what and where to buy for keeping sandbed clean?

deansreef · 10/28/2006, 05:28 PM

Please let me know where I can buy critters to keep my SSB clean and fresh...

Dean

120greefr · 10/28/2006, 05:30 PM

I like my conch. Does a very good job at keeping it clean.

reef_ky · 10/28/2006, 06:45 PM

snails & sand sifting goby does a nice job for me.....

drives300 · 10/28/2006, 09:43 PM

must be nassarius snail though. They are the only ones that will go in it

deansreef · 10/29/2006, 05:15 AM

I will add nasaurius and a conch and a starfish.

luke30mm · 10/29/2006, 11:42 AM

i agree with dean ......nass. stars, a conch definatly will help

awestruck · 10/30/2006, 05:00 AM

I was told that sand sifting stars aren't good choices because they eat too many animals that are important to the tank (ie: worms).

t-bone2 · 10/30/2006, 06:23 AM

stars shrimp crabs all scavengers

LobsterOfJustice · 10/30/2006, 06:56 AM

Flow, cerith, nassarius, conch, cucumber, gobies.

reefbuzz · 10/30/2006, 07:06 AM

I second flow. Keeps detritus in suspension.

somethingphishy · 10/30/2006, 08:36 AM

sand sifting sea star did a good job for my tank

benray4fun · 10/30/2006, 09:07 AM

sand sifting goby for sure, but not the yellow headed one as he sprays everything with sand as he swims ...

Steve Richardson · 10/30/2006, 09:56 AM

nassarius are so cool.

When I would feed the tank, it would sometimes look like 'dawn of the dead' with all of them coming up out of the sand.

scarpenter · 10/30/2006, 11:24 AM

I have atleast 40 or 50 Nasarius. they weren't doing that good of a job. The brown algae kept coming back. But I got a Large Atlantic Conch. And the sand is very clean and white in my 110.

falconut · 10/30/2006, 11:49 AM

I don't believe the Nassarius will eat algae, I think they eat mostly uneaten foods. They do stir the sand when they bury. But if not supplied with enough food they will die off. This is what I was told. I started off with 25 and all but 2 died off. I was told that my 90 gal. tank must of only had enough food to maintain the 2. If you get them, I wouldn't get too many at one time. JME

I recently got 50 Ceriths from www.reeftopia.com to keep my sand bed clean. These guys do eat Algae. Plus, I have two small (1") queen conches and they do a great job as well. Yes, I know they get big.

I have heard the same thing about the sand sifting stars and sand sifting gobies not being good for the sand bed. The reason they sift is to eat the life out of it. So, if you are trying to keep the sand bed alive, then look for something else.

Hope this helps.

10/28/2006, 05:28 PM	#1
deansreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: north carolina Posts: 3,234	what and where to buy for keeping sandbed clean? Please let me know where I can buy critters to keep my SSB clean and fresh... Dean __________________ the only dumb question, is the one not asked... Current Tank Info: 225 gallon peninsula

10/28/2006, 09:43 PM	#4
drives300 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 961	must be nassarius snail though. They are the only ones that will go in it __________________ Water Param 79 degrees nit 0 amm 0 phos 0 salifers Calcium 450 salifer alk 11 dkh Ph 8-8.1 Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon,reef octopus nw150, 2 oceanflow mods, 2x 250w 10k mh, phos reactor

10/29/2006, 05:15 AM	#5
deansreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: north carolina Posts: 3,234	I will add nasaurius and a conch and a starfish. __________________ the only dumb question, is the one not asked... Current Tank Info: 225 gallon peninsula

10/30/2006, 05:00 AM	#7
awestruck Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,572	I was told that sand sifting stars aren't good choices because they eat too many animals that are important to the tank (ie: worms). __________________ I received the best gift ever today: My son told me that he loves me. Current Tank Info: 65g. w/20g. sump; Reef Octopus Skimmer; (2) x 150w. MH and (2) x 65w. pc. sump-mixed reef

10/30/2006, 06:23 AM	#8
t-bone2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: wrong end of the stick Posts: 577	stars shrimp crabs all scavengers __________________ It's all smoke and mirrors Current Tank Info: 210gal becoming reef 90 reef going away

10/28/2006, 05:30 PM	#2
120greefr Moved On Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5	I like my conch. Does a very good job at keeping it clean.

10/28/2006, 06:45 PM	#3
reef_ky Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: kentucky Posts: 53	snails & sand sifting goby does a nice job for me.....

10/29/2006, 11:42 AM	#6
luke30mm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 61	i agree with dean ......nass. stars, a conch definatly will help

10/30/2006, 06:56 AM	#9
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Flow, cerith, nassarius, conch, cucumber, gobies. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

10/30/2006, 07:06 AM	#10
reefbuzz Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Seneca, NY Posts: 219	I second flow. Keeps detritus in suspension. __________________ ><((((º> Current Tank Info: Elos System 80 & 300g in wall

10/30/2006, 08:36 AM	#11
somethingphishy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fleetwood, pa Posts: 852	sand sifting sea star did a good job for my tank __________________ "Set the gearshift for the high gear Of your soul, you've got to run like An antelope out of control!" Current Tank Info: 50g/20l sump

10/30/2006, 09:07 AM	#12
benray4fun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hartford, CONNECTICUT Posts: 1,147	sand sifting goby for sure, but not the yellow headed one as he sprays everything with sand as he swims ...

10/30/2006, 09:56 AM	#13
Steve Richardson Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: MA, USA Posts: 1,722	nassarius are so cool. When I would feed the tank, it would sometimes look like 'dawn of the dead' with all of them coming up out of the sand. __________________ Steve R.

10/30/2006, 11:24 AM	#14
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	I have atleast 40 or 50 Nasarius. they weren't doing that good of a job. The brown algae kept coming back. But I got a Large Atlantic Conch. And the sand is very clean and white in my 110.

10/30/2006, 11:49 AM	#15
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I don't believe the Nassarius will eat algae, I think they eat mostly uneaten foods. They do stir the sand when they bury. But if not supplied with enough food they will die off. This is what I was told. I started off with 25 and all but 2 died off. I was told that my 90 gal. tank must of only had enough food to maintain the 2. If you get them, I wouldn't get too many at one time. JME I recently got 50 Ceriths from www.reeftopia.com to keep my sand bed clean. These guys do eat Algae. Plus, I have two small (1") queen conches and they do a great job as well. Yes, I know they get big. I have heard the same thing about the sand sifting stars and sand sifting gobies not being good for the sand bed. The reason they sift is to eat the life out of it. So, if you are trying to keep the sand bed alive, then look for something else. Hope this helps. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.