Best sand sifter non-fish?

[tutmatt3]

Hey guys so I recently had a diamond goby for a little over a month and the dude was doing amazing keeping my sand clean! Turns out yesterday he mysteriously went. Thinking maybe dinos

Anyway, I'm not to thrilled to re set up QT, so another fish is out of the question. What's next in your favs for sand sifter

I never tried a sifting conch yet, and last time I tried a sand sifting star, he enjoyed the rocks way more, and also didn't last over a month

Thoughts???

 

[AdamNC]

Tiger Tail Cucumber does wonders in my tank. Although I haven’t seen him in about a month. Didn’t die, thinking he’s splitting again. Last time he split I didn’t see him/them for a long time.

 

[tutmatt3]

Tiger Tail Cucumber does wonders in my tank. Although I haven’t seen him in about a month. Didn’t die, thinking he’s splitting again. Last time he split I didn’t see him/them for a long time.

Thanks!

 

[lacrosseboss18]

Yeah cucumbers do a great job at cleaning the sand bed

 

[AlexReef100]

I've always had great luck with sand sifting stars, I've got 2 in my tank now that stay buried 90% of the time. I have noticed over the years that if the substrate isn't deep enough or there isn't enough exposed areas for them to access and bury themselves, that they won't last long.

 

[tutmatt3]

Yeah cucumbers do a great job at cleaning the sand bed

Thanks yeah ill definitely look into them

I've always had great luck with sand sifting stars, I've got 2 in my tank now that stay buried 90% of the time. I have noticed over the years that if the substrate isn't deep enough or there isn't enough exposed areas for them to access and bury themselves, that they won't last long.

ah that would make sense. I never tried with my white sand yet, maybe worth a shot

 

[HB AL]

My hand or small rake

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

If you’re avoiding a fish due to not wanting to set up a QT, you should avoid anything “wet” that’s going to be added.

Inverts can carry diseases (ich) into your tank

 

[tutmatt3]

My hand or small rake

I actually use an afro-pik from time to time. Give it 2 days and its back to normal. lol

If you’re avoiding a fish due to not wanting to set up a QT, you should avoid anything “wet” that’s going to be added.

Inverts can carry diseases (ich) into your tank

They can yes, but luckily at a much much less risk than a fish (especially at my local stores)

 

[Centurio]

I swear by Fighting Conchs. I've tried all the others and none do as well and are as easy to keep.

 

[tutmatt3]

I swear by Fighting Conchs. I've tried all the others and none do as well and are as easy to keep.

Does your tend to only stay on the sand?

 

[Centurio]

I have three in one tank and four in another and they pretty much always stay on the sand.

 

[Hitman]

I have 2 in my tank and they keep it so clean my Diamond Goby had to start eating frozen foods

 

[tutmatt3]

I have three in one tank and four in another and they pretty much always stay on the sand.

Crazy! What size tank.

I have 2 in my tank and they keep it so clean my Diamond Goby had to start eating frozen foods

Good to know, so since u have 240 display with 2, 1 should be good in my 75 yeah? =D

 

[Centurio]

Six foot long 120 gallon and a 93 gallon cube. I like really, really clean sand.

 

[tutmatt3]

Six foot long 120 gallon and a 93 gallon cube. I like really, really clean sand.

I remember hearing something along the lines of 'having 1 per x gallons'

Is there an issue having multiple?

 

[Centurio]

I remember hearing something along the lines of 'having 1 per x gallons'

Is there an issue having multiple?

None that I've ever seen. Possibly if you dropped two in a ten gallon, but I've never even noticed mine establishing territories. They all tend to move everywhere in the tank often together.

 

[Hazenight]

my fighting conch does a pretty good job at cleaning the sand. I have been thinking about adding another one.

 

[Susan Edwards]

I tried a tiger tail. It died, sent my tank into another cycle. Never found it. Went under the sand near some rocks last I had seen it. Never again...

 

[ChrisOFL]

I too keep a fighting conch in my 75 gallon. I had two but I don't think there was enough food for them both to survive. It's not easy for them to climb rocks because their foot is not shaped for doing this although mine has sure tried, he fails every time. The only thing it won't eat is cyano but otherwise it is great for the sand bed and won't eat microfauna like star fish will.