need sand stirred

jadeguppy · 02/13/2009, 05:44 PM

My 125g has a sandbed that is turning a grey/ purple color. I need something that will continually stir the top layer so it stay white, but not bury my lps and zoa that are on the sandbed. I have a few nassirus snails, not sure the exact number, but they can't handle the tank.

str8salt · 02/13/2009, 05:45 PM

How about a fighting conch?

reefscape15 · 02/13/2009, 06:54 PM

yea get more of those snails, a sally lightfoot crab, yellow sleeper head goby, and you could have a sifting sea star in a tank that big. Those will all work good for you

Gdevine · 02/13/2009, 08:52 PM

Use a target feeder and "puff" the sand bed. This is a good way to keep it stirred, have total control and puts detritus into suspension (think of marine snow) which is an excellent source of particulate matter (food) for your corals and other inhabitants. I do this and it works like a charm!

Bambalam · 02/13/2009, 10:05 PM

My diamond goby keeps the sand clean. It doesn't get sand on the corals either.

Zestay · 02/14/2009, 12:14 AM

+1 diamond goby. i nick named mine shovel head. he was quite the character. if a hermit crab would " walk on his sand " he would pick up the crab and drop him off on the otherside of the tank.

jadeguppy · 02/14/2009, 08:13 AM

Thanks for all the ideas. Reefscape, what type of star do you suggest? It looks like the snails and diamond gobies are work horses. I want to try to keep my hands out of the tank, otherwise the baster idea would work.

alphaferret · 02/14/2009, 08:32 AM

I got a diamond goby for that but so far he just waits for any pellets that get away from other fish.

reefscape15 · 02/14/2009, 12:15 PM

The common name is a Sand Sifting Sea Star, which needs quite a big tank because of picky diet in captivity, but they really mix up the sand well. You can have a brittle star or serpent star in there with the Sand Sifting Star. I think they are both readily available at most any LFS, and probably under $15 each.

02/13/2009, 05:44 PM	#1
jadeguppy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: nw Florida Posts: 2,611	need sand stirred My 125g has a sandbed that is turning a grey/ purple color. I need something that will continually stir the top layer so it stay white, but not bury my lps and zoa that are on the sandbed. I have a few nassirus snails, not sure the exact number, but they can't handle the tank.

02/13/2009, 06:54 PM	#3
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	yea get more of those snails, a sally lightfoot crab, yellow sleeper head goby, and you could have a sifting sea star in a tank that big. Those will all work good for you __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

02/13/2009, 08:52 PM	#4
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	Use a target feeder and "puff" the sand bed. This is a good way to keep it stirred, have total control and puts detritus into suspension (think of marine snow) which is an excellent source of particulate matter (food) for your corals and other inhabitants. I do this and it works like a charm! __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

02/14/2009, 08:32 AM	#8
alphaferret Pitcher Hill Reef Society Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nor' Syracuse Posts: 2,824	I got a diamond goby for that but so far he just waits for any pellets that get away from other fish. __________________ "With what little time we have we must..." Current Tank Info: 46 bow w/20 gal sump/30 gal. fuge/Reef Octo 150/Seio m620/koralia 3/mag5/Nova extreme t5/Powerbrite actinic LED

02/14/2009, 12:15 PM	#9
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	The common name is a Sand Sifting Sea Star, which needs quite a big tank because of picky diet in captivity, but they really mix up the sand well. You can have a brittle star or serpent star in there with the Sand Sifting Star. I think they are both readily available at most any LFS, and probably under $15 each. __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

02/13/2009, 05:45 PM	#2
str8salt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 60	How about a fighting conch?

02/13/2009, 10:05 PM	#5
Bambalam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OH Posts: 688	My diamond goby keeps the sand clean. It doesn't get sand on the corals either.

02/14/2009, 12:14 AM	#6
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	+1 diamond goby. i nick named mine shovel head. he was quite the character. if a hermit crab would " walk on his sand " he would pick up the crab and drop him off on the otherside of the tank.

02/14/2009, 08:13 AM	#7
jadeguppy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: nw Florida Posts: 2,611	Thanks for all the ideas. Reefscape, what type of star do you suggest? It looks like the snails and diamond gobies are work horses. I want to try to keep my hands out of the tank, otherwise the baster idea would work.