"Cool" sand sifters?

Hotrod324 · 12/08/2006, 01:48 AM

I cant decide on what to get that will keep my sand clean. Thought about gobys, sandsifting stars, horseshoe crabs, etc Whats the coolest thing to have that keeps sand clean but doesnt eat corals or anything like that?

kau_cinta_ku · 12/08/2006, 05:46 AM

tiger tail cucumber, a fighting conch, and nass. snails. stay away from horseshoe crabs as they won't last long in your tank and they get very big

No Worries1979 · 12/08/2006, 08:36 AM

Engineer goby - The are very interesting, looks like an eel, stirs your sand and eats almost anything, cleans your tank of wastes. Reef safe too.

techigirl78 · 12/08/2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hotrod324
I cant decide on what to get that will keep my sand clean. Thought about gobys, sandsifting stars, horseshoe crabs, etc Whats the coolest thing to have that keeps sand clean but doesnt eat corals or anything like that?

Stay away from horseshoe crab - not reef safe and they get huge. I stick with cucumbers and fighting conchs. Sometimes the sandsifting fish can become a nuisance to people, i.e. dumping sand on corals, constantly pushing sand into water column. Other people like the fish a lot though.

mistermikev · 12/08/2006, 10:00 AM

my only issue with a cucumber is if it dies - you are screwed. Pistol shrimp - makes a cool pop if it gets freaked out, makes cool caverns everywhere, pairs up with a goby, moves more sand than any other guy hands down. The one possible downside is you better make sure your rock is on the glass or he may topple your aquascape job.

650-IS350 · 12/08/2006, 10:14 AM

If you Are looking for a real sand sifter and not looking for ASTHETIC sifting then go with Tirger Tail Cuke for over all sand bed cleaning or for top/mid part of the sand the best sand sifting gobies would be Dragon or Diamond.... Dragons will clean all over the tank not just in or close to their burrow like most other gobies do... engineers just clean around their burrow once settled in and predomently stay there.. I had 8 of them..

Diamonds are cool but dont feed from what you give them instead they rely more of sifting for food... Dragons do both, and also take from what yo drop into tank. They don't jump out of tank either like most gobies tend to do after a while

pick this....
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=206

another option

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=213
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2107
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2156
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=220

JER-Z · 12/08/2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by delsol650

Diamonds are cool but dont feed from what you give them instead they rely more of sifting for food... Dragons do both, and also take from what yo drop into tank. They don't jump out of tank either like most gobies tend to do after a while

Not true, my diamond eats anything you throw at him...even flakes and pellets. He was even eating flakes in the acclimation bucket. He has a very healthy appetite. Had my sand bed looking brand new within 48 hours...After a week or so the sand storms cease, once you get all the junk filtered out.

Great fish, fun to watch. Make sure he eats prepared foods at the store before you buy him. I hear they tend to be jumpers, but it's not an issue for me since i already fairy wrasse proofed my tank.

techigirl78 · 12/08/2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mistermikev
Pistol shrimp - makes a cool pop if it gets freaked out, makes cool caverns everywhere, pairs up with a goby, moves more sand than any other guy hands down. The one possible downside is you better make sure your rock is on the glass or he may topple your aquascape job.

I must have a lazy pistol and goby pair, my pistol shrimp moves barely any sand beyond his little burrow area.

matthewdmueller · 12/08/2006, 10:41 AM

I use sand siffting stars, they do a great job and everyone who looks at my tank loves to see the starfish. I just think that they do a great job, I don't care much about how they look.

zooty · 12/08/2006, 11:10 AM

Would a 75 gallon tank with a DSB support both a star and a diamond or dragon goby?

Will either of the gobies interfere with a mandarin's diet?

jag1979 · 12/08/2006, 11:19 AM

I like conch's

650-IS350 · 12/08/2006, 11:48 AM

Sand sifting stars predate on the good micro fauna that you want growing in your sand which they will clean you out off... worms, pods etc.....

Pistols only excavate in or around close to there burrow maybe a LITTLE more if pair with a fish.

mistermikev · 12/08/2006, 12:09 PM

I have a tiger pistol. Yes he only moves sand in his burrow, but his burrow extends to 80% of my tank. He has several little spots that he goes between and digs around in. I also find those super nessarius moving some sand around. i could add another pistol, and maybe even a different type, but he gets around pretty good as it is.

