coralreefer
Active Member
ok thanks for the help everyone
sand sifting creature
- Thread starter coralreefer
- Start date
thauro77
Member
Originally Posted by coralreefer
http:///forum/post/3085703
i need something that will keep my sand clean. if i leave it unmoved for too long, cyano starts growing on it. what would be good to keep my sand bed nice and white? its a 75 gallon tank.
Adding more flow to your tank will help TONS!!!
http:///forum/post/3085703
i need something that will keep my sand clean. if i leave it unmoved for too long, cyano starts growing on it. what would be good to keep my sand bed nice and white? its a 75 gallon tank.
Adding more flow to your tank will help TONS!!!
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by coralreefer
http:///forum/post/3086919
so sand sifting stars are the way to go? how many should i get? 5? 6?
IMO, absolutely, positively NOT!
Most will starve in our systems in 12-18 months except in 100+ gallon systems with LITTLE live rock.
Consider this:
You can get sand sifters that are EATING beneficial creatures in your sand bed:
- sand sifter gobies
- sand sifter stars
You can get things that are stirring the sand and not eating the beneficial creatures (by beneficial creatures I meant the microfauna that also helps you clean the detritus in the sand..worms, crustaceans, pods, etc)
- sand sifter snails including nassarius, conchs
- sand sifter cucumbers
The second choices are the way I would go.
However, algae on the sand as with nuisance algae anywhere is caused by nutrient levels and often circulation, meaning adding another animal like a goby does nothing to help this, and the problem crops up elsewhere or just builds into a problem later.
I do not ever recommend sand sifter stars, IMO. The gobies are nice if you want a goby, otherwise they can dislodge your rock and create a snow globe like effect with your sand. I would not recommend them in a reef tank if you intend to have well stocked corals (sand can irritate them).
I would ensure your parameters are in order, and readjust or (more likely) enhance your circulation. Many people only have surface circulation and not down lower.
http:///forum/post/3086919
so sand sifting stars are the way to go? how many should i get? 5? 6?
IMO, absolutely, positively NOT!
Most will starve in our systems in 12-18 months except in 100+ gallon systems with LITTLE live rock.
Consider this:
You can get sand sifters that are EATING beneficial creatures in your sand bed:
- sand sifter gobies
- sand sifter stars
You can get things that are stirring the sand and not eating the beneficial creatures (by beneficial creatures I meant the microfauna that also helps you clean the detritus in the sand..worms, crustaceans, pods, etc)
- sand sifter snails including nassarius, conchs
- sand sifter cucumbers
The second choices are the way I would go.
However, algae on the sand as with nuisance algae anywhere is caused by nutrient levels and often circulation, meaning adding another animal like a goby does nothing to help this, and the problem crops up elsewhere or just builds into a problem later.
I do not ever recommend sand sifter stars, IMO. The gobies are nice if you want a goby, otherwise they can dislodge your rock and create a snow globe like effect with your sand. I would not recommend them in a reef tank if you intend to have well stocked corals (sand can irritate them).
I would ensure your parameters are in order, and readjust or (more likely) enhance your circulation. Many people only have surface circulation and not down lower.
coral keeper
Active Member
Sand Sifting Star in a 75 gallon = not the best idea as ophiura mentioned.
texasmatt
New Member
Originally Posted by nuro
http:///forum/post/3089318
i got somethign from the lfs they call "olive snails" they live in the sand and work as part of the CUC, they love rods food. they do a great job stirring up the bed and u get the added bonus of extra members of your CUC.
Olive snails are carnivorous and predatory, one killed my six line while he buried himself at night, they will also eat snails or hermits too slow to get out of their way if they are hungry, they are absolutely not reef safe and I would tread carefully with them. They also eat themselves to death like starfish and rarely survive in tanks past a year if that. They do have very pretty shells though
http:///forum/post/3089318
i got somethign from the lfs they call "olive snails" they live in the sand and work as part of the CUC, they love rods food. they do a great job stirring up the bed and u get the added bonus of extra members of your CUC.
Olive snails are carnivorous and predatory, one killed my six line while he buried himself at night, they will also eat snails or hermits too slow to get out of their way if they are hungry, they are absolutely not reef safe and I would tread carefully with them. They also eat themselves to death like starfish and rarely survive in tanks past a year if that. They do have very pretty shells though
fishstick4sale
Member
nassarius worked wonders on mine 6 in a 29 gallon