sand sifters and sand size?

[Spiffyguy]

I want to get some sand sifting type fish for my tank but I am worried about the sand size. Planet reef has some nice orange diamond gobies and some yellow watchman but I am not sure if they would be ok with my sand size. My sand is a mix of "reef size" live sand from agralive and sand from the package I got from TBS. It is certainly not sugar size and there is no way they could filter it through gills I would reckon. So is there some good sand sifters, or a fish that will move the sand around, that would be good for this size sand? I know watchmen get fairly large but would they survive until then?

And since everyone loves pictures here are some of my sand. They are older shots but I got the bandwidth

 

[latazyo]

what about an engineer goby or a conch?

 

[Spiffyguy]

I have a conch. He cruises around ok. Not sure what type. Was sold as "generic Conch". Doesn't stir up the sand too much though.

I would love an engineer goby but they get too big. I pulled a 13 inch one out of my friends tank. No way I can have one in my tank for more than maybe 4-6 months before it would be too big. They are awesome fish though.

 

[Schplitter]

I asked the same question last night after you left and I think that one of those ugly brown starfish would do the job.

Even if you have to remove the eng goby after 6 months you can just trade him in for a smaller one or go for store credit...

I like change in my tank...

Awesome frag by the way. Thanks

BK

 

[JxMetal]

pistol shrimp?

 

[kirby_32]

Spiffy,

If decide to look for a sand sifting star let me know. I have one that is about 3.5' and would be willing to trade.

Kevin

 

[frenchie]

pistol shrimps, conchs, nassarus snails, i would do all three. I'm looking for a pistol shrimp myself.

 

[Fade]

How about a Jawfish? Ms has pistol shrimps.

 

[frenchie]

engineer goby would burrow up under rocks and cause them to fall over, luckily mine picked a big rock in sand and now its is sunk down lower in sand.

 

[frenchie]

thanks fade

 

[Spiffyguy]

i have thought about a jawfish. The sand has some shells mixed in to give the fish some rubble for burrows. But my sand be is only about 4 inches. I thought they needed like 6.

Pistol shrimp would probably work. I have 3 in there now but they are very small ones. maybe inch to an inch and a half. I would love to get a goby though to go with it. That brings me back to the problem of the sand being to large for any sand sifters. would that include in a shrimp gobies too?

I plan on making up some home made fish food and start feeding that to the tank. Maybe that would be enough food for a bottom dwelling guy?

 

[frenchie]

what kind of hitchikers did you get with tbs package

 

[Spiffyguy]

bunch of hitchhikers. some pistol shrimp, porcelain crabs. Bunch of gorilla crab but most of those have been smoked out. I got the octopus but he got pulled too. Quite a few limpets all over the place. Couple different cowries, although I have not seen them in awhile. Lots of tube and cup corals scattered all over the rock. Barnacles and some other crazy things that are filter feeders. Lots of neat stuff.