A critter that will eat algae from the sand bed

[smarcuscofer]

I have had an algae problem so I got some new astrea snails I've had good luck with them.. And some emerald crabs I also added some eco pods and over the course of 2 weeks my rocks are looking substantially better I have some nassarious snails 2 different species by the looks of them but no one really touches the algae on the sand it's only a20 gallon so I don't have room for much is there a snail that would spend time on the sand the astrea pretty much stuck to the rocks

 

[Troylee]

Fighting conch. Not sure it will eat what algae you have but worth a shot..

 

[Jekyl]

Pics and parameters? Usually we are the best CuC

 

[DanyL]

Fighting conch. Not sure it will eat what algae you have but worth a shot..

Agree.
Any Conch (Stroumbus) will be perfect for the job, not only Fighting Conchs.

Even if they don’t eat this specific algae you have, they do stir the sand, which tremendously help reducing it.

 

[smarcuscofer]

Not a very good pic it's green in color when I take it out of the tank it really grabs ahold of the sand I have a long brush I usually sweep it to the corner and vac it out but it take sand with it
Salinity. .026-.027
Nit. 10-15
Phos. 5ppb
Cal 450 ish
Mag. 1350 ish

 

[smarcuscofer]

Agree.
Any Conch (Stroumbus) will be perfect for the job, not only Fighting Conchs.

Even if they don’t eat this specific algae you have, they do stir the sand, which tremendously help reducing it.

I'll have to look into a conch the nassarious are supposed to stir the sand but they come out eat roam around the tank and the tree bury themselves in the same spot they came from

 

[Troylee]

I'll have to look into a conch the nassarious are supposed to stir the sand but they come out eat roam around the tank and the tree bury themselves in the same spot they came from

Nassi snails are carnivores and don’t help with algae… they do stir the same thou.

 

[smarcuscofer]

Nassi snails are carnivores and don’t help with algae… they do stir the same thou.

They are mostly to clean up extra food and stir sand I know they won't eat the algae.... Should I try to stir the sand more often I usually do it once a week with a water change I gotta do one today I didn't get to it yesterday

 

[Troylee]

They are mostly to clean up extra food and stir sand I know they won't eat the algae.... Should I try to stir the sand more often I usually do it once a week with a water change I gotta do one today I didn't get to it yesterday

You can… if you have a gravel vac and a filter sock you can clean your sand and recycle the water into the sump while catching the majority of the nasties.

 

[shakacuz]

cerith snails, conch (fighting or tiger/strawberry), and if you're looking for a fish to help: hector's goby or court jester goby.

 

[DanyL]

cerith snails, conch (fighting or tiger/strawberry), and if you're looking for a fish to help: hector's goby or court jester goby.

Just be aware that some gobbies will also throw the sand on corals.

Some wrasses also somewhat stir the sand when they hide in it, but aren’t very effective for this purpose.

 

[smarcuscofer]

You can… if you have a gravel vac and a filter sock you can clean your sand and recycle the water into the sump while catching the majority of the nasties.

I try to gravel vac but it's heavier than the sand I usually take sand along with it I suppose that is normal sometimes though it's been going on for long enough that I need to add a lil more sand

 

[smarcuscofer]

cerith snails, conch (fighting or tiger/strawberry), and if you're looking for a fish to help: hector's goby or court jester goby.

It would have to be a small goby for only 20g I've thought about it but I worry it wouldn't have enough sand to sift I have a decorative sand bed it's less than an inch

 

[shakacuz]

It would have to be a small goby for only 20g I've thought about it but I worry it wouldn't have enough sand to sift I have a decorative sand bed it's less than an inch

they stay small and don't swim munch aside from the grazing they do all throughout the tank. one will be fine in a 20G. and don't worry about there not being enough sand, they graze on rocks/glass as well.

 

[Troylee]

I try to gravel vac but it's heavier than the sand I usually take sand along with it I suppose that is normal sometimes though it's been going on for long enough that I need to add a lil more sand

If you use a filter sock to catch everything in the sump and feed the gravel vac hose into it you can repurpose the sand also.. empty it from the sock and give it a good rinse in a strainer etc and put it back in.. or add new that works also.

 

[smarcuscofer]

they stay small and don't swim munch aside from the grazing they do all throughout the tank. one will be fine in a 20G. and don't worry about there not being enough sand, they graze on rocks/glass as well.

Thanks I'll have to look into this

 

[t.mehoves]

Lawnmower Blenny?

 

[vetteguy53081]

For me- Nassarius and trochus

 

[RockBox13]

You should gravel vac your sandbed every time you change water. Some Microbacter would probably help you out too.

 

[PotatoPig]

Another vote for conches.

Have 2 tiger conches and they seem to eat just about anything, even stuff like green cyano that most of the rest of my CUC ignored. Past tense, as they ate it all.