What to use as a sand sifter?

NewbyReefer

Member
Was wondering if there is a blenny or fish in general that would make it with a Zebra Eel, Porc Puff, And eventually a Picasso Trig. If not a sand sifter, someone who will go behing the other guys picking up the scraps off the bottom.
 
No idea on the goby, but if it doesn't work, there are plenty of FOWLR tanks with no sand sifters or other scavengers. Avoid over-feeding and let your bio-filter do its job. Some left-over food isn't a big deal if your filtration is adequate.Its really no different than food that's gone through the fish first.
 
No idea on the goby, but if it doesn't work, there are plenty of FOWLR tanks with no sand sifters or other scavengers. Avoid over-feeding and let your bio-filter do its job. Some left-over food isn't a big deal if your filtration is adequate.Its really no different than food that's gone through the fish first.

It's more or less small pieces that are left after the puffer sucks food in and out or when feeding the eel the food gets free and no one gets it. Its just a pain in the azz to chase uneaten food around the tank.
 
It's more or less small pieces that are left after the puffer sucks food in and out or when feeding the eel the food gets free and no one gets it. Its just a pain in the azz to chase uneaten food around the tank.

Let you're friendly bacteria eat it. That's what they're there for. If you still see uneaten food an hour after you feed, maybe a circulation problem. I have tons of messy eaters, probably over-feed, have no scavengers and never chase down uneaten food. I do have a homemade tool to stir the substrate once in a while, but that's it. In my FOWLR tanks, uneaten food is gone within 1/2 hour--max.
I'll learn something here; I'm not an eel person nor do I keep gobies in my FOWLR tanks; Aren't most gobies potential lunch for any moray eel?
 
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My diamond goby sifts the sand all day and when I feed mysis brine and blooodworms he eats those as well. I'd imagin he'd eat anything else that hits the sand. Only con to them is sometimes they move sand onto corals that are on the sandbed
 
Let you're friendly bacteria eat it. That's what they're there for. If you still see uneaten food an hour after you feed, maybe a circulation problem. I have tons of messy eaters, probably over-feed, have no scavengers and never chase down uneaten food. I do have a homemade tool to stir the substrate once in a while, but that's it. In my FOWLR tanks, uneaten food is gone within 1/2 hour--max.
I'll learn something here; I'm not an eel person nor do I keep gobies in my FOWLR tanks; Aren't most gobies potential lunch for any moray eel?

I was thinking that as well about the goby being lunch. Part of the problem with food being left behind is the snails get ahold of it and goo it all up so nothing wants to touch it. I was also wondering if a Goat Fish would work as they stir the sand with there whiskers looking for little morsals in the sand.

My diamond goby sifts the sand all day and when I feed mysis brine and blooodworms he eats those as well. I'd imagin he'd eat anything else that hits the sand. Only con to them is sometimes they move sand onto corals that are on the sandbed

Only corals I have are just left overs from when I had a softy tank.
 
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