Good sandsifters ???

Krazy · 07/31/2006, 07:45 PM

looking to get a new sandsifer... for somereason my barred bullet goby got weak and I caught my emerled crab holding him by the tail with 1 claw and eating him with the other, he was still alive but HURTING BAD so I put him in a cup of water and in the freezer he went...

anyways...

Looking to get a new sand-sifter... someone more agressive in the sand cleaning as he was a true slacker...

Anyone good as a diamond goby that wont jump or put sand in the currents ???

I got egg crate but wanted to take it off...

is diamond goby my only choice ????

TOURKID · 07/31/2006, 07:47 PM

what about narsarious snails? they rock!!

Krazy · 07/31/2006, 07:50 PM

Yeah I just ordered a bunch of illnasurius snails, the lil guys, will they be good enough? then, I could get a different fish

I just want something to keep the top of the sand clean, I have a DSB so it'd be probably be better to leave it alone and let nature run its path...

bertoni · 07/31/2006, 08:13 PM

A sea cucumber might work in a 72g tank. I'd avoid the poisonous types. Nassarius snails will do some stirring. If you bought snails labeled "Illyanassarius", they are actually likely Illynassa obsoleta, and I don't think they move the sand much. Some cerith snails might, though.

one24fan · 07/31/2006, 08:47 PM

diamond gobies work great too

Kurt03 · 07/31/2006, 09:49 PM

what about a yellow watchman goby? sand sifting stars? Im new and looking for sometihng to help with my sand to

Salamander · 07/31/2006, 11:02 PM

I second Nassarius Snails.

bertoni · 08/01/2006, 12:28 PM

If you want a living DSB, then the goby fishes won't work. They'll eat the animals in the sandbed.

riptidesreef · 08/01/2006, 10:39 PM

nassarius snails, sand sifting stars and cucumbers!

bertoni · 08/02/2006, 01:12 AM

Sand sifting stars are usually death for a live sand bed, and then usually starve to death themselves.

iamquockie · 08/02/2006, 03:38 PM

they eat EVERYTHING that makes a sand bed live???

kass03 · 08/02/2006, 03:47 PM

I love those jumbo nassarious snails but they arent as easy to find as the small ones.

kass

bertoni · 08/02/2006, 03:48 PM

Well, they might leave the bacteria... Dr Toonen gave a talk on his experience with one species. They were impressive in their "cleanup" job.

LaDonaDorada · 08/02/2006, 04:41 PM

nassarious snails do a great job in my 15, i keep roughly 1 per evry 2 gal/ i am setting up a 55 and will have at least 25 in it. don't get a sand star i learded the hard way about them (and lsf). they strip the bed and die. my sand bed to alond time to recover and become live again. nassarious snails also do a great job in cleaning up left over food. beware hermits will munch them.

Krazy · 08/02/2006, 04:41 PM

I'll just get some sand sifting snails !!!

Thanks for the opinions !!!

jakaufman · 08/02/2006, 04:47 PM

nassarius (sp?) snails are great, i agree with everyone

they are also a lot of fun to watch! they are one of the more interesting and active types of snails

bertoni · 08/03/2006, 02:12 PM

I wouldn't add more than 6 N. vibex to a 75g tank. They eat mostly leftover food, so they might require target feeding if the numbers get too high.

07/31/2006, 07:45 PM	#1
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	Good sandsifters ??? looking to get a new sandsifer... for somereason my barred bullet goby got weak and I caught my emerled crab holding him by the tail with 1 claw and eating him with the other, he was still alive but HURTING BAD so I put him in a cup of water and in the freezer he went... anyways... Looking to get a new sand-sifter... someone more agressive in the sand cleaning as he was a true slacker... Anyone good as a diamond goby that wont jump or put sand in the currents ??? I got egg crate but wanted to take it off... is diamond goby my only choice ????

07/31/2006, 07:47 PM	#2
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	what about narsarious snails? they rock!! __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

07/31/2006, 08:13 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A sea cucumber might work in a 72g tank. I'd avoid the poisonous types. Nassarius snails will do some stirring. If you bought snails labeled "Illyanassarius", they are actually likely Illynassa obsoleta, and I don't think they move the sand much. Some cerith snails might, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/31/2006, 11:02 PM	#7
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	I second Nassarius Snails. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

08/01/2006, 12:28 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you want a living DSB, then the goby fishes won't work. They'll eat the animals in the sandbed. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/31/2006, 07:50 PM	#3
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	Yeah I just ordered a bunch of illnasurius snails, the lil guys, will they be good enough? then, I could get a different fish I just want something to keep the top of the sand clean, I have a DSB so it'd be probably be better to leave it alone and let nature run its path...

07/31/2006, 08:47 PM	#5
one24fan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 42	diamond gobies work great too

07/31/2006, 09:49 PM	#6
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	what about a yellow watchman goby? sand sifting stars? Im new and looking for sometihng to help with my sand to

08/01/2006, 10:39 PM	#9
riptidesreef Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl Posts: 62	nassarius snails, sand sifting stars and cucumbers! __________________ I ate tuna for lunch and now my fish keep giving me the stink eye!! Current Tank Info: several systems dedicated to different types of corals.

08/02/2006, 01:12 AM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Sand sifting stars are usually death for a live sand bed, and then usually starve to death themselves. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/02/2006, 03:38 PM	#11
iamquockie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dfw Posts: 276	they eat EVERYTHING that makes a sand bed live???

08/02/2006, 03:47 PM	#12
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	I love those jumbo nassarious snails but they arent as easy to find as the small ones. kass

08/02/2006, 03:48 PM	#13
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Well, they might leave the bacteria... Dr Toonen gave a talk on his experience with one species. They were impressive in their "cleanup" job. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/02/2006, 04:41 PM	#14
LaDonaDorada Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan (the glove part) Posts: 93	nassarious snails do a great job in my 15, i keep roughly 1 per evry 2 gal/ i am setting up a 55 and will have at least 25 in it. don't get a sand star i learded the hard way about them (and lsf). they strip the bed and die. my sand bed to alond time to recover and become live again. nassarious snails also do a great job in cleaning up left over food. beware hermits will munch them.

08/02/2006, 04:47 PM	#16
jakaufman Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 288	nassarius (sp?) snails are great, i agree with everyone they are also a lot of fun to watch! they are one of the more interesting and active types of snails __________________ 34g Mixed Reef

08/03/2006, 02:12 PM	#17
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't add more than 6 N. vibex to a 75g tank. They eat mostly leftover food, so they might require target feeding if the numbers get too high. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni