Diamond Goby-big mess

[frank551]

We just got a Diamond Goby into our display tank last night. I knew he would disturn the sand sarface. I woke up this morning, and bam! The tank is cloudy, and he's re-arranged a lot of sand. I'm concerned that the bottom layer of sand has been disturbed. I'm going to run tests in a few minutes, but thought I'd see what others thought or had experience with.

It's a 70g.

 

[dc]

That's what they do.

 

[Paintbug]

yep, hes going to move the sand to where he wants it. if you move it back he starts over. the cloud should settle out in time.

 

[Sk8r]

The cloud should settle: this powdery residue is broken-down aragonite, likely, and he is cleaning. He will occasionally kick up dust. He works thoroughly, but on a patch at a time. I hesitate to get one in a 52, but a 75 should be able to use his services.b

 

[ReefBuilderNJ]

yes, if you could deal with the re-organization of him, then he will do a great service of sifting the sand around .

 

[frank551]

I don't mind the reorginization, and I realise that to some degree he will eat pods and worms and such. My rock is firmly resting on the bottom, so I'm not concerned about that.

But should I worry about him adversly affecting the anaroebics and whatnot in my DSB?

 

[dc]

Anything that sifts like that will effect the sandbed.

 

[frank551]

effect, yes, but will it be BAD? As in, destroy the de nitrifying bacteria?

 

[gman0526]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8294254#post8294254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by frank551
... and I realise that to some degree he will eat pods and worms and such...

Not to some degree, it will completely deplete your sandbed of pods and such, that's what it's doing...looking for food.

And for people running a DSB w/o pods is like me running my BB tank w/o a skimmer.

 

[Fountainhead]

The cloudiness will clear up. When I added my diamond goby he'd make the most ridiculous piles. I only have shallow sand bed (maybe an inch and a half) and he'd make huge 6 inch piles in one spot and leave it bare bottom somewhere else. I'd always smooth it out but within a couple of hours it'd be back the way he liked it. The fish was a tireless worker and he always won these little battles.

He finally settled into a more normal housekeeping routine, and while he'd still make piles here and there, they weren't so outrageous. He was a cool fish and he really kept the sand clean. I was bummed when he died.

The only thing I'd watch is if you have corals sitting low. He could easily bury them.