Wrasse w/o sand temporarily

[KillerReef]

This weekend I am planning to remove the rest of my sand from my tank in order to replace it with a larger grain. Unfortunately because of financial reasons, i can not afford to get the new sand yet, but because of tank health reasons, I have to get it done ASAP. I would like to go barebottom for maybe 2-4 weeks, but my problem is that I have a canary wrasse that sleeps in the sand. Will it be ok for that long without sand to sleep in?
A suggestion was made to take a tupperware container of sand and put it in a corner for it to sleep in for the time which is a great idea, but I also have a diamond goby. So how can i A> get the DG to not remove all the sand from the container and B> keep the flow in the tank from not knocking the snd out of the tupperware. Thanks, Dave

 

[Airwolf75]

I have a BB tank with 2 China Pearl Wrasses and they both sleep in a styrofoam Deli Cup of sand.

 

[KillerReef]

styrofoam? Any chance you have pics? Thanks, Dave

 

[AuroraDrvr]

It doesn't need to be styrofoam. It can be something else, like a plastic sandwich Tupperware.

 

[KillerReef]

It doesn't need to be styrofoam. It can be something else, like a plastic sandwich Tupperware.

i know, that is what i am planning on using. I just am curious to see the styrofoam setup. Really wondering how big i should go, unfortunately my tank isn't that big and i have a lot of flow....

 

[AuroraDrvr]

How big is the wrasse? Find something about double his length (in both directions) and you should be good, IMHO. I've needed to use tupperware when QT'ing Leopards and Coris wrasses, and that rule of thumb hasn't failed me yet.

 

[fox2589]

i would be more worried about the diamond goby starving from no sand/pods to sift through more then where you wrasse will sleep.im prettty sure wrasses form a coccoon type sludge and sleep in rocks anyway-drew

 

[KillerReef]

How big is the wrasse? Find something about double his length (in both directions) and you should be good, IMHO. I've needed to use tupperware when QT'ing Leopards and Coris wrasses, and that rule of thumb hasn't failed me yet.

thanks, i have some of those. I'm really curious, how does the sand not end up everywhere in the BB tanks?

i would be more worried about the diamond goby starving from no sand/pods to sift through more then where you wrasse will sleep.im prettty sure wrasses form a coccoon type sludge and sleep in rocks anyway-drew

thanks for the concern, but the DG eats prepared foods very well so he should be fine, this is only temporary...

 

[Airwolf75]

My wrasses don't scatter it around, they swim over then go right under in an instant.

Here, they are in ther sleeping right now. It's in the back wher it can't be seen.

 

[KillerReef]

Awesome airwolf, thanks for the pics. I will be using tupperware instead but great to see that this idea works. Thanks everybody...

 

[HOBrien]

That idea has helped me alot as I am wanting to remove my sand bed but I do have a Christmas wrasse that sleeps in it and I can make an area that a tubberware container can go with same but am curious on how you would go about concealing it so it doesnt stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[KillerReef]

mine is temporary, so concealment is not my #1 priority, but if you can find a spot behind your rocks, you should be good. Mine will actually be in the back left corner of my DT mostly hidden behind the rock. My tank is set in a corner so that spot will be very difficult to see. I will have a second one in the back right where it will be more visible mainly for the Diamond goby.

The advantage I have is that i am completely removing my live rock so i will be able to make the spot for the tupperware. If you are adding it later and you have a lot of rock, then i would think the styrofoam idea like Airwolf did should be easier to fit back there.

 

[Airwolf75]

I shoved mine in back where I can't really see it. Maybe get one of those fake plastic rocks with a hollow botom and flip it upside down.

 

[HOBrien]

I shoved mine in back where I can't really see it. Maybe get one of those fake plastic rocks with a hollow botom and flip it upside down.

That is a good idea.