Carpet surfing. AGAIN!!!

[DeniseAndy]

Thanks for the info about BRS. I guess I never really looked. Just got the standard clear mesh that was 1/4". Good luck. I am trying cucumbers for my sandbed. So far they are adapting, and I am seeing some improvement. These guys are small, top sand sifting guys from Aquacorals.com Super cool, if they would just show themselves more.

 

[Cell]

No a nassarius wont come close to a diamond watchman's sand sifting prowess.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have tons of nassarius and love them, but they are not as efficient as the gobies. But they do not spit sand all over the tank either.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Hahaha yeah, mine went out with a bang and Did this ;Hilarious

I have tons of nassarius and love them, but they are not as efficient as the gobies. But they do not spit sand all over the tank either.

 

[Nathan Milender]

I have those lids, they are light. Have you considered it hits the cover hard enough to pop it up and get out? May a little wt on the edges would stop it.

 

[Cell]

No way it can force the cover open and still maintain momentum to fly out of tank.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Yes! I considered that when I cut it down to size. It is more pressure fit and does not come off easily at ALL

I have those lids, they are light. Have you considered it hits the cover hard enough to pop it up and get out? May a little wt on the edges would stop it.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have those lids, they are light. Have you considered it hits the cover hard enough to pop it up and get out? May a little wt on the edges would stop it.

I am actually going to use a couple spots of velcro to hole my tops on. Haven't needed to as mine are currently fallow, but will when fish are added soon. May be a thought too.

Edit: My lids are made by me and very light. Sit on my acrylic tank that has bracing.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

It was also a very small fish. If it were a tang etc I would say maybe, but the fish was small and the lid was still on when I found it this morning. When the lid comes off, it takes somebody to actually tap the lid into place to get it back on.

I have those lids, they are light. Have you considered it hits the cover hard enough to pop it up and get out? May a little wt on the edges would stop it.

 

[Nathan Milender]

Try the 1/8th inch then. I have that and I ascribe to lots of small fish instead of a few big ones. Blennies and gobies are my thing. I have a flame angel just to regulate the middle and keep some of the pushier ones closer to their holes. Mine have not gotten out but I have had a fish die from trauma after hitting the top (just the spaz male wrasse). The light experiment on BRS suggested there was not much difference. I do have to rinse mine off from time to time if something gets out of wack on my return and salt crusts on it.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

So far 3 options on the table. Get a bigger fish, get smaller netting, or alternative sand sifters. Suggestions are appreciated!

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Lfs says the sally light foot crab is probably spooking them at night. Anyone else experience this?

 

[Jfinn]

Went through 4-5 DG before I got one that seems content IN the water. Most jumped through smallest of holes at edge of fitted top - like nothing was gonna stop them. I figured what is the point of a top if it don’t keep in the fish so tossed it.

Running open top 6 months and 16 small fish in 90 gallon - including one happy and busy DG who burrows under a rock every night

Probably dumb luck

 

[clm65]

Does it really look like your fish would fit though a 1/4" mesh screen. I'm having trouble imagining that the cross section of those fish (especially the head) could fit through a hole that small. If it can fit, then I would go with the 1/8" mesh. Otherwise I would go with a bunch of nassarius snails, or maybe a conch or two.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Does it really look like your fish would fit though a 1/4" mesh screen. I'm having trouble imagining that the cross section of those fish (especially the head) could fit through a hole that small. If it can fit, then I would go with the 1/8" mesh. Otherwise I would go with a bunch of nassarius snails, or maybe a conch or two.

It was a smaller diamond goby.

 

[S2G]

No freaking way it's going through that mesh imo. I say it found a gap or the screen is lightweight.

 

[Jesterrace]

Anyone else think the nassarius will do as a good of a job as the goby?

No, but a conch snail or 2 certainly will. Switched from DWGs to them and have been much happier with the result as they clean the bed without the sand storms.

Here are mine (you can see why they are called "fighting conch" at between the 4 minute and 4:30 mark):

 

[Bryce M.]

My oyster goby only cleans half the tank, cerith, nassaris and conchs all together will be a good force

 

[Cell]

Goby is still going to turn over quite a bit more sand than a conch. It's a big, active snail, but it's still a snail. The only real true competitor that I know of would be a tiger tail sea cucumber.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Anyone know if the DG’s might’ve been scarred by the crab? It is ugly as hell and looks like a spider ;Hilarious