Best sand cleaners

[NewEnglishMutt]

I need to add inverts to my tank. Particularly to clean my sand, I have a 4-5" sand bed depending on where in the tank you look, the fish made shallower spots and I left it that way they seem to like it. But I don't have anything but snails to clean and they can't keep up. Ideas for a budget conscious hobbyist like myself?

 

[NewEnglishMutt]

It's a 135 gallon main display btw.

 

[Finnaddict]

I would go with sand stars and or nassarius snails. Both good sand sifting animals

 

[Smells Fishy]

I had a diamond go by that did a great job and there fun to watch, but they can make a mess and rearrange things.

 

[vic67]

I have a Fighting Conch in addition to my Nassarius snails.

 

[TheClark]

I had a diamond go by that did a great job and there fun to watch, but they can make a mess and rearrange things.

+1 diamond goby, not an invert, but a great sifter. Yeah they can make a mess but maybe I am luck so far so good. Otherwise fighting conch, sand sifting star, nassarious snails (sp?)

 

[mwbeach]

I have a diamond goby that keeps my sand spotless. He does rearrange it often. However it is neat to see what he did while I was gone. Very fun to watch as well

 

[NanaReefer]

Fighting Conch here as well. Just purchased one yesterday. So far it's buried itself in one spot and hasn't really moved since. So we shall see

 

[WindeyD]

My fighting conch does a great job and has been named employee of the month multiple times!

 

[NewEnglishMutt]

Thanks for all the input everyone! Gonna have to keep my eye out for a fighting conch and sand sifting star. I have some nassarius snails, could probably use a few more tho

 

[schneid0c]

i have probably about 4 or 5 nassarius snails that sift my sand bed. i had a goby but didn't like it making caves and covering corals on sand so i have stuck with the snails i like it so far. they do a decent job. on my next tank build i will do my rock structure different. so that no matter how much a goby tunnels i wont have to worry about rocks falling.

 

[NewEnglishMutt]

My yellow shrimp goby only cleans around his cave, he doesn't do much moving around. None of my corals are in the sand, so he doesn't make any mess. I have maybe 20 nassarius snails, but they can't keep up and the wrasses keep harassing them.