detritus issues in a nanocube

[FishWife1]

Ugh! No matter how much I blow off my rocks and put a pc. of sponge in the overflow to catch the gunk, I still have too much dust on my rocks and sand. I didn't have this problem in larger tanks, i guess there was enough space to hide the mess. Siphoning isn't a goodcure because there just isn't that much water.

I've read that cukes are good detritus eaters. Is it true?

I honestly don't know where all this stuff is coming from - I only have 2 small fish; purple firefish and Yellow Watchman goby...hmmmm! I guess it could be him but this doesn't look like sand, it looks like dirt.

Anyways, any input on the cukes? Type, possible problems, etc.

Thanks - Laurie

 

[iCam]

I probably wouldn't put a tiger cuke in that size tank. They can grow to a fair size.

I don't know what would be causing the detritus. How much do you feed?

 

[reefwick]

are you sure it isn't just dust from your sand. How new is the tank? I have a Holothuria floridana cucumber in my 12 gallon DX and he is doing great. Have had him for almost a year.

 

[FishWife1]

Tank is only a couple of months old so the newness could be an issue. I feed once a day but probably too much. It's just a nasty grayish dust that lays on the rock and sand. Probably some of it is the bottom crud I bought from PA but I am ready for it to settle in and disappear.


Maybe I will try to find one of the holy smokes Florida cukes, or whatever they're called. Thanks a lot.

Laurie

 

[prugs]

I see you have a 12gal nano cube. Have you done any mods to increase your flow?

 

[FishWife1]

I installed a stronger pump MJ 900, and a hydorflo for the output. I really do think the problem is my YW gobie. When I looked in the tank this a.m. everything was covered in dust and you could see where he had been excavating. Some mushrooms were completely covered and I had to blow them off. He's out looking at me right now, must know I'm talking about him.

I picked up a black sea cuke today maybe he'll clean things up a little bit.

Laurie

 

[whatnot45]

brittle stars are great detrivores as are nassarius snails