what will move the sand for me

area · 07/11/2008, 09:22 PM

I need a good sand sifter can anyone suggest anything worthy.

crsswift70 · 07/11/2008, 09:24 PM

cucumber. a lot of people say nassarius, but i've not had luck keeping them alive. brittle and non-green serpent stars are also used.

area · 07/11/2008, 09:33 PM

are cucumbers difficult to keep, and how long can they live.

crsswift70 · 07/11/2008, 09:36 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...0#post12930300

i don't do anything for mine. If the tank is established, they get what they need from the sand.

Tswifty · 07/11/2008, 09:55 PM

If you have an established tank, you should have no problem with an appropriate amount of Nas snails. IMO they are the best out there for keeping your sand bed stirred.

If you're worried about them, you can always stick a piece of silverside on the sandbed once a week for them.

phunkie99 · 07/11/2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8
If you have an established tank, you should have no problem with an appropriate amount of Nas snails. IMO they are the best out there for keeping your sand bed stirred.

If you're worried about them, you can always stick a piece of silverside on the sandbed once a week for them.

+1 I second that

area · 07/11/2008, 10:00 PM

I'am sorry what is silver side? and how many should I have with 130g tank and 65g refugium?

fattyratrat · 07/11/2008, 10:02 PM

my nas snails will come rip the food out of my coral and anemones mouths when they are eating, so i always end up throwing them a big chunk of something meaty. a silverside is a fish you buy to feed things like big fish and anemones.

phunkie99 · 07/11/2008, 10:05 PM

small fish http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&pcatid=16851
some say not to use them because they greasy not sure why but I've herd a lot of people say that

area · 07/11/2008, 10:08 PM

Thanks for the info.

Tswifty · 07/11/2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by area
I'am sorry what is silver side?

A type of saltwater feeder fish. You can usually buy them in frozen packs at your LFS.

http://www.melevsreef.com/food.html

Tswifty · 07/11/2008, 10:10 PM

For an established 130g tank, I would have no reservations adding 20 or more. You can add them 10 at a time if you want to be more cautious.

I'm about to order 20 for my 90g tank.

Also, make sure you get the white Nas snails or order the Super Tongan ones. I recently ordered Nas snails, and was shipped whelks which look similiar, except they aren't reef safe, and they took out a clam of mine.

crsswift70 · 07/11/2008, 10:16 PM

i still say cuc

don't have to feed them. But hey, to each his own. Best answer might be a combination of several sand stirrers. Brittle, cucumber and nassarius.

Maxi · 07/11/2008, 10:48 PM

I say pistol shrimp and a goby. The pistol shrimp moves sand all day long.

IslandCrow · 07/11/2008, 11:09 PM

Cucumbers are great, but they really just get the surface layer of sand. Nassarius snails are constantly moving below the surface. Cerith snails will also spend some time on and partially buried in your sand bed, and I think they're a good addition as well, giving you both a carnivorous and herbivorous snail working your sand bed.

schoch79 · 07/12/2008, 01:17 AM

At my LFS they have little yellow cucumbers. At least that's what they say they are. They told me they dont sift the sand at all and in fact are filter feeders. Anyone know of this?

bertmauricio · 07/12/2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tswifty8

I'm about to order 20 for my 90g tank.

Also, make sure you get the white Nas snails or order the Super Tongan ones. I recently ordered Nas snails, and was shipped whelks which look similiar, except they aren't reef safe, and they took out a clam of mine.

TJ, where are you planning to order?

IslandCrow · 07/12/2008, 07:50 AM

schoch79, there are many types of cucumbers, so this may very well be true. The sand sifting ones will have what look like little tentacles coming from one end and actually grabbing grains of sand.

Sk8r · 07/12/2008, 08:01 AM

A tiger pistol shrimp and yellow watchman are an interesting pair and do a pretty good job of removing detritus.

laud · 07/12/2008, 08:28 AM

Do you want the sand moved to keep it algae free, or for another reason?

I was given a diamond goby without my knowledge and was not happy, until he became the best sand mover I ever had. Now my sand is white and clean.

A sleeper Goby will put sand all over your coral heads, from what I've been told. (just hearsay though, so don't take my word)

crsswift70 · 07/12/2008, 08:30 AM

So, the diamond goby didn't dump sand everywhere? I was under the impression that all of them did that. That's why i've never tried one.

fattyratrat · 07/12/2008, 08:41 AM

My diamond goby just sifts sand all day every day, and every night when the halides go off and it is just actinics, he will dig himself a hole under a rock to sleep in that night. So he kindof does dump sand, but its not that much of a mess, you can just move the pile of sand away from his hole and he will keep using that hole forever.

laud · 07/12/2008, 09:39 AM

I was told they dump sand low. The other goby swims high and drops sand. But, like I always say, don't take my word for your final decision.

cloak · 07/12/2008, 01:29 PM

If it's a DSB, worms. SSB, your finger.

WuHT · 07/19/2008, 04:59 PM

no body here likes conchs ?

07/11/2008, 09:22 PM	#1
area Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: montreal Canada Posts: 45	what will move the sand for me I need a good sand sifter can anyone suggest anything worthy.

07/11/2008, 09:55 PM	#5
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	If you have an established tank, you should have no problem with an appropriate amount of Nas snails. IMO they are the best out there for keeping your sand bed stirred. If you're worried about them, you can always stick a piece of silverside on the sandbed once a week for them. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

07/11/2008, 10:10 PM	#12
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	For an established 130g tank, I would have no reservations adding 20 or more. You can add them 10 at a time if you want to be more cautious. I'm about to order 20 for my 90g tank. Also, make sure you get the white Nas snails or order the Super Tongan ones. I recently ordered Nas snails, and was shipped whelks which look similiar, except they aren't reef safe, and they took out a clam of mine. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

07/11/2008, 11:09 PM	#15
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Cucumbers are great, but they really just get the surface layer of sand. Nassarius snails are constantly moving below the surface. Cerith snails will also spend some time on and partially buried in your sand bed, and I think they're a good addition as well, giving you both a carnivorous and herbivorous snail working your sand bed. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

07/12/2008, 01:17 AM	#16
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	At my LFS they have little yellow cucumbers. At least that's what they say they are. They told me they dont sift the sand at all and in fact are filter feeders. Anyone know of this? __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

07/11/2008, 09:24 PM	#2
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	cucumber. a lot of people say nassarius, but i've not had luck keeping them alive. brittle and non-green serpent stars are also used.

07/11/2008, 09:33 PM	#3
area Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: montreal Canada Posts: 45	are cucumbers difficult to keep, and how long can they live.

07/11/2008, 09:36 PM	#4
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...0#post12930300 i don't do anything for mine. If the tank is established, they get what they need from the sand.

07/11/2008, 10:00 PM	#7
area Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: montreal Canada Posts: 45	I'am sorry what is silver side? and how many should I have with 130g tank and 65g refugium?

07/11/2008, 10:02 PM	#8
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	my nas snails will come rip the food out of my coral and anemones mouths when they are eating, so i always end up throwing them a big chunk of something meaty. a silverside is a fish you buy to feed things like big fish and anemones.

07/11/2008, 10:05 PM	#9
phunkie99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 537	small fish http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&pcatid=16851 some say not to use them because they greasy not sure why but I've herd a lot of people say that

07/11/2008, 10:08 PM	#10
area Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: montreal Canada Posts: 45	Thanks for the info.

07/11/2008, 10:16 PM	#13
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	i still say cuc don't have to feed them. But hey, to each his own. Best answer might be a combination of several sand stirrers. Brittle, cucumber and nassarius.

07/11/2008, 10:48 PM	#14
Maxi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,381	I say pistol shrimp and a goby. The pistol shrimp moves sand all day long.

07/12/2008, 07:50 AM	#18
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	schoch79, there are many types of cucumbers, so this may very well be true. The sand sifting ones will have what look like little tentacles coming from one end and actually grabbing grains of sand. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

07/12/2008, 08:01 AM	#19
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A tiger pistol shrimp and yellow watchman are an interesting pair and do a pretty good job of removing detritus. __________________ 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%.

07/12/2008, 08:28 AM	#20
laud Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: fort lauderdale Posts: 1,225	Do you want the sand moved to keep it algae free, or for another reason? I was given a diamond goby without my knowledge and was not happy, until he became the best sand mover I ever had. Now my sand is white and clean. A sleeper Goby will put sand all over your coral heads, from what I've been told. (just hearsay though, so don't take my word) __________________ Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. —Lao-Tze Current Tank Info: 210, 75 sump/refugium, AquaC EV-240, 3LB's Radium 20k, vho supplement and now a Korallin 1502 CR and a phosban reactor.

07/12/2008, 08:30 AM	#21
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	So, the diamond goby didn't dump sand everywhere? I was under the impression that all of them did that. That's why i've never tried one.

07/12/2008, 08:41 AM	#22
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	My diamond goby just sifts sand all day every day, and every night when the halides go off and it is just actinics, he will dig himself a hole under a rock to sleep in that night. So he kindof does dump sand, but its not that much of a mess, you can just move the pile of sand away from his hole and he will keep using that hole forever.

07/12/2008, 09:39 AM	#23
laud Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: fort lauderdale Posts: 1,225	I was told they dump sand low. The other goby swims high and drops sand. But, like I always say, don't take my word for your final decision. __________________ Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. —Lao-Tze Current Tank Info: 210, 75 sump/refugium, AquaC EV-240, 3LB's Radium 20k, vho supplement and now a Korallin 1502 CR and a phosban reactor.

07/12/2008, 01:29 PM	#24
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If it's a DSB, worms. SSB, your finger.

07/19/2008, 04:59 PM	#25
WuHT Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 911	no body here likes conchs ?