Stirring up the bottom?
- Thread starter rmarc005
- Start date
Gina, a sand sifting star fish will stir up your sand, but as it does this it's searching for food to eat and will eat all your sand critters (other good animals that keep your sand bed live).
How old is your sand bed?
You may want to look into Nassarius snails, they hide in the sand and do a pretty good job of stirring up things.
How old is your sand bed?
You may want to look into Nassarius snails, they hide in the sand and do a pretty good job of stirring up things.
DMBillies
Active member
I'm no expert, but I have a sand sifting goby (Goldheaded... had a Diamond Goby before) and he shoots around the tank filtering sand all day preventing a similar problem that I had. They do have some downsides... they can dig under your rocks making them unstable if you don't have the rocks sitting all the way on the glass bottom of the tank, they are known for jumping out of the tank (especially until they settle in to a new tank) and some of them have a tendency to carry sand as they sift, dumping it on corals and rocks that are close to the bottom. Other than that, I think they're really fun to watch and will definitely get the job done.
Thanks everyone!
I have a 55 gallon. The algae sits on the surface of the sand-mostly green, some brownish. It starts to "layer". We have 4 fish-a Tang, Maroon Clown, Fire Goby? and a Mandarin. We have various Hermits one large snail (don't know what kind) and lots of tiny little snails. Three anemones (2 clown and a green) and a Green Sea Star. The filtration system is a Via Aqua Multi-skimmer and two pumps to push the water around the tank. I think that answers all your questions. A Cucumber sounds fun, but I thought they could release neuro-toxins if upset?
Gina
I have a 55 gallon. The algae sits on the surface of the sand-mostly green, some brownish. It starts to "layer". We have 4 fish-a Tang, Maroon Clown, Fire Goby? and a Mandarin. We have various Hermits one large snail (don't know what kind) and lots of tiny little snails. Three anemones (2 clown and a green) and a Green Sea Star. The filtration system is a Via Aqua Multi-skimmer and two pumps to push the water around the tank. I think that answers all your questions. A Cucumber sounds fun, but I thought they could release neuro-toxins if upset?
Gina
Oh- I forgot- we cut down are feedings to every other day after we bought the tank from the previous owner. I don't know how old the sand bed is because I don't know how long he had it. It is "established" for sure, perhaps for several years? And we also have a "Flaming Torch" coral and some mushroom corals and zantids/polyps (sorry, I probably killed the spelling on the last two).
Gina
Gina
kau_cinta_ku
New member
from what I read tigertail cucumbers do not relaese toxins into the water if they die like most others. but don't " me on that
Alaskan Reefer
New member
Nutrients are the issue, cyano and green slimy algae will form on the sand surface in mats. In a newer (or just recently moved) tank it's normal until you get nutrient import / export balanced. Pull the mats with a net and eventually they'll all go away.
As for sifting, I use an army of cerith snails (about 30 in a 125, which is a lot of snails given my nutrient poor tank conditions) and a handful of nassarius. I'd avoid the starfish as well, as they'll eat the other beneficial critters in the sand.
I strongly suggest a skimmer upgrade (coralife super skimmer is a solid, good bang for the buck unit) and potentially a circulation pump upgrade -- how much flow are your in-tank pumps putting out? You should be shooting for at least 25X turnover in a mixed reef, or 1375 gallons per hour among all the pumps. Both a skimmer upgrade and a flow upgrade will help with this problem...
As for sifting, I use an army of cerith snails (about 30 in a 125, which is a lot of snails given my nutrient poor tank conditions) and a handful of nassarius. I'd avoid the starfish as well, as they'll eat the other beneficial critters in the sand.
I strongly suggest a skimmer upgrade (coralife super skimmer is a solid, good bang for the buck unit) and potentially a circulation pump upgrade -- how much flow are your in-tank pumps putting out? You should be shooting for at least 25X turnover in a mixed reef, or 1375 gallons per hour among all the pumps. Both a skimmer upgrade and a flow upgrade will help with this problem...
Thanks all!- I don't think "upgrades" are an option at the moment , although I have taken down the info for the future. We just bought the tank and have doled out more money for "stuff" then my husband assumed we would (he underestimated my commitment which of course sometimes = money!) Anyway, I bought some of the Narrisus (spelling?) snails they seem to be helping and I think I will get some more!
The sand sifting Mandarin sounds great, but would it not get a long with our other Mandarin? Also- just curious- what is a "Fighting Conch?".
Thank you!
Gina
The sand sifting Mandarin sounds great, but would it not get a long with our other Mandarin? Also- just curious- what is a "Fighting Conch?".
Thank you!
Gina
HornetMech242
Premium Member
Gina, a sand sifting star fish will stir up your sand, but as it does this it's searching for food to eat and will eat all your sand critters (other good animals that keep your sand bed live).
Am i doing a bad thing when i spot vac the sand? i am sucking the critters out of the tank?
And what is wrong with a Via-Aqua multi skimmer? Mine pulls alot of gunk out of the tank. The amount of gunk slowly went up with the amount of animals in the tank. So mine seems to be working just fine.
Chris
Am i doing a bad thing when i spot vac the sand? i am sucking the critters out of the tank?
And what is wrong with a Via-Aqua multi skimmer? Mine pulls alot of gunk out of the tank. The amount of gunk slowly went up with the amount of animals in the tank. So mine seems to be working just fine.
Chris
HornetMech242
Premium Member
Sorry, that was supposed to be a quote in my last post/
Chris
Alaskan Reefer
New member
There's nothing inherently wrong with the Via Aqua skimmer, but in this case the presence of the matting cyanobacteria and other algae suggests that it's likely inadequate for the tank -- there are too many nutrients, and it's the skimmer's job to remove them.
dastratt
New member
I agree don't add another mandarin. These are hard to keep alive unless it is eating regular food.
Do you have good test kits, what are your nitrate and phosphate levels? Are you using RO/DI water? What kind of lights and how long are they on? It is okay to vaccuum any mats of algae off of the sand bed during weekly water changes which is recommended esp if you have algae problems. This is a way to export nutrients. If the tank was moved recently this also can result in algae growth which should reduce over time if you feed minimally.
Good luck.
