how do you guys keep a clean sand bed

sarcophytonIndy · Dec 20, 2019

Nereaga said:
Remove it and go bare bottom... its much easier to see all the dirt/detritus and get it out... If you keep the sand, you will need a sand sifting clean up crew. Gobies are good and so are some snails that bury in the sand. You need to siphon the sand more often and or turkey bast the sand bed and get dirt/detrius into the water column and removed via water changes and running a skimmer.

I would miss all the fun and interesting sand creatures

CoralWealth · Dec 20, 2019

johnj said:
how about a Bicolour goatfish to keep sand stirred up and reef safe!

They actually do?

Crotalus · Dec 21, 2019

I run UV, been dosing Vibrant twice a month for 3 months, and I have a 3" Conc that comes out of hibernation about once a week and stirs the sand. Even the diatoms went away.

H3rm1tCr@b · Dec 22, 2019

I would absolutely recommend buying a shrimp goby and pistol shrimp pair. They are fantastic and they will stir up the sand like their lives depend on it. Plus, they are hilarious to watch as mine will attack bristleworms and such. You could also try getting a few of those larger Nassarius snails. They stir the sand up nicely too.

Gogi · Dec 24, 2019

Turkey baster storm + filter socks

Brent Harpe · Jan 2, 2020

johnj said:
about sand sifting stars?

iv got 2 conch in my tank whot move around but think tanks to big for just 2 conch

I use snails and 2 sand sifting starfish. They do great work in my tank. If the algae builds up a bit for whatever reason after lights go out they clean it all up. They have been great. I had a diamond goby and he did well but the stars have done better and I haven’t had to worry about compatibility issues like I did with the diamond watchman goby.