Recommended sand cleaners

[MartinJ]

Hi

I have a fairly new tank (2 months) have some livestock (see below) but would like to add a fish or suitable invert to sift thought the diatoms and uneaten food that falls onto the sand. I am thinking Goby or Blenny types.

Want peaceful fish only that will be reef safe.

Am also looking into getting a fighting conch but not sure how readily available they are in the UK.

Could anyone give their experiences / recommendations.

Thanks in advance

 

[bubblepuffer]

My white spotted Goby done a better job then my hermits and snails. That little white fishy will digest anything on the sea floor.. it's fun to watch for the first time.. he will chomp and eat your sands and filter it out through the fins

 

[Anonymous]

Cerith snails work a fair bit on diatoms in the sand.

For a 100g, I'd probably go with somewhere around 20 of 'em.

 

[Meloco14]

Nassarius snails are good at eating leftover food. They spend most of the time burrowed in the sand so they help keep it sifted. Conches are great if you can get them. My yellow watchman goby burrows a bit and will occasionally hunt in the sand, which helps stir it up a bit. Ceriths, as mentioned are good, and bumblebee snails also.

 

[Anonymous]

I like fighting conchs. ...maybe even a tiger cuke too.

 

[MartinJ]

What is a tiger cuke?

 

[Anonymous]

What is a tiger cuke?

Short for Tiger Tail Cuccumber.. - AKA Holothuria hilla
http://www.coralfarm.co.uk/productcart/ ... roduct=348

I shy from "cukes" only because of the risk of them getting stressed somehow and expelling their internal organs and poisoning the tank.

 

[MartinJ]

Having read about the Tiger Cucumber it doesn't sound like something a newcomer to the hobby would make the best of, I think I'll stick to snails and if I can get one, a fighting conch.

Many thanks for the advice.

 

[AstroCreep]

Have any of you heard of a giant margarita snail from mexico...my lfs has a few and they are good size..about the size of a lime, anyway would they work in a reef tank? cus i seen them cruzing around on the sand..