Sand sifters for a FOWLR?

[Ben jammin]

In my recently established 267 gallon FOWLR I have a sandbed that's currently 1"-2" deep, but I'll be adding another couple inches so it's deep enough for the red coris wrasse and juvi dragon wrasse I plan to add. Since these and other fish I am adding have a taste for inverts I can't keep any snails, hermits or other of the traditional cleanup crew. But I want something to clean up any uneaten food that drops to the bottom and turn over the surface to prevent accumulation of microalgae and generally keep it clean. What do you other FOWLR-ites do about your sand beds?

From what I've read, the diamond watchman goby and golden head sleeper goby are both great sand sifters. Any issues in keeping them in a tank with more aggressive fish (harlequin tusk, picasso trigger, etc), provided they are large enough to not get eaten? (I would plan to get large gobies - 5" or so).

Would I need two gobies for a tank this size (66" long and 30" wide/deep)? Could I mix these two species if added at the same time, rather than keep two of the same since I am assuming they might fight with conspecifics if not a mated pair?

 

[rjcranor]

I have a diamond goby in my tank does a great job. I have more of a community tank though clowns and cardinals.

 

[MaidOfDishonor]

Would a decent sized sand sifting starfish be ok with your fish? Mine spends the majority of its time hidden in the sand but he does a good job of sifting the sand.

 

[Ben jammin]

I plan to add a picasso trigger, as well as some wrasses including a tusk, red coris, dragon (already have) and pinkface. My understanding is some or all of them would see the starfish as lunch.

Over the weekend I added an orange spotted watchman goby and a golden head sleeper goby. Haven't seen them out and about yet very much but hopefully they'll do the trick, along with the dragon wrasse's dabbling in the field of benthic landscape architecture.