Diamond goby cleaning sand question

[bluestar34]

So I have a question... My diamond goby has been doing a great job cleaning the sand in my tank on the top level... Will he eventually sift through the deeper sand as I have 3-4 inch sand bed in my 20 gal tank or will I need to rake it up to expose it to my goby ?

 

[eatbreakfast]

He will only do the top layer. But why do you want him to sift the deeper part? You should want the lower part left alone for the benefits of having a sand bed of that depth.

 

[bluestar34]

Well I can see the deeper part upon the glass has algae on it and just wondering if he would clean that also or is that something that will go away on its on eventually ?

 

[Marshall O]

It will only look worse over time...which is not a bad thing! As mentioned you don't want that part of the sand disturbed.

 

[mastersonr]

Don't want to hijack the thread but I have a similar question. I added a diamond watchman goby 2 weeks ago. He seems to be doing well so far. I have a 6 ft 150 gallon tank and he dug a hole on the far left side of the tank. he is sifting the sand around the hole and also eating some frozen mysis and krill. He has slowly started to move farther from his hole (maybe 2 ft now) to sift sand as he gets more comfortable. Will he eventually cover the entire sand bed or just stay in the area around his burrow? do they dig more than 1 burrow in a larger tank or just stay in 1? I have a pretty peaceful tank so they are no other fish that bother him at all.

 

[bluestar34]

It will only look worse over time...which is not a bad thing! As mentioned you don't want that part of the sand disturbed.

Ok so I don't want to bother the deeper sand bed... Why do I not want that part of the sand bed cleaned? Sorry ifs it's a noob question I just want to understand why? Thanks

 

[H.reidi.MN]

That's where beneficial critters and bacteria dwell and its better if you don't disturb that area of the sand bed.. Sorry not much scientific info to my reply.

 

[bluestar34]

So will they eventually eat that algae up ir is it something I will always see whn I look at front if my tank?

 

[gsiegel]

If you want to clean the deeper border of the glass just get a mag float cleaner with the razor attached (they are about $100 but work great assuming you do not have an acrylic tank). Just slide across under the sand bed along the glass on a slight angle and it will be clean. I have a deep sand bed and do the same on my tank.