Sand sifting fish!

[shibumi]

Hi Folks -

We're trying to determine if a Diamond Goby would work in our current setup. We have a 36 gallon corner reef tank - and it's starting to collect some detrius on the live sand. Actually, we're assuming it's detrius.. if you put your finger down to the sand bed and wiggle around, it will cloud up in that area... detrius?

Our lfs suggested a sand sifting type fish and mentioned the Diamond Goby.

However, from looking around on the web, it looks like they recommend at least a 50 gallon tank for these guys. Is that correct? Would he be too cramped in a 36g? BTW, we also have ~60lbs of live rock in the tank taking up some space - so it's not just allllll sand.

Is the Diamond out of the question? If so are there any other good sand-sifters? Brownbarred Goby??

Currently we have 1 Osc Clown, 1 Pac Blue tang, 2 green Chromis, 1 skunk shrimp and several corals (plus the cleaning crew of hermit crabs and snails).

Thanks for your help!

 

[Warnberg]

Diamond Goby and Watchman Goby both will do it, however be prepared to have the fish pickup the sand, hover about 6 inches over your favorite coral/rock/whatever and filter...... they can make a mess. I have one in my 240 and he tends to make a mess in places. But to really clean it correctly you may want to stir the sand bed from time to time, just the top inch or so, when you do your water changes.

 

[the3kgt2]

I have a yellow-headed sleeper goby and he's a great sifter. But like Warnberg said, they can move sand into low sitting coral.

 

[W Ellis]

I had 1 of these: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2107
It did a great job of keeping the sand stirred and i dont think they get as big as the diamond goby. I agree with them constantly sifting sand on to low corals. I have an open brain that it always sifted right above.

I have a shallow sand bed and i stir it up by hand once a week and have no adverse effects.

 

[guntercb]

Dave or TTRex,

Does the guby dropping sand on your corals seem to harm the coral? Did you have to manually remove the sand from the coral?

I was thinking of getting a yellow watchman, but if it is going to potentially harm my corals I may stay away.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Warnberg]

No, no harm, I just blow off the sand once in a while. The candy cane coral I have actually has been doing better with a little sand around it... weird. The Zoa's just seem to stretch thru the sand on the rock so no harm there either.

BTW, I was over at John's place this weekend, he has a couple of nice young healthy diamond goby's in his shallow tank between the two big coral tanks, they seem to be happy and healthy (then again what fish of John's aren't) and they didn't seem to lift off the bottom nearly as much as my Yellow Headed Watchman does.
My watchman will do a 6 inch swim across the tank while sifting and the diamonds at johns where maybe an inch off the bottom while sifting.

 

[W Ellis]

I agree. I had no harm done to my corals and my open brain would actually remove the sand its self. I have my hands in my tank quite often anyway adding things or whatever so i would just push some water in the corals direction with my hand to get the sand off. I am probably heading to see john myself. I have been thinking about getting another goby myself. I have had to wait due to a disease outbreak in my tank and losing most of my fish.
IMO... I like them. They are nice to watch and do a outstanding job keeping the sand stirred.

 

[ericwebster]

Anybody have their Diamond Goby go MIA for a week or more? I ahve not seen mine in a bit.

I looked to see if he tried to escape .. does not seem it. He may just be taking a timeout in the sand somewhere.

 

[shibumi]

I finally got a dragon goby but I have a question:

Do they eat gorgonias? I saw him too much around my yellow gorgonia.

 

[Family Reefer]

I had a big watchman go missed for over a month and then one day while cleaning I found him chillin in my over flow. Was doing just fine down there too. He has since been relaxing under the rocks. Guess he felt lonely for a while......lol

 

[jiggy]

diamond gobies eat the critters in your sandbed that help breakdown organics. id go with a tigertail cucumber.