Diamond Goby's and Sandbed Corals?

[falconut]

What corals are at risk of being buried with these guys? Do the sift while sitting on the bottom or do the swim and sift?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2971+220&pcatid=220

I was looking thinking of adding one of these guys to stir the sandbed. I've read that they are one of the more likely sand sifters to eat prepared foods too.

I've got a 90 gallon tank with a 1" - 1/2" deep sandbed. On the sandbed, I have two large clams (4"+), an acan frag (1" round and extends about 1" up from sand), devils finger (raises up about 3" from sand), favia frag (1" round and extends about 1" up from sand), candy cane coral (polyps are about 2" above sand), some GSP and Yellow Polyps most on sand and an Orange Fungia Plate Coral (about 3" diameter).

I imagine the plate, the GSP and the Yellow Polyps are the most at risk. Does this sound correct or are any of the corals on the sand at risk.

 

[yh1185]

They will cover any coral that is on the sand bed. They like to move sand to make and re-make their sleeping areas every day. They're awesome to watch, but you might want to find a way to keep the corals off of the sand bed, or even the ones that maybe just off the sand bed.

 

[falconut]

I guess I was under the wrong assumption. I thought they stayed at the bottom when they sifted. Only a couple of the corals I listed, are laying flat on the sand. The other branch up.

 

[yh1185]

They do only sift the sand while on the "bottom", or the sand bed, but that changes as they pile up and lower the sand at will. They will create hills or mounds if they want, and they can get pretty high. The one i had would flatten out the sand during the day, and then move a bunch of sand near it's hole during the night. basically i would expect every coral that i have on my sand bed to be covered in sand, and if there are corals that are located near it's hole, i wouldn't be shocked to see some sand on it as well. Basically these fish will move tons and tons of sand every day, so no coral on the sandbed is safe. Good luck.

 

[MBVette]

mine builds mounts a couple inches high, and will bury anything on the sand or just off the sandbed.

 

[reefjunkie42]

honestly.... maybe you want to look into a smaller size goby. i have 2 dracula gobys and they never bury coral. they find a burrow and make it getter. then they live there.so long as no coral is near the entrance you should be fine. they are cryptic creatures and like to stay put for the most part, esp in a dt with other more boiserious fish

 

[falconut]

I think my Flame Hawk would probably eat smaller gobies.

 

[HV1990]

Break up some live rock so your corals are not on the sand bed. They will be a raised. I just take a big piece of live rock and through it on the ground. Use the smaller pieces to put my low light corals on. This way they move but not be buried.