suggestions on sand sifters

[jbourne2]

I'm still new at this, so I would appreciate any help I could get.
I have noticed detrius (I think that's what it is) buildup in certain sections of my 55gal reef tank. Would sand sifter help with this? If so, what would be the best type to get? I was thinking about a cuke.
Also, I am running a 400W MH, 10,000K. I was thinking about supplementing it with 2 actincs (NO), do you think that might help the yellow color?
Finally, just to let you know what is in my tank,
LR/LS: 60 lbs of LR, 50 lbs aragonite topped off with 25 lbs of mixed LS and Grunge about 4 months ago.
Corals: hairy mushroom, green stripped mushrooms, green button polyps, yellow colonial polyps, torch, lettuce, gorgonians, some pipe organ that came in on the LR, and a little feather Caulerpa.
Fish: 2 Percula clowns, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 snowflake eel (not my choice my Dad bought it for me and I didn't have the heart to turn it down. He was so excited.)

 

[salisbury a d]

If you are thinking of a goby I once wanted to do this but I was turned down on the idea. Once the goby sifts all the sand and there is nothing left to eat the fish wastes away. Try adding another powerhead. I you have more water movement the ditritus should become suspended in the water for a filter to remove.
Adam

 

[cosmosbasement]

I have a blue-dot goby. He's so much fun to watch. Every now and then he'll drop to the sand and shake it all over. You see all the garbage floating up to the top and sucked away by the filter. When people look in the tank the first thing they ask is who is that guy? Pointing to my blue-dot. Besides, how can you turn a face down like that. Loves attention and eats like a pig!! And don't worry if he can't find stuff in the sand to eat. He mows down the algae on my rocks and glass and chases everyone away from the frozen brine cubes.
peace
doug

 

[jacksonpt]

Someone correct me here if I'm out of line, but that snowflake may cause problems for any small sandsifters.

 

[jbourne2]

One problem, I heard a goby would fight with my blenny. Is that true?
Also is the Blue-dot Goby similar to the Mandarin? Would my Snowflake eel eat these? He already eat my purple firefish.
Thanks for all your help

 

[dugan]

I think your Snowflake Eel would probably love it if you got a goby...
Seriously, I think he would be fish food fairly quickly.
I've had a goby and a blenny in a 55 with lots of LR and they never seemed to notice each other. Your problem is the eel.
Katie

 

[cosmosbasement]

I don't know about the snowflake eating the goby. I mean, he's a pretty big guy. About 2 and a half to 3 inches long and really fast. I think if anything would happen he'd stay clear of the snowflake, besides, snowflakes aren't the best things to keep in a reef tank. They do get big and love to hide, so I'd make sure all of your decor is pretty well secure. Again, with any type of animal/fish species, when it comes to what's going to eat what or waht's going to mess with what-it's a toss up. It will always depend on the personality of the animal. I have a marroon clown and a blue damsel, they've been living in harmony and swinging together and sleeping in the same place in my tank for years. And those two are two of the more aggressive reef fish.
peace
doug
ps-best thing to do is try it and watch carefully for a while and if the goby messes with your blenny then take him back to the store. As for the snowflake, it might be too late to do anything if snowflake has an appetite for a goby.

 

[dugan]

I don't know about the snowflake eating the goby. I mean, he's a pretty big guy. About 2 and a half to 3 inches long and really fast.
Yep if you've got a big goby like that you could get maybe away with it. Especially if the eel is still small. But I still think it would be a risk.

Katie

 

[krazzydart]

you may need to ditch the eel if you want to get anyone else in the tank.... set up another 75 for the eel and get a lion fish.... that would be cool..... as for the detri.... using a bit more current with a powerhead will help it stay suspended so the filters can get it.....

 

[beth]

Yes, you need "stand-sifters" to help keep your sandbed cleaned up. These can be starfish, crabs, even some fish, like the goby or a wrasse.
Check out the Cleanup Crew packages offered by this site to see the variety of what you have to choose from.