Planning on going barebottom, however...

[Andyf30]

I have a melanurus wrasse and a small radiant wrasse in my tank. Any idea if they need a sand bed to sleep in? I know they use mine now to sleep in, however I'm going a heavy sps route and want to ditch sand to lower nutrients and increase flow. Any tips or first hand experience with this appreciated. Thanks,
Andy

 

[small alien]

Rehome the fish.

 

[dixiedog]

Yup.

 

[Andyf30]

Are you sure there's no other alternative? I've read places that people keep small tupperwares and things like that with sand in the tank behind the rock scape, and the fish use those. Any idea if that would actually work?

 

[Charley Diesing]

Are you sure there's no other alternative? I've read places that people keep small tupperwares and things like that with sand in the tank behind the rock scape, and the fish use those. Any idea if that would actually work?

This could work, depends though you risk the fish not finding it, and basically crushing his face into the glass.

 

[Andyf30]

Hmmm....I may end up trying the tray of sand deal, and if that doesn't work, then I will look for re-homing options (I have many)

 

[randomfishguy85]

i did the sand in a tupperware thing before with success. It was with a coris gaimard. try it.

 

[Andyf30]

Ok will do. I'm glad someones had success with it

 

[Moort82]

The tray does work well. I've used this in qt tanks from time to time. You just need to make sure that its a deep enough bed and if you have two wrasse using it then it will need to be large enough for both. Its also a good idea to have quite high sides with sand a couple of inches from the top as they don't mind spreading it about when they are getting comfy, a real pain if your going bare bottom.

 

[evolved]

Are you sure there's no other alternative? I've read places that people keep small tupperwares and things like that with sand in the tank behind the rock scape, and the fish use those. Any idea if that would actually work?

Yes, this does work just fine, and it's your only option if you wish to keep these wrasses. They NEED a sandbed.

Don't worry about the fish finding it; that'll happen without any assistance.

 

[Andyf30]

Yes, this does work just fine, and it's your only option if you wish to keep these wrasses. They NEED a sandbed.

Don't worry about the fish finding it; that'll happen without any assistance.

Glad to here this from one of the resident wrasse gurus on the forum! Thanks for confirming this will work. I was worried I'd have to let my wrasses go... Actually. What about a Randall's goby. Would he be ok as well? Not as sand dependent, but definitely a burrower

 

[Andyf30]

The tray does work well. I've used this in qt tanks from time to time. You just need to make sure that its a deep enough bed and if you have two wrasse using it then it will need to be large enough for both. Its also a good idea to have quite high sides with sand a couple of inches from the top as they don't mind spreading it about when they are getting comfy, a real pain if your going bare bottom.

I was planning on using two different tupperwares, one larger than the other (my melanurus is significantly larger than my radiant), and since I like the two island look for my aquascape. I was gonna place those in the tank first when setting up, and then aquascape around them so the are somewhat hidden in the rocks, and not crazy visible, however not place rocks over them so they are open to the water column and easy to find.

 

[evolved]

Actually. What about a Randall's goby. Would he be ok as well? Not as sand dependent, but definitely a burrower

I'm far from a goby expert, but I'm willing to bet he'd appreciate sand over no sand. Might want to re-home that one.

I was planning on using two different tupperwares, one larger than the other (my melanurus is significantly larger than my radiant), and since I like the two island look for my aquascape. I was gonna place those in the tank first when setting up, and then aquascape around them so the are somewhat hidden in the rocks, and not crazy visible, however not place rocks over them so they are open to the water column and easy to find.

Just make sure you can get the containers out if need be. And just because there's two, doesn't mean each will use one.

 

[Andyf30]

Hmm...I'll look around for a new home for my Randall's. And as far as two trays, I may use one and see what happens. I'm not sure if they would like, compete over it? lol

 

[small alien]

This could work, depends though you risk the fish not finding it, and basically crushing his face into the glass.

He did not say the fish were blind.

 

[small alien]

I've read about the Tupperware working. Just too fussy for me.

 

[evolved]

Hmm...I'll look around for a new home for my Randall's. And as far as two trays, I may use one and see what happens. I'm not sure if they would like, compete over it? lol

Nah, they'd probably use opposite ends. One will end up waiting for the other to go to bed first; they don't like a nearby audience when they take the sand dive. The worse thing that could happen is the second bumps into the first after he goes under, but then the first would just pop out and go back in a few minutes later.

 

[Andyf30]

Ok then one tray it is haha. This is gonna be easier than I thought