Maintaining substrate for sand dwelling nems

[toruk]

How do you guys maintain your substrate for your sand dwelling anemone? I know its recommended to have 3-5in of substrate for many of them and it seems that DSB are kind of looked down upon so I wanted to know how you guys maintain them? I am planning on getting a long tentacle anemone.

 

[Winwood]

A healthy sand bed is real in my opinion, but store bought critters aren't part of the equation. If you want to have a successful, semi-deep sandbed, you don't want to keep species that prey on the detritivours that keep it "churning". Different types of worms are usually a big part of a healthy sandbed, and certain species of butterflies like copperbands and longnosed can really decimate their populations. Along with those are sand sifting gobies, which do the same thing, but are more efficient at it.

On top of that a yearly siphoning is advantageous to remove some detritus and dead organisms that can not be processed. I recommend a very long syphon vacuum that allows for a steadied low flow for this.

 

[toruk]

im so sorry I did not even know someone responded to my thread thank you. When you say sand sifting gobies you do not mean watchman gobies right?

 

[Winwood]

No. Watchman goby types are usually fine. They don't "sift" a whole lot except in their immediate area. The ones to watch out for are those in the genus Valenciennea and Ablygobius phalaena. These types are super efficient at ridding a sandbed of it's microfauna.

 

[toruk]

So last question and this one is kind of specific. Can I do a long tentacle anemone in 3in of substrate? I have a 20in cube and I feel like 5in would be too deep. Or maybe it would not?

 

[taylor t]

5" is not too deep for LTA. 3" may work, 5" is better. When you put it in the tank, make a little bit of a "hole" at the base of a rock to help try to get it started digging.