sifting my new sandbed.

[jayghmi]

I have replaced my crushed coral with a sand bed (Oh my was that a h#$% of a lot of fun).

I placed a bunch of rock on the glass bottom so my new rock structure should be very secure. What is the best choice for something to keep the sand sifted - Is a A yellow watchman goby a good choice.

Thanks, Jay

 

[Reefscape]

Your clean up crew should help if you already have one...Am i right in saying this is your 46gal bow front?

A yellow watchman wont really do much for sifting sand...

Niko

 

[Subliminal]

Nassarius snails are pretty good at that!

 

[jayghmi]

Yes it is a 46 bow. I was thinking of a yellowhead jawfish goby not the watchman - my mistake. Would this be decent addition? I don't have much of a clean up crew, but will be adding a variety of snails this weekend.

By the way since you remembered the size of my tank I will tell you all the changes of have made based on your recommendations. Changed the substrate, removed the bio wheel filter and the skilter filter, replaced my glass heater with a titanium heater. Added powerheads for more flow. All changes I am very happy with. Now I have just a remora c pro skimmer and lots of live rock. My tank looks great with all the other stuff out of it. I have been running with only a skimmer for about 6 months and have had no health issues in my tank, other than high salinity due to my ignorance. So thanks for the help!

If not the goby - any recommendations other than the snails.
Jay

 

[Grins]

I recommend nassarius and cerith snails for the sandbed. My dragon/banded goby is great for sifting the top layer of the sand but he thankfully doesn't go too deep like some do.

 

[clown-lover]

My Golden Headed Sleeper Goby does a great job keeping the sandbed clean, but he is a burrower and pretty much redecorates the sand bed how he feels it should look. I have quit fighting with him on this subject. He always wins and its by the mouthful

Nas and Cerith snails do wonders but ceriths will reproduce in your tank. I know because I have counted at least 20 new baby snails running around my tank recently.

 

[Grins]

Talking about snail explosions, my stomatellas must have decided this is the week to multiply like mad. Once the lights go off the walls are covered with the tiny babies.

 

[Charlesr1958]

I'm assuming this is not a live sandbed as you would not want any sand sifting creatures such as the gobys or starfish as they only sift the sand to do one thing, eat all the life that makes a live sandbed alive. If its just "dead" sand, then I would encourage you to siphon clean the sandbed on a regular basis to prevent the sand from forming clumps which then starts a whole bigger chemistry issue.
For the surface layer of the sandbed, I would suggest a sea cucumber but one that remains small and is not toxic.

Sea Cucumbers

Live Rock / Sand

Chuck

 

[jayghmi]

It is a live sand bed, so maybe I shouldn't add anything? I thought I need something to keep it mixed up.

On the Stomatellas snails - I had a ton of them, but killed them off with I believe with a bout of high salinity. I keep adding small chunks off live rock to hopefully get some more of them. Do you think a skimmer sucks up all the eggs? I miss my stomatellas! Jay

 

[Grins]

I'm assuming this is not a live sandbed as you would not want any sand sifting creatures such as the gobys or starfish as they only sift the sand to do one thing, eat all the life that makes a live sandbed alive.

Not all gobies sift the entire sand bed. My amblygobius phalaena only sifts the very top bit of it. The florida fighting conch certainly doesn't go that deep either. I see the sandbed thriving with visible life.