HBtank · 12/08/2006, 12:17 PM

I like my diamond goby. His burrowing and sand sifting do not stir up the tank too much, and my sand is as white as the day I put it in. I need to blow some rocks and corals off at times, but that is mostly from my tanks wave action.

I think the biggest effect is that he is so good at keeping the top sifted that it never gets a thick layer of algae or bacteria to hold it down. THrow in random wave action and you get stirring. And IMO this is a good thing. I don't like any kind of stagnation.

He does not disrupt my deep sand layers at all, except in his small burrowing area.

He eats anything and everything voraciously.

He is the favorite fish of many visitors and is fun to watch. Watch for jumping. You WILL lose it.

Duddly01 · 12/08/2006, 12:17 PM

I absolutely love my Diamond Goby. Not only is he good at sifting the sand, he will even eat food before it hits the ground, he's not too picky. And he is a blast to watch and has alot of personality. He has dug burrows under almost every rock in the tank and you can see him peaking out whenever he is not out sifting.

dwculp · 12/08/2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mistermikev
my only issue with a cucumber is if it dies - you are screwed. Pistol shrimp - makes a cool pop if it gets freaked out, makes cool caverns everywhere, pairs up with a goby, moves more sand than any other guy hands down. The one possible downside is you better make sure your rock is on the glass or he may topple your aquascape job.

Not 100% true. Although most cukes will huke your tank if they die, tiger tail cukes are pretty harmeless, easy to keep alive and efficient sand sifters. If it dies, it wont nuke your tank.

mistermikev · 12/08/2006, 12:57 PM

hmmm, tiger cuke a? Are you makin' that up? JK. Good to know. I am guessing that isn't the brightly colored one is it? Yea, cukes are nice (in my LFS's tank - no offence).

dwculp · 12/08/2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mistermikev
hmmm, tiger cuke a? Are you makin' that up? JK. Good to know. I am guessing that isn't the brightly colored one is it? Yea, cukes are nice (in my LFS's tank - no offence).

Nope, not making it up. They are becoming more and more common in the trade. They are not brighly colored and are in fact a bit ugly!

In fact, here a couple pics of one!

jsdratm · 12/08/2006, 07:53 PM

Tiger tails won't kill your tank. I had one die in mine and nothing happened to the other inhabitants.

I would recommend the diamond goby above everything else. Mine is very active and hilarious to watch!

Wrench · 12/08/2006, 08:22 PM

Diamond gobies are neat fish. That's the next fish on my list . I watch him at the LFS every time I go in and he's always just siftin' away

12/08/2006, 01:48 AM	#1
Hotrod324 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 135	"Cool" sand sifters? I cant decide on what to get that will keep my sand clean. Thought about gobys, sandsifting stars, horseshoe crabs, etc Whats the coolest thing to have that keeps sand clean but doesnt eat corals or anything like that?

12/08/2006, 08:36 AM	#3
No Worries1979 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 281	Engineer goby - The are very interesting, looks like an eel, stirs your sand and eats almost anything, cleans your tank of wastes. Reef safe too. __________________ "You don't know unless you go" Current Tank Info: 90 gal reef, 50 gal reef

12/08/2006, 10:00 AM	#5
mistermikev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 790	my only issue with a cucumber is if it dies - you are screwed. Pistol shrimp - makes a cool pop if it gets freaked out, makes cool caverns everywhere, pairs up with a goby, moves more sand than any other guy hands down. The one possible downside is you better make sure your rock is on the glass or he may topple your aquascape job. __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production... Too weird to live, and too rare to die." "A drink... for all my friends!" Current Tank Info: 75gal mixed reef + 20gal sump w/ 2 * 175w halides, 2 * 95w vhos, 1* 50w no, led moonlighting, cs220, maxijet 1200s/sureflos, hang on refuge, deep sand bed...

