Best way to stir up sand

[schubert]

I have a 40g tank, and with all of the live rock and algae that I have, which has improved a lot over the past months, my live sand tends to get a little stagnant and brown in spots, especially at the front of the tank. What's the best way to stir this stuff up as far as livestock goes. Is there some sort of fish that would help, or should I get some hermits? Suggestions please.

 

[reefnut]

Hermits will help some. Snails such as Cerith Snails, Conch & Nassarius Snails do a good job.

 

[schubert]

How many hermits/snails would be good for a 40g?

 

[magooo2]

That is done by trial and error. Sorry but reality. The tank will support more in the beginning due to exceess matter,but eventually you will have some die off. I have a 40 as well and have a clean up crew consisting of 4 red legged hermits, 2 blue, 4 turbo snails,1 emerald crab and a coral banded shrimp that scares the hec out f everything that gets near it. They have been steady in my tank going on the last 24 months. if you need to get rid of ecess algea quickly then go ahed and purchase more turbo's knowing that some WILL die. :yes: The conch is always a good sand cleaner as well.

 

[guineawhop]

i would get any kind of sleeper goby that is hardy. they are very good at stirring sand. hermits will also help alot. i am bioased against snails though they always stay at the top of the tanks for me. it may be different for others though.

 

[reefnut]

Sand sifting gobies just eat all the GOOD critter in the sand... much like sand sifting stars... not good for a sand bed.
As far as the snails staying on top of the tank you have to look at the type of snails you have. I rarely see my nassarius on the glass... if at all. They are usually buried in the sand and only come up during feedings sometimes. Same with the cerith's.

 

[guineawhop]

they may eat critters in the sand but you won't have patches of algae or brown spots on the sand if you have one

 

[schubert]

The only thing that worries me about getting a goby is my bio-load. Some would say that I'm already over my limit, others not. Would it be safe to add the goby to my atlantic pygmy angel, sixline, clown, and pseudochromis? I'm already in the process of converting to a semi-reef, so would it be better to go with a standard reef package (hermits, snails, couple of additional crabs, and a coral banded or cleaner shrimp)? By the way is there a real difference in the role of the coral banded and cleaner shrimps?

 

[guineawhop]

you should be fine to add a goby, but you can also get snails and hermits as well. the difference between the coral banded shrimp and a cleaner shrimp is pretty much looks and the cleaner shrimp will take parasites off of fish that pull up to them.

 

[reefnut]

Originally Posted by guineawhop
they may eat critters in the sand but you won't have patches of algae or brown spots on the sand if you have one
A dead sand bed is worse than a brown sand bed.
Go with the crabs and snails... they are needed anyway IMO.

 

[guineawhop]

Originally Posted by ReefNut
A dead sand bed is worse than a brown sand bed.
Go with the crabs and snails... they are needed anyway IMO.
they won't kill your sand bed.

 

[schubert]

whatever I'll get both guys

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by ReefNut
A dead sand bed is worse than a brown sand bed.
Wholeheartedly agree! :yes:

 

[guineawhop]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Wholeheartedly agree! :yes:
you agree with that a sleeper goby will kill the sandbed or just the fact that a dead sandbed is worse than brown algae?

 

[itchy]

I am having a algea bloom as well. Mine is contributing to new lights. or at least I think that is what is causing the outbreak. I have decreased my lighting cycle,increased the flow and in the process of adding more clean up crew. Any other ideas?

 

[guineawhop]

algae in the water or algae growing on things?

 

[ophiura]

I agree that the sleeper goby - or sand sifters like sand sifter stars and horseshoe crabs - are eating many of the desirable critters in the sand bed that are actually "stirring" it (worms, crustaceans, etc) on an almost microscopic level. This results in a "dead" sand bed, as well as may interfere with the stratification of the sand bed that we are aiming for, and therefore is not desirable if one seeks a functional deep sand bed filter. I also don't trust sand sifting gobies in terms of potentially stirring up sand onto the rocks.
And I agree that a dead sand bed, long term, is worse than brown algae...and that a dead sand bed, without its compliment of critters, may result in detritus accumulation which could turn into a problem...or alternately lead to a "hardening" of the sand bed.
JMO tho...lots out there for sure :yes:

 

[guineawhop]

goby's kill microscopic animals? how?

 

[ophiura]

They are not microscopic per se, its little critters though like worms and amphipods and stuff that are stirring the sand even though we don't see that they are in the same way that hermits, snails, gobies etc are, hence my reference to the "microscopic" level.

 

[guineawhop]

so then they are not killing the bacteria of the sand then