Substrate Cleaners

Hong Kongan · 02-07-2006, 08:22 AM

Hi all,

What animals, preferrably fish, can I use to keep my sand bed clean? Invertebrates will do fine however. The sand bed is 0.5-1inch deep.

thanks.

three90s&125sump · 02-07-2006, 08:46 AM

Black cucumbers are the best for me. People are afraid they will poison the tank but, I have never had one do it in 6 years. They need to have a finer grade of sand when they are smaller but when they are bigger even special reef grade is OK for them.

Geoff · 02-07-2006, 09:47 AM

people also like to use Nassarius snails to turn over there upper layer of sand.

with a SB that shallow, you should just siphon it out whenever you do a water change. that is the best way to keep a SSB clean.

G~

110galreef · 02-07-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

people also like to use Nassarius snails to turn over there upper layer of sand.

with a SB that shallow, you should just siphon it out whenever you do a water change. that is the best way to keep a SSB clean.

G~

Ditto here. I have basically the same depth SB ~3/4" and have a few Nasarrius snail and vacuum it everytime I do WC.

Loverotties · 02-07-2006, 10:13 AM

I have a Dart Goby that's great at it!

Robbrcub · 02-07-2006, 12:46 PM

My sandbed was a mess till I got a Diamond Goby.He's all over the place and keeps everything tidy. He's also cool to watch, while he rearranges the tank to his liking.

Robb

gwen_o_lyn · 02-07-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbrcub

My sandbed was a mess till I got a Diamond Goby.He's all over the place and keeps everything tidy. He's also cool to watch, while he rearranges the tank to his liking.

Robb

yup a sand sifting goby is a nice addition

mtfatwork · 02-07-2006, 12:53 PM

a four spot goby will spend his time picking up sand and spitting it out.

johnny505 · 02-07-2006, 03:47 PM

bullet goby too

AdamG · 02-07-2006, 06:08 PM

sand sifting stars and horseshoe crabs work great and look cool

Twitterbait · 02-07-2006, 06:42 PM

I will say that gobies are great... but you need to go for one that will feed normally too. I know dragon gobies will and golden heads will not. if they don't feed with the rest of the fish then they will usually starve after they clean your sand bed all the way.

LiquidLunch · 02-07-2006, 09:18 PM

As I was reading your post, I looked over at my tank and my diamond goby tagged a krill that was shot up from the below sump.

Hong Kongan · 02-08-2006, 04:17 AM

So I take it gobies are good for cleaning the sand? One question though Geoff the sand I use is very fine and light so when i siphon it gets sucked up or am I supposed to replace all the sand?

LiquidLunch · 02-08-2006, 08:05 AM

The second I dropped him in the tank, he started sifting and he never stopped. He did stop last night to introduce himself to the cleaner shrimp who gave him a free health check.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...f908a8b395ee86