12/08/2006, 10:14 AM	#6
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	If you Are looking for a real sand sifter and not looking for ASTHETIC sifting then go with Tirger Tail Cuke for over all sand bed cleaning or for top/mid part of the sand the best sand sifting gobies would be Dragon or Diamond.... Dragons will clean all over the tank not just in or close to their burrow like most other gobies do... engineers just clean around their burrow once settled in and predomently stay there.. I had 8 of them.. Diamonds are cool but dont feed from what you give them instead they rely more of sifting for food... Dragons do both, and also take from what yo drop into tank. They don't jump out of tank either like most gobies tend to do after a while pick this.... http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=206 another option http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=213 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2107 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2156 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=220 __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

12/08/2006, 11:19 AM	#11
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	I like conch's __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

12/08/2006, 05:46 AM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	tiger tail cucumber, a fighting conch, and nass. snails. stay away from horseshoe crabs as they won't last long in your tank and they get very big

12/08/2006, 10:41 AM	#9
matthewdmueller Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 173	I use sand siffting stars, they do a great job and everyone who looks at my tank loves to see the starfish. I just think that they do a great job, I don't care much about how they look.

12/08/2006, 11:10 AM	#10
zooty Fish Warden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 694	Would a 75 gallon tank with a DSB support both a star and a diamond or dragon goby? Will either of the gobies interfere with a mandarin's diet?

12/08/2006, 11:48 AM	#12
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	Sand sifting stars predate on the good micro fauna that you want growing in your sand which they will clean you out off... worms, pods etc..... Pistols only excavate in or around close to there burrow maybe a LITTLE more if pair with a fish. __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

12/08/2006, 12:09 PM	#13
mistermikev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 790	I have a tiger pistol. Yes he only moves sand in his burrow, but his burrow extends to 80% of my tank. He has several little spots that he goes between and digs around in. I also find those super nessarius moving some sand around. i could add another pistol, and maybe even a different type, but he gets around pretty good as it is. __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production... Too weird to live, and too rare to die." "A drink... for all my friends!" Current Tank Info: 75gal mixed reef + 20gal sump w/ 2 * 175w halides, 2 * 95w vhos, 1* 50w no, led moonlighting, cs220, maxijet 1200s/sureflos, hang on refuge, deep sand bed...

12/08/2006, 12:17 PM	#14
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	I like my diamond goby. His burrowing and sand sifting do not stir up the tank too much, and my sand is as white as the day I put it in. I need to blow some rocks and corals off at times, but that is mostly from my tanks wave action. I think the biggest effect is that he is so good at keeping the top sifted that it never gets a thick layer of algae or bacteria to hold it down. THrow in random wave action and you get stirring. And IMO this is a good thing. I don't like any kind of stagnation. He does not disrupt my deep sand layers at all, except in his small burrowing area. He eats anything and everything voraciously. He is the favorite fish of many visitors and is fun to watch. Watch for jumping. You WILL lose it. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA Last edited by HBtank; 12/08/2006 at 12:31 PM.

12/08/2006, 12:17 PM	#15
Duddly01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valencia, SoCal Posts: 648	I absolutely love my Diamond Goby. Not only is he good at sifting the sand, he will even eat food before it hits the ground, he's not too picky. And he is a blast to watch and has alot of personality. He has dug burrows under almost every rock in the tank and you can see him peaking out whenever he is not out sifting.

12/08/2006, 12:57 PM	#17
mistermikev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 790	hmmm, tiger cuke a? Are you makin' that up? JK. Good to know. I am guessing that isn't the brightly colored one is it? Yea, cukes are nice (in my LFS's tank - no offence). __________________ "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production... Too weird to live, and too rare to die." "A drink... for all my friends!" Current Tank Info: 75gal mixed reef + 20gal sump w/ 2 * 175w halides, 2 * 95w vhos, 1* 50w no, led moonlighting, cs220, maxijet 1200s/sureflos, hang on refuge, deep sand bed...

12/08/2006, 07:53 PM	#19
jsdratm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 237	Tiger tails won't kill your tank. I had one die in mine and nothing happened to the other inhabitants. I would recommend the diamond goby above everything else. Mine is very active and hilarious to watch!

12/08/2006, 08:22 PM	#20
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	Diamond gobies are neat fish. That's the next fish on my list . I watch him at the LFS every time I go in and he's always just siftin' away