DSB's and gobies

[das75]

Currently starting a fowlr (2 ocellaris) 75gal tank with 4” aragonite oolite DSB. Plan is to move towards a reef tank in the distance future, but looking for input on fish choices. I’ve read the article by Shimek, seen in bold 'no gobies' but wondering if anyone has had experience with DSB’s and burrowing fish, as am considering Yellowhead Jawfish.

Other fish I’m also looking at are yellowtail damsels and a blue tang.

 

[dgin]

I have considered a jawfish in my 125 tank with 5" DSB but have not gone through with it. They need at least 5" of substrate and will need building materials (crushed coral, small pieces of rock, shells, etc.) to build their hole and shore it up. Otherwise they will burrow everywhere trying to get situated.

I'm not sure if it would be good having the jawfish with a tang though as they tend to get very skittish around tankmates that move around a lot quickly.

Given a lot of peoples experiences with Damsels, I would skip them too and get something less territorial and aggressive.

 

[texman]

I just got a blue-spotted jawfish in my 500g with about 3-4 " average substate. At first, I thought that I was going to have to buy a mini-speargun to get him the heck out of there since he was undermining everything on the sand (corals, clams, rocks, etc.) He seems to have found a decent home though, under a large favia, which he has shored up with dead snails, etc, and has not moved much since then. I have so far cancelled my order for the mini-speargun.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure what the good doctor means is no "sand-sifting" gobies, as they will wipe out sandbed inhabitants.

Burrowing gobies are ok.

 

[reefNewbie]

so for DSB you cant have anything that sifts? so no stars, horseshoe crabs, etc?

 

[Anonymous]

Ideally no carnivores. Cukes, nasarrius snails, serpent stars, worms, burrowing clams should all be ok.
Sifting gobies and "sand-sifting" stars might be problem.

In reality, I don't know if having the sand dwelling organisms consumed would really lessen the functionality of the DSB in a significant way. But when they are consumed the sifting predators will need another food supply.

 

[dgin]

The critters in the sandbed (worms and pods, primarily) are needed to help aerate the DSB and keep it functional. Given this, you want to avoid animals that will consume these critters but help stir up the sandbed (cukes, Nassarius & Cerith snails, conchs, brittlestars, etc.).

 

[reefNewbie]

so no horseshoe crab?

 

[Anonymous]

The critters in the sandbed (worms and pods, primarily) are needed to help aerate the DSB and keep it functional

But it functions because it is anaerobic, right?