Good sand sifter

[Crimsontopper]

So my new 10 gallon has begun to get the uglies. The snails have been doing a good job on the glass and rocks, but the sand needs some work. What's a good cuc member for that? I don't want hermits, they will just kill the snails, and eventually each other. I have considered a conch but the lfs guy mentioned they can go after smaller fish. I currently have a blenny and intend to get a shrimp goby pair.

 

[Ranjib]

Goby, nassarius snail,

 

[reef lover]

Conch...and they will not go after fish...at least the algae eating varieties..

 

[Cherub]

Gobys tend to starve to death. I've gone through two. One wouldn't eat frozen. The first one ate frozen and starved anyway. My sand looks like crap and I have nassarius snails and a star fish. Maybe I will try a conch too.

 

[lzrlvr]

Do you ever stir your sand?

 

[Crimsontopper]

No. I've heard bothering the sand too much can cause a mini cycle, so I was hesitant to do that.

 

[Reefer Deez]

I'm going to go with +1 for Nassarius snails they go under the sand bed stir up the sand when they move around and they come out when it's time to eat

 

[Jet915]

I have nassarius and conch. I dont know how a conch could catch a fish, they are so slow. Both are great and rarely disturb coral on rocks like a turbo snail would.

 

[Dancingmad]

<3 ceriths

 

[LionsLife_]

Sand sifting gobies will stress your corals out with constant detritus in the water column that eventually settles on them and constantly being covered with sand. They are awesome for fish only IMO, I just had to get rid of my sleeper goby due to this. Also, the constant detritus/particles in the water column increased my filter maintenance. Go with trochus snails. They clean everything, sand, glass , rocks equipment etc.. rockstars of the CUC

 

[40B Knasty]

Nassarius snail is good for that. Fighting conch is probably the best for the ugly phase. Just remember it is an ugly phase. It will go away. A fighting conch might be to big for a 10g tank. The snail you are thinking of that can eat fish are a Cone or Welch snail. I had a Welch snail before. As soon as I put 3 nassarius snails in. It blasted out of the sand, crawled over to one, took it's black spike, killed one, and ate it. Then another a day later. The Welch snail looks exactly like a nassarius. They are mostly sold as nassarius. So make sure the seller knows the difference and you do to before buying some.

 

[Katrina71]

Show us a pic of your tank

 

[jd371]

This guy along with two Conch snails keep my sand spotless. The Rainford Goby sifts the sand without making mounds or a mess, he stays close to the sand so it doesn't get blown around.

 

[Jesterrace]

As mentioned, Gobys can die off. I went through 2 Diamond Watchman Gobies in less than 18 months between my 36 gallon and my 90 gallon. I added 5 conch snails to my 90 gallon and they keep it pretty clean without stirring up a complete mess. A single conch should work for a 10 gallon. Nassarius snails are an option as well, but it takes more of them to do the job and IMHO they aren't anywhere near as cool as conch snails are.

 

[Jr'sReef]

Ceriths they are work horses

 

[Crimsontopper]

I'm concerned that the conch wont have enough food long term in such a small tank with a small biolaod. Is this a valid thought?

 

[Ari_Ball]

Dimond goby, or just get a cucumber.

 

[Catchemall]

If it were a bigger tank I’d say sand sifting goby mine is a golden child keeps the sand prestine! First couple weeks the water was aweful but once the fine particulates settled out it cleared right up but for the tank that size I’d say the conch would do good and manual cleaning