae, and your diamond possibly doesn't do bacteria. If he is not kicking up your sand and is eating something else, and not starving, great. I hope he does well for you. Most aren't so willing to eat other things, and if you're fine with his burrowing and sand moving, that's a match. He'll do well for you. There are several issues with your bacteria problem, however, and it's actually not too hard to fix. 1. that place is getting too little flow in your tank circulation: move a nozzle and see what happens. 2. that spot is getting a sunbeam from a window. Cyano thrives on stray sunbeams---loves the spectrum of light being bounced from a window. Conversely, it dies in the dark. Turn your lights out for 3 days, draw the shades and protect that tank from window light, and do it again once a month for several months running, and it will probably disappear for good and all. You're a 30g, and you'd need a fuge as big as that tank to really make a dent in the nutrients, but don't let those fishes talk you into too much food: that fuels cyano too. See if you can get some bristleworms and keep them alive with your goby in there, and that might also help keep your sand cleaner. Make sure you empty that skimmer when full and tune it to get the most action out of it, daily. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/21/2007, 02:43 PM	#26
hyrumbradshaw Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 340	ok so I had a diamond goby and he got scared one night and jumped out, I did not notice this til the next day. (he was dead). I went a couple months before I bought a new one. During that few months my sand broke out with what I think is cyanobacteria. I got another goby (which now I read may have been a mistake) but that same spot in the sand where the cyanobacteria was, it is growing again and the goby does not touch that part of the sand. He does however keep the rest of the sandbed clean and also eats frozen shrimp so I dont think he will starve and I dont really want to get rid of him cause I like him... any suggestions?