Looking for help with cleaning up a problematic sand bed.
Any Experienced Cucumber Keepers?
- Thread starter NanaReefer
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TideReefer
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joshkirkland83
Valuable Member
Ive had one a few years ago. It was a sea apple.
Reefrookie220
Valuable Member
Nana, while I have no personal experience I do have a buddy that has 3 tank crashes in as many year, each within a month of adding a cucumber....tank has went almost 2years now no cucumber, no crash.
That being said, in my own RESEARCH I've read that if you can keep them happy they are a great solution to your problem.
That being said, in my own RESEARCH I've read that if you can keep them happy they are a great solution to your problem.
joshkirkland83
Valuable Member
I had the same problem. They crashed one of my tanks. When they become stressed or die they release a very serious toxin. They are no way near worth the trouble to me. But, if you can keep them cool as a cucumber go for it.
Reefrookie220
Valuable Member
It's a lot of work but you could toss your rock and stock in a Rubbermaid, stir e top half of your sand and do a 30g water change to suck all that out top with a bag of fresh live sand(not Fiji pink, I've read about issues but everyone uses it) and problem should be fixed!
OP
OP
Yeah I'm the one who started the thread Fiji Pink issues-lol. Maybe I'll just remove 1/2 the SB to start. This is so dang frustrating!! Beautiful tank, awesome happy fish, corals growing like weeds all surrounded by a nasty looking SB, ugh!!
Reefrookie220
Valuable Member
Take a look at nature's ocean Aussie gold live sand, a gorgeous replacement for Fiji and hardly anyone uses it, I love the color...,it's much lighter in color than they try to let on. Lol
mfinn
likes zoanthids
I've had a sea cucumber in my tanks for probably the last 18 years.
I had one for over 16 years.
It came in as a hitchhiker with live rock I bought from liveaquaria.
I noticed it when it was about 1" long and did some research and found out that the black bumpy ones are a good sand sifter.
It made the move when I upgraded tanks.
It was probably 18" long and a 1"- 1-1/2" in dia at the largest.
I now have at least 2 in my 233. One is a light sand colored one and the other is a black one.
I had one for over 16 years.
It came in as a hitchhiker with live rock I bought from liveaquaria.
I noticed it when it was about 1" long and did some research and found out that the black bumpy ones are a good sand sifter.
It made the move when I upgraded tanks.
It was probably 18" long and a 1"- 1-1/2" in dia at the largest.
I now have at least 2 in my 233. One is a light sand colored one and the other is a black one.
AdamNC
Lawnmower Blenny says nom nom
I've had a Tiger Tail one in my tank for the past 6 months with no issues other than he keeps moving the sand from the front of the tank to the back. Waiting for him to reverse it.
Platehead
Active Member
I have had several tiger tails and one solid yellow one. I have had zero crashes in 4 years of being in the hobby. Just don't get a fish that nibbles on them and no dropping rocks on them. They do a good job of cleaning the sand bed up. The only issue i have with them is that the sand clumps up after they finish cleaning it. Have you considered a sand sifting starfish yet? Those do a good job as well, also a conch.
OP
OP
I have a Strawberry Conch, 2x Scarlet legged Hermits, 7 large Nassarius Snail, 2x Creith Snails and about 5 Trochus Snails. None of which have made any difference in my SB at all.
I'm looking for a remedy outside of removing the entire SB.
I'm looking for a remedy outside of removing the entire SB.
OP
OP
Two thoughts come to mind with a Sandsifting Star. My tank is only a 40B, I fear it would starve. Second is this issues gets worse the more the SB is disturbed.
nmohr6
Active Member
Yea, but I doubt they disturb the sand quick enough to release any ammonia or nitrate. Also once they are done doing their job you could give them to someone else who has a similar problem or back to the LFS.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
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FWIW, I've never gotten cucumbers to last long in my aquaria. Not sure why.
OP
OP
It's not ammonia nor nitrates I'm talking/concerned with. What I'm saying is this substance seems to appear or worsen whenever the SB is disturbed.
