Recommend: Sand Sifter/Stirrer

[whatcaneyedo]

My tiger tail cucumber has been doing well for at least 3 years. Both the sand sifting sea star and fighting conch that I tried didn't last a year. However I don't feel that the cucumber does much to keep the sand bed looking clean. What I have found that helps is a healthy abundance of micro fauna living in the sand bed. Spaghetti worms and bristle worms both do an exceptional job... so be careful what you choose. Pick something that eats algae and detritus but leaves the bugs and bacteria alone (if such a thing exists). Or don't buy anything at all and just give it time to mature. Perhaps get some cups of sand from other reefers in your area to increase the diversity in your sand bed.

[walloutlet]

Great ideas, thanks a bunch.

I completely forgot about starsfish and cucumber's. I'll look into those here in the future. I might try a Tonga snail to see how that does to start with. Its not a lot of sand and its not out of control dirty so I will take these suggestions and do a bit of research.

Thanks again guys/gals.

[MMAX]

I wouldn't recommend the sand sifting star. I had one and he lasted all of 3 days.

[freezetyle]

Originally Posted by MMAX

I wouldn't recommend the sand sifting star. I had one and he lasted all of 3 days.

i agree here. except my sand-sifting star lasted a long time. the only problem with them is the fact that they will eat absolutely everything in your sand bed. so no copepods, spaghetti worms, or any other goodies like that. my sand was kept clean but i think all of the little bugs are better

[NuraNori]

I have a 75 gallon tank with about an inch of sand as well. I find my 2 strawberry conchs do a fairly decent job. Fighting conchs would do well also. I have some nassarius snails including the orange spotted one and we never see them...so they may aerate the sand but they sure don't turn it over. I also read that the orange spotted one needs actual flesh to feed on or else it will die. Mine's been kicking around since Christmas, so we'll see.

[BC564]

I would stick with the goby and over feed the tank a bit....

[outacontrol]

I have had my orange spotted snails for over 2 years now, and they come out of the sand almost everday when I feed mysis. I have 7 in a 33 gal tank, had 8 and have only lost 1. they don't constantly turn the sand like a goby, but they do turn little spots everytime they come out to eat.

stick to the goby with only 1 inch sand they will do the job if you had a thiker sand bed then you could try all sorts of things even a sand dolor if you can get one. they work well always on the go. They do eat everything in the sand.

Bill

[kien]

I would recommend a long wooden spoon. stir-stir-stir done

Plus you don't have to feed the spoon! The spoon can also be double as a salinity tester. sip-sip mm.. tastes about 1.026, perfecto!

[ScubaSteve]

I'd recommend Tonga Nessarius, Conchs and Ceriths. They've all done a great job for me. The Tonga's really dig down deep and stir it up.