Best Sand Sifting Goby

[dzhuo]

It would most certainly going to make your tank cloudy but that's the point of cleaning right? A lot of the really fine stuff are really dust, broke down waste and debris you want them out of the tank. The goby helps you to get them to the water column, down the overflow and to the skimmer.

After a few days of semi-cloudyness, your tank should clear up. Make sure you get enough food to the bottom of the tank so the goby doesn't starve.

 

[jbadd99]

Make sure you get enough food to the bottom of the tank so the goby doesn't starve.

A few sinking pellets every day should be plenty... Mine caught anything that made it to the bottom.

 

[dzhuo]

It might or might not be enough. Mine certainly eats a lot more than "a few sinking pellets". The only way to know for sure is grow, coloration and pay attention to its belly - it should be full and round all the time.

 

[thebkramer]

Tagging along
not trying to hijack OP.. just a quick question

Does the diamond make burrows all over or just one burrow??

 

[Lemeshianos]

Tagging along
not trying to hijack OP.. just a quick question

Does the diamond make burrows all over or just one burrow??

And how deep should the sand bed be? I plan on a shallow sand bed and would like to know what would the minimum height be be for a diamond goby.

 

[dzhuo]

Does the diamond make burrows all over or just one burrow??

The current one I have makes a single burrow. The previous one I had made 2 but only use 1.

 

[dzhuo]

And how deep should the sand bed be? I plan on a shallow sand bed and would like to know what would the minimum height be be for a diamond goby.

My sand bed is .5". The goby, however, moves some sands near it's burrow to make it deeper.

 

[djkms]

+1 on Diamond goby. Best investment I have made for my substrate. Snails will not keep up with the maintenance of a sandbed. I agree with dzhuo, the cloudy water is a good thing, that means the goby is doing its job and doing it well. My goby still clouds my water on occasion but only when it cleans spots that rarely get disturbed.

My goby has his area which he tends to the most and has "dart holes" under 3 or so rocks but he has cleaned my whole substrate in a 125. Hardest worker in my tank by far and probably the best member of my CUC.

 

[goldmullet]

Hey does it need to be housed with a refugium attached to the tank?

see from liveaquria here "need to have live sand as the substrate, and an attached populated refugium"

Are they easy to keep alive?

 

[djkms]

Hey does it need to be housed with a refugium attached to the tank?

see from liveaquria here "need to have live sand as the substrate, and an attached populated refugium"

Are they easy to keep alive?

If that information is based upon available food then I am not sure. My Diamond goby eats pellets and rods food when I broadcast feed. He doesn't actively swim in the water column to get food but he will place himself below the herd and "jump" up to grab food when its in the water and near him.

 

[dzhuo]

Are they easy to keep alive?

I don't think this particular goby needs live sand or a fuge. It would help but not strictly necessary. However, if you have live rock or a cup of live sand to seed your tank, your sand will eventually become live in a few months. Having said that, your tank would not be large enough to support a diamond on pods & micro-fungas alone even if you start with live sand with a fuge. My tank has a 4'x3' sandbed and I don't believe this is enough. This is the reason why I stressed that you must be willing to provide enough food for the goby to eat. Failing to do that, it will most likely starve to dead within a few months. I would consider this particular sand sifting goby somewhere between easy and moderate.

 

[RcToners]

Well here is another +1 for the Diamond Goby!

My diamond goby eats anything and everything, he is a PIG. He does a great job cleaning and sifting the sand bed all day.

As far as burrows, he makes a few but usually just stays in one. My sand bed varies from 1/2" to 1 & 1/2" , he will pile up sand where needed to make a burrow.

 

[goldmullet]

So I bought the Diamond watchman goby and he's been in the tank for 2 days. I have seen him once but how ling before he starts sifting the sand? He Hides under the live rock all day. Does it take a while for him to get comfortable?

 

[thebkramer]

its because of this thread that I went and bought a Diamond Goby too!!! :bounce3:
Here is my Goby Thread with the same question:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2025158

mine is also still hiding.. he peaked out from his rock today.. ate.. then buried himself under again within seconds lol

Enjoy yours!! I know I already am mine!!

 

[CLisPRO]

I agree with watchman/pistol just got it today and they are already stirring it up pretty nicely.

 

[dzhuo]

So I bought the Diamond watchman goby and he's been in the tank for 2 days. I have seen him once but how ling before he starts sifting the sand? He Hides under the live rock all day. Does it take a while for him to get comfortable?

Yes it will take him a while to get comfortable. It's not uncommon for this particular goby to hide or do "nothing" in the first couple of weeks. Once it settles, however, it will make up for the lack of fast start with vigorous sifting behavior.

 

[ian09]

I had a diamond goby as well. Great for sifting the sand, one is more than enough in your tank IME, make sure your rock is anchored in well as mine constantly dug under my rock and created little hills where he spat out the sand. The bottom of my rocks were always partially buried so be careful with your low leveled coral and a tank cover is a definite must as mine jumped out as well.

 

[goldmullet]

Ok sounds good. So I'll let the little
Guy settle first before he cleans the sand. Also will any pistol shrimp pair up with him? Or will it only happen sometimes?

 

[dzhuo]

Also will any pistol shrimp pair up with him? Or will it only happen sometimes?

It will not make association with the pistol shrimp.

 

[SushiGirl]

Mine paired up with a blue coral-banded shrimp (max size 1 1/2"). It was neat to see the Diamond, a 2" red-headed goby, and the tiny shrimp all share the same burrow. The shrimp cleaned the Diamond in return for protection.

You can see the blur of the shrimp on the right here, he had been cleaning the goby's mouth & I didn't get to the camera in time.