Sand sifting cuc

[Noob_reefer]

Hey I'm new to reefing. I set up my first 40 gal reef tank this year. I am looking for a good sand sifter that won't cover corals with sand. Live stock wise I have a hippo tang,green coris wrasse,two Occelarris clowns and a lawnmower blenny. I'm trying to avoid adding anymore fish so inverts are preffered. Thanks.

 

[mta_morrow]

Hey I'm new to reefing. I set up my first 40 gal reef tank this year. I am looking for a good sand sifter that won't cover corals with sand. Live stock wise I have a hippo tang,green coris wrasse,two Occelarris clowns and a lawnmower blenny. I'm trying to avoid adding anymore fish so inverts are preffered. Thanks.

How deep is your sand bed?

I’m thinking 15-20 nassarius snails would work. And maybe 1 fighting conch after 8-10 months.

 

[Noob_reefer]

How deep is your sand bed?

I’m thinking 15-20 nassarius snails would work. And maybe 1 fighting conch after 8-10 months.

I have 2 nassarius snails in there and they are fully cov

How deep is your sand bed?

I’m thinking 15-20 nassarius snails would work. And maybe 1 fighting conch after 8-10 months.

Hmm I have two already but I'm worried they'll starve

 

[mta_morrow]

I have 2 nassarius snails in there and they are fully cov

Hmm I have two already but I'm worried they'll starve

Check out @reefcleaners

They have a great way to properly size a CUC. And until you actually size it properly, you will never know what a properly sized CUC can do.

I have about 160 total snails in my 108 display. Merited, ceriths, dwarf ceriths, and nassarius. Plus 1 tiger conch.

 

[gmneil]

I always liked sand sifting starts for my sand beds once they were established.

 

[jd371]

Rainford Goby. Mine sifts the sand all day without making a mess and I have that very fine sugar type sand. He sifts close to the sand and doesn't swim up in the water column so it doesn't blow around. I've never had to clean up after him. My Falco Hawkfish has started chasing him now and he's confined to the area around his hiding hole so my sand is looking terrible, so I need to remove the Hawkfish in the near future.

The light sprinkle of sand on the zoas is as bad as it gets.

 

[Noob_reefer]

Rainford Goby. Mine sifts the sand all day without making a mess and I have that very fine sugar type sand. He sifts close to the sand and doesn't swim up in the water column so it doesn't blow around. I've never had to clean up after him. My Falco Hawkfish has started chasing him now and he's confined to the area around his hiding hole so my sand is looking terrible, so I need to remove the Hawkfish in the near future.

The light sprinkle of sand on the zoas is as bad as it gets.

Good to know I was worried it was going to look like it was snowing in my tank lol

 

[BeejReef]

How deep is your sand bed?

I’m thinking 15-20 nassarius snails would work. And maybe 1 fighting conch after 8-10 months.

That many is ok? I have three in a 65g DT with a 2-3" deep sand bed. I figured I could do more as it matured. Feeling like it might be time to add. The sand gets a little nasty if I let it go more than a week without vacuuming

 

[mta_morrow]

Rainford Goby. Mine sifts the sand all day without making a mess and I have that very fine sugar type sand. He sifts close to the sand and doesn't swim up in the water column so it doesn't blow around. I've never had to clean up after him. My Falco Hawkfish has started chasing him now and he's confined to the area around his hiding hole so my sand is looking terrible, so I need to remove the Hawkfish in the near future.

The light sprinkle of sand on the zoas is as bad as it gets.

That’s an awesome fish!

But we have to remember that they are all individuals and there is no guarantee.

All sand sifting fish have the ability to wreak havoc!

It’s a risk we take when we choose to get one.

 

[mta_morrow]

That many is ok? I have three in a 65g DT with a 2-3" deep sand bed. I figured I could do more as it matured. Feeling like it might be time to add. The sand gets a little nasty if I let it go more than a week without vacuuming

I just did a beef up to my CUC.

I added 25 nassarius, 30 cerith, and 100 dwarf cerith to what I already had.

I feed my tank well. Live homemade food 2 times per day and a pellet mix 2-3 times per day.

The fish and the sanitation department eat well!

 

[Noob_reefer]

Well cuc wise I only have 2 trochus,1 astrea,2 hermits and 2 emerald crabs. Any recommendations are appreciated for this as well.

 

[mta_morrow]

Well cuc wise I only have 2 trochus,1 astrea,2 hermits and 2 emerald crabs. Any recommendations are appreciated for this as well.

You will get 1000 different answers for that question.

I recommend going to reefcleaners.org and use their sizing charts. John is respected and highly recommended by many folks here.

 

[Mattman1977]

I have a hippo tang,green coris wrasse,two Occelarris clowns and a lawnmower blenny

I’m surprised the “Tang police” haven’t spoke up haha. Just be ready to rehome or upgrade to a much larger system pretty soon.

Happy reefing
Matt

 

[mta_morrow]

I’m surprised the “Tang police” haven’t spoke up haha.

I’ve been eating donuts and had icing on my fingers!

 

[Mattman1977]

“Mmmmmm donuts” in my best Homer Simpson voice

Happy reefing
Matt

 

[BeejReef]

Well cuc wise I only have 2 trochus,1 astrea,2 hermits and 2 emerald crabs. Any recommendations are appreciated for this as well.

I don't have the "answer" to that for sure.. lol. I've really enjoyed making small, incremental purchases and additions to my CUC though. U get a chance to see what each really does and it's a reason to go to the fish store and buy something when u know you shouldn't be adding much in the way of fish. I watch my CUC much more than the fish. "Honey! it ate the algae... yeah, it just ate it. Come look." ;Shy

 

[mta_morrow]

I don't have the "answer" to that for sure.. lol. I've really enjoyed making small, incremental purchases and additions to my CUC though. U get a chance to see what each really does and it's a reason to go to the fish store and buy something when u know you shouldn't be adding much in the way of fish. I watch my CUC much more than the fish. "Honey! it ate the algae... yeah, it just ate it. Come look." ;Shy

And I thought I was the only one who watches that kinda stuff.......and calls the wife to come see!

 

[Noob_reefer]

I’m surprised the “Tang police” haven’t spoke up haha. Just be ready to rehome or upgrade to a much larger system pretty soon.

Happy reefing
Matt

Oh I am, the hippo was a rescue

 

[shred5]

Tiger tail cucumbers are my favorite sand sifter..
Second are a conch.

Sand sifting gobies destroy everything and drop sand everywhere. Stay away.

Nassarius snails really are not sand sifters. They bury themselves till they detect food, they really do not clean the sand. They are ok clean up crew but do not clean the sand. They may turn over a little bit when they bury themselves.

Sand sifting stars are good but require a large sandbed or they slowly die, sometimes they take a while if they receive partial nutrition.


For clean up crew one of the best is the different mini brittle stars. They can get into anything and find left over food. For algae astrea and turbos.

 

[Noob_reefer]

Tiger tail cucumbers are my favorite sand sifter..
Second are a conch.

Sand sifting gobies destroy everything and drop sand everywhere. Stay away.

Nassarius snails really are not sand sifters. They bury themselves till they detect food, they really do not clean the sand. They are ok clean up crew but do not clean the sand. They may turn over a little bit when they bury themselves.

Sand sifting stars are good but require a large sandbed or they slowly die, sometimes they take a while if they receive partial nutrition.


For clean up crew one of the best is the different mini brittle stars. They can get into anything and find left over food. For algae astrea and turbos.

Is the cucumber safe around power heads because I have one in my tank