I recently added a gold-head goby (A real shot in the foot lol.) and it cleans the sand real well but releases it's payload over the whole tank clouding it all up. Iv'e heard that some nassarius snails will do an ok job. But I wanted to look into a sea cucumber specifically. You guys have good, bad reviews on these guys? I know they won't clean as good as a goby would but will they get the job done? Any species to recommend?
Sand bed Cleaner Options
- Thread starter Nigel35
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fishguy242
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hi how old is tank? tiger tail would be 1st choice,sand sifting starfish if tank is over 75 gal and over year old in my opinion 
Albertan22
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If your goby is clouding up the tank it means your sandbed is packed full of detritus. Best get a gravel vac out and suck the nastiness from the sand. With that out of the way, nassarius snails turn the sand bed over by burrowing in it, but don’t eat detritus or algae much. They really don’t do much to actually clean the sand. Conch snails will do a better job. I don’t have experience with sea cucumbers as I have been warned away from them. They are toxic and will be bad news for your tank if/when they happen to die. If one finds its way into a power head expect a total loss (or so I’ve been told).
fishguy242
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Partner Member 2024
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few snails,one or the other ,cucumber/sand star ,but only one
BighohoReef
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In our 100g:
3 conchs - great sand sifters but can knock over anything on the sand
20 - Nassarius snails
20 - Cerith snails - great for digging in substrate
3 - Trochus snail
1- Brittlestar
4 - Emerald and hermit crabs
Mexican Turbo snails - warning these things will knock over anything not glued down
The picture shows where a conch has been to clean...an army of cerith snails with do the trick though.
3 conchs - great sand sifters but can knock over anything on the sand
20 - Nassarius snails
20 - Cerith snails - great for digging in substrate
3 - Trochus snail
1- Brittlestar
4 - Emerald and hermit crabs
Mexican Turbo snails - warning these things will knock over anything not glued down
The picture shows where a conch has been to clean...an army of cerith snails with do the trick though.
