good sand cleaning invert?

[scotbehot]

I currently have a 55 gallon, and my cleaning crew seems to be more interested in the rock work than the sand. I have approximately 35 snails (astrea and nassarius), approximately 25 blue leg hermits, a coral banded shrimp, two pencil urchins, an Atlantic red sea star and two emerald crabs. Can someone recommend another invert that would clean the sand surface, that would get along with the others in the cuc?

If anyone has any other ideas on how to clean the sand surface, let me know. The sand bed is 3 inches deep, I was going with the DSB.

Thanks

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Get a Sand Sifting Starfish. They are great sand cleaners. Mine is always near the surface of the sand or on top of the sand, NEVER on the rocks.

 

[scotbehot]

He will get along with the Atlantic red sea star?

 

[tatuvaaj]

My all-time favorite is Holothuria hilla. Unfortunately, like sand sifting sea stars, it needs a lot of detritus to eat and thus might not be suitable for smaller aquariums (less than 100 gallons).

In a 55 gallon tank, I would try some smaller Strombus species.

 

[mscarpena]

Get a cucumber. Sand sifting stars always die in about 6 months. Also sand sifting stars eat mainly beneficial worms and inverst in the sand. When they are gone so is the star. You can also get some cerith or sand dwelling nassarius snails.

 

[adambirk]

its not an invert but i love my diamond goby. i have had sand stars cucumbers and by far love my goby the most. as stated before sand stars dont last long and they eat mostly good stuff in the sand that you want. the cucumbers never really worked well for me. i have heard many people love them but i never had good luck with them keeping my sand clean. my diamond goby keeps my sand bright white and doesnt add much to the bioload of my tank(90gallon) the one i have is small about 2 inches and is the perfect little worker. also great personallity and gets along with everyone.

 

[scotbehot]

Thanks for the suggestions, I have one question regarding the cucumber. I am concerned because I know if they die, they release toxic substances. I have had the cleaning crew since July 3rd, and complete water changes every two weeks. My parameters remain stable: nitrates 10-15 ppm, nitrites 0 ppm, ammonia 0 ppm, and my ph is pretty steady at 8.2 -8.3. Is this too soon to get a cucumber, I was planning on ordering it the weekend of July 31st/August 1st or maybe even the following week. The sand is getting dirty, it is a dark brown in certain areas, so I am sure there is plenty for it to eat, and again it is a 55 gallon aquarium with the cleaning crew listed in the first post.

Thanks

 

[scotbehot]

Also what type of cucumber does everyone recommend?

 

[tatuvaaj]

Although there are some risks in keeping sea cucumbers, it is my opinion that the risks are a bit exaggerated. It certainly true that a large specimen going through a water pump can kill all your fishes but so can many other things. It is just bad husbandry to keep pumps without protective covers, IMHO.

The filter feeding "sea apples" are much more toxic and are responsible for much of the bad reputation sea cucumbers have. There have been many deposit feeding sea cucumber deaths in reef tanks that have gone completely unnoticed

In my experience Holothuria hilla is an excellent choice, they are easy to keep, will multiply asexually and only rarely leave rocks and sand.

 

[Elysia]

Oh wait -- hold on.

This is a new tank?

For a 55 gallon tank, you've got a massive cleaning crew in there to begin with, in my opinion. I have a 56 gallon. I have a single half-dollar sized alage eating snail (a Lithopoma), perhaps a dozen small Nassarius, and a combination of Cerths (three larger ones and maybe six very small species.) There are 4 small hermits in the tank and one cleaner shrimp.

Diatom blooms are normal for a new tank. Being able to support such a huge CUC right from the start will be difficult. Many snails perfer to eat diatoms, so your snails are likely keeping more of this in check than you realize. I wouldn't add to your CUC.

 

[tatuvaaj]

I agree that 55 gallon tank is bit small but it is certainly possible to keep H. hilla in one. I had one in my 50 gallon tank that grew very large and split to two. Now I have five of them, all quite large

 

[scotbehot]

It is a new tank with the new creatures, prior to this it was established for over four years, so the live rock has a lot of growth on it. I just wanted to switch from a canister filter to a sump system, i kept a large portion of the old water and the tank has not had any issues, I can wait though, in no rush, i just really want a nice looking sand bed!

 

[scotbehot]

What do most people recommend as a good size for a cleaning crew for my size tank, I have gotten mixed reviews, some like a lot some like a little. I am curious as to what people think since it has been brought up by Elysia.

Thanks

 

[Elysia]

Sorry if my post was a bit harsh. Its just my opinion that many of the "guidelines" given to people on how to stock clean up crews end up recommending way too many animals. But each tank is different.

Maybe you will find some of these articles helpful and/or interesting.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rs/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/rs/index.php

http://www.fishchannel.com/saltwate...altwater-aquariums/fish-food/nassarius-snails

 

[tatuvaaj]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15403011#post15403011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Elysia
Sorry if my post was a bit harsh. Its just my opinion that many of the "guidelines" given to people on how to stock clean up crews end up recommending way too many animals. But each tank is different.

I agree. The kits available many times have ridiculous number of snails and (especially) hermit crabs. Far too often a majority of snails die from the lack of food and a hobbyist ends up with only a few, starved snails. Ironically, large number of hermit crabs can help in this because they will kill (sooner or later) a good number of the snails

I have 12 Turbo sp. snails in my 240 gallon tank and I'm constantly worried they won't find enough food. I dose silicates to encourage diatom growth and so far everything is fine but I would not add any more snails.