Sandbed sifters

[xxkenny90xx]

Double edge sword huh? Lol but is it an eyesore? Is it big poop balls or like pellets. If it's small and unnoticeable I can live with it I hate algae covered sand beds soo much

One of the pictures I posted shows the poop sand. It's not an eye sore and falls apart quickly

 

[wnnabereefer]

2 conchs would clear your sandbed fast based on the two I have im a little concerned 2 is too much for my tank but I have a 30 gallon so I will just take one back to lfs if tank gets too clean. They are cheap too. £9 each all i paid have read you can get them for around $10 if your in the US

I'll pick up 2 conchs and a sea cucumber, if that's overkill i have a 29 gallon tank I can move him to that's overran by cyano

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Sounds like a welcomed critter in my tank. I'll look around for them now, this might seem like a dumb question but do they need to be quarantined? Or straight in the tank is fine

I don't quarantine anything but if your doing qt for fish then yes, the cucumber needs a full quarantine

 

[wnnabereefer]

I don't quarantine anything but if your doing qt for fish then yes, the cucumber needs a full quarantine

Oh now you got me pulling my hair lol, do I quarantine or do I take my chances

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Oh now you got me pulling my hair lol, do I quarantine or do I take my chances

Lol I'm not gonna touch that one. Just do lots of research!

 

[wnnabereefer]

Lol I'm not gonna touch that one. Just do lots of research!

If the cucumbers are in quarantine what do they eat? I have a bare bottom qt tank so there's not much algae happening down there

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fighting conch
nassarius snails
cerith snails
Blue leg hermits

Sea cucumbers are found throughout the ocean but they are a popular addition to saltwater reef tanks. Cousins to sea urchins and starfish, sea cucumbers are a popular addition to marine and reef tanks. Sea cucumbers resemble large aquatic caterpillars and they come in a variety of colors and patterns. These unique creatures are found throughout the ocean, not just in reef environments, and they may grow up to 12 inches long. The other thing is some are sand sifters while others are filter feeders. Ones that are yellow'ish are your sand sifters

 

[xxkenny90xx]

If the cucumbers are in quarantine what do they eat? I have a bare bottom qt tank so there's not much algae happening down there

That's a great question. I imagine you would need some kind of real live sand or established sand in there

 

[LongQ]

How many conch do I need for 215g?

 

[wnnabereefer]

That's a great question. I imagine you would need some kind of real live sand or established sand in there

Are sea cucumbers really expert only? I was just on live aquaria and they said that for all the species they owned. What species should I get for my tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Wild caught are generally quarantined or conditioned before being sold in Pet stores. Starvation will weaken and/or kill a cucumber. QT can kill or upset a cucumber which is also capable of releasing toxins when upset.
Sea cucumbers found in the pet shops these days are the tiger-tail cucumbers. This is one of the many cases in the pet trade where a well-known common name is applied to a wide variety of species, and are ready for aquarium. Their pump intakes cannot tolerate chemicals. You can however safely rinse it in RO water if you want to assure nothing foreign is on the specimen before tank inroduction.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How many conch do I need for 215g?

3-5 should be adequate to assure they all have a food source as starvation will have a poor outcome

 

[CanuckReefer]

Oh now you got me pulling my hair lol, do I quarantine or do I take my chances

That's a great question. I imagine you would need some kind of real live sand or established sand in there

Definitely imo

 

[CanuckReefer]

Are sea cucumbers really expert only? I was just on live aquaria and they said that for all the species they owned. What species should I get for my tank?

Absolutely not imo....species, well....they are from what I know fairly similar. The real word of advice is when they die, and eventually they will (although long lived in my experience, I 've had 2 in 20 years, current one is over a decade), get them OUT stat. Was lucky to see my first starting to disintegrate....it's a minimal risk imo however based on the benefits for your system.

 

[wnnabereefer]

Wild caught are generally quarantined or conditioned before being sold in Pet stores. Starvation will weaken and/or kill a cucumber. QT can kill or upset a cucumber which is also capable of releasing toxins when upset.
Sea cucumbers found in the pet shops these days are the tiger-tail cucumbers. This is one of the many cases in the pet trade where a well-known common name is applied to a wide variety of species, and are ready for aquarium. Their pump intakes cannot tolerate chemicals. You can however safely rinse it in RO water if you want to assure nothing foreign is on the specimen before tank inroduction.

How long do I rinse them? A really quick few splashes of water or even a dip and swooshing around?

 

[LongQ]

Is sea cucumber poison when it die?

 

[wnnabereefer]

Absolutely not imo....species, well....they are from what I know fairly similar. The real word of advice is when they die, and eventually they will (although long lived in my experience, I 've had 2 in 20 years, current one is over a decade), get them OUT stat. Was lucky to see my first starting to disintegrate....it's a minimal risk imo however based on the benefits for your system.

Remove them because they are toxic or remove them because they will screw up nutrients?

 

[vetteguy53081]

How long do I rinse them? A really quick few splashes of water or even a dip and swooshing around?

You can let them crawl around in it for at least 5 mins so it takes in water and expels it thereby rinsing itself out

 

[TankCare88]

I would say, a goby for sure first. The diamond is probably the best at stirring the sandbed around but as what people stated before. They like to jump. Which happened to me a few years ago. I recently got a Dragon sleeper Goby. I recommend him and a Sea Cucumber, urchin, or star fish. I have a watchmen and pistol shrimp pair too but you are nervous about your rock work being ruined.

 

[wnnabereefer]

You can let them crawl around in it for at least 5 mins so it takes in water and expels it thereby rinsing itself out

Alright thank you so much!