I need a sand sifter... Suggestions?

[ToddBell]

I need to get a sand sifter of some kind to keep my black sand bed clean. I had a diamond watchman who did a stellar job but my White Ribbon Eel decided to eat him... What about a sand sifting starfish? My tank mates are below...
Flame angel
Niger trigger
3 stripe damsel
Bicolor FoxFace
Percula clown.

 

[Anthrax15]

Sand sifter star is just going to deplete any biological life you have in your sand then die. Id try another Diamond and feed your Eel more often. No other option really other than manually cleaning it.

 

[Frizz]

I have a sand sifter that I picked up at a PETCO a while back after being encouraged by someone else on this forum. It has plenty to eat & seems very hardy. In fact I wish he would do more. I don't know about fish compatibility though. If anyone would be a problem it would be the trigger. Not saying that it would be. I just don't know.
Frizz

 

[evolved]

Nassarius snails are really your best option.

Any sand sifting fish, and especially star fish, typically depletes the sand bed off all fauna and then dies of starvation, unless the tank is very large (250+ gallons).

 

[Frizz]

That makes sense. My sand sifter works non stop, that's for certain. my own tank is a 125 but admittedly, that only counts the display. The actual setup is much larger & it has been established for a long time. My maintenance is pretty erratic also. Always be pretty sure that YPu can take care of anything that's alive before you bring it home.
Frizz

 

[tdp22]

Bye, Bye eel! ha! Maybe you can find a large SLEEPER GOBY? My Pink Diamond Goby is a sifting machine!! Limited Edition Corals had a very large engineer goby, don't know if that might work.

 

[bgifford]

diamond goby will sift your sand bed clean. I personally really like the horseshoe crab. They are very peaceful, cheap, and look like its from the prehistoric period of time- just keep him fed and have a plan for when he outgrows your tank.

 

[ToddBell]

Bye, Bye eel! ha! Maybe you can find a large SLEEPER GOBY? My Pink Diamond Goby is a sifting machine!! Limited Edition Corals had a very large engineer goby, don't know if that might work.

The Eel is my favorite so he's not going anywhere. My guess was it was a crime of opportunity. The first few days I had him he didn't eat any frozen foods. No he's a silverside eating pig. I have 20 nsarius snails in my tank already. I might try a sleep next since they are bigger.

 

[coralreefjunkie]

Hmm:idea: May I suggest a tiger tail sea cucumber? I think they are the best detritus eater around. Because they are venomous, technically, most of the livestock you've listed would stay away from them. They hide in crevices during the day, and only come out when the lights are turned off and fishes turned in for the night.

I saw one in Jeff Porter's tank not too long ago. His substrate is so clean; thus, I know the cucumber is doing an excellent job.

Here's a link to information about the cucumber: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+502+712&pcatid=712

 

[BobthePhotoGuy]

Tiger Tail Cucumbers are great, I love mine.

Problem is that he keeps his hind end behind the rocks and comes out and ingests all the sand and poops it out behind the rocks. So I have a build up of sand towards the back of the aquarium.

Otherwise he does a great job.

Bob

 

[babystang]

I would go with nassarius snails. Even though it's rare, anything in the cucumber family has the possibility of nuking your tank. Snails are also cheap and easily replaceable!

 

[Stolireef]

diamond goby will sift your sand bed clean. I personally really like the horseshoe crab. They are very peaceful, cheap, and look like its from the prehistoric period of time- just keep him fed and have a plan for when he outgrows your tank.

Plus one on this. Mine diamond was an absolute vacuum cleaner. The only problem is that they can be a bit messy. Then again, my sand was white all the time.

 

[afishionado]

Strombus alatus.

IF, you have the system specs to properly care for one ...

Do not place these in small systems, BBs, and/or ones with limited microfauna populations no matter the size. Also, one specimen per 2-3sqft of benthos is the maximum ideal density.