Does orange-spotted goby sift sand?

[Tuscaquatics]

So lately I'm having an issue with algae on my sand bed in my 55-gallon. And I reached in to kind of feel the sand and it felt rather compacted. I have a sand-sifting star that I've had for about 6 months, but lately he's been kinda sluggish and I'm wondering if he's either slowly dying, or maybe having trouble sifting the sand since it's compacted. I'm gonna have to order some nassarius snails here pretty soon to stir it up. I'd do it tomorrow but I'll have to pay 25 bucks for shipping on just a few dollars worth of snails. I'm gonna have to figure something out as far as that goes.

I have an orange-spotted goby in my 10-gallon (he's still pretty small). He hides a lot in there and I never see him actually sifting through the sand, though the sand bed in there is clean. I've looked everywhere online and I can't find a definitive answer as to whether they're any good at cleaning a sand bed.

I'm thinking of catching him and moving him over to the 55. Does anybody know if he'll clean up the sand in there? And will he get along with my other fish? I have a cinnamon clown, lawnmower blenny, lunar wrasse and yellow tang. Obviously the blenny would be what I'm most worried about.

If he won't work, what other kind of goby would you recommend? My buddy has a dragon goby that he says is great, but I'm not crazy about how they look.

 

[saix88]

No, but a diamond goby sand sifts, they are similar looking, but would be to large for a 10g. I would recommend a watchman goby.

 

[small alien]

No, but a diamond goby sand sifts, they are similar looking, but would be to large for a 10g. I would recommend a watchman goby.

I don't believe watchman gobies sift sand.

 

[small alien]

i would add that I don't think that lack of a sand sifting fish is your issue.

 

[saix88]

I don't believe watchman gobies sift sand.

They do, but only a certain area which is why they are good for a smaller tank. They don't sift much though, but they do.

 

[saix88]

Why don't you stir the sand with your hand?...

 

[Tuscaquatics]

Why don't you stir the sand with your hand?...

I've tried that. But it just mixes the algae in and then it grows back. What else do you think the problem could be? I'm pretty sure it's not flow. I have two Koralia 3's in there. The strands of algae that grow on the sand seem to blow around pretty well so I figure it's getting plenty of flow. And I'm not getting cyano in those areas either.

 

[Tuscaquatics]

Anybody have more thoughts?

 

[Mr.evo]

what about a tiger cucumber i have 1 and it eats everything of the sand

 

[Recty]

You could always try something as simple as doing more water changes, that typically makes a decent dent in keeping nuisance algae down.

 

[Tuscaquatics]

You could always try something as simple as doing more water changes, that typically makes a decent dent in keeping nuisance algae down.

I don't disagree, but it seems to be more of a problem of just detritus buildup in the sand bed.

I'm leaning towards some nassarius snails for now. There are some decent deals on Ebay that don't require 25 dollar shipping.

 

[Recty]

Gotcha. I thought you had posted you were having algae problems.

If it's just detritus, then yeah, a small fish or snails for stirring up the sand bed would help.

 

[oigimsar]

I have a signal goby (sometimes called a twin spot goby or crab eye goby) that does a great job in my 34 gallon. I have heard they prefer to be in pairs so maybe that would be better for your size tank. They are also really pretty fish and fun to watch.

I have heard the orange marked gobies are also good and don't get as big as the diamond goby but I haven't actually had one.

 

[joejoe1055]

i agree with Tuscaqautics on the nassarius snails

 

[Little Lucy 27]

I had a Diamond Goby for about 48 hrs in a 75 and it was like hiring "Maid Brigade"! He was the BOMB!! little workhorse and cleared up my sand to pristine...then...he jumped to his death...so if you get one be sure to net all openings...my tank is pretty tight as far as openings go and he had to really try hard to get out...but he did..I found him DOA on the floor..by way of the overfflow...I WILL be getting another one...good luck