Best Sand Cleaners out there????

[nminunni]

I am trying to get some more information on the best livestock to clean my sandbed. I syphon out my sand as best I can but due to my tank being an extra tall, and my LR it is tough to get to most of my sand. I have nassarius snails, hermits, 2 emerald crabs and 2 cleaner shrimp.

I have read good things about fighting and little bear conchs and used to love my sleeper goby and it got me to thinking. What is the best thing you have had for cleaning your sandbed?

 

[ESSELO]

sand sifting stars.

 

[ocholoco]

hey

I like the blue spot goby

 

[Deanos]

Nassarius snails and cleaner shrimp should be able to reach any edible detritus on your sandbed.

I wouldn't use a sand sifting starfish in a tank with a small sandbed (tall tank); it'll starve.

 

[basiab]

Sand sifting stars will deplete your sand bed of living stuff. So if you don't care and have anough sand to keep it alive that is fine. If you just want things that stir it up then nassarius snails and cerith do that. The best thing is to have enough circulation so that the sand bed is not a problem.

 

[nminunni]

I agree, unfortunately for the first 6 months or so of this tank I wasnt using powerheads because I thought my filter would move enough. Now, I have enough circulation, but there is a lot of stuff left over. I am just looking for something that will basically do what the nassarius do, but a little more potent, like the sleeper or blue spotted goby for instance.

 

[ocholoco]

hey

I love my blue spot goby, He has taken care of my sand. Thanks to him I have white sand in my tank, he even takes care of the back of the tank.

 

[JonnyIce]

I have a blue spot sleeper goby and he is constantly at work...I do have to feed him though as I think its only a matter of time before the sandbed gets depleted of food for him...depending on size of tank... he is the only fish trained to eat out of a turkey baster tho lol

I love my blue spot goby, He has taken care of my sand. Thanks to him I have white sand in my tank, he even takes care of the back of the tank.

 

[nminunni]

Yea I had one before that fell prey to my coral banded and royal gramma. I had originally tried to catch the gramma so I could get a sleeper or blue spot but never could. I moved some LR around and he is not as territorial anymore so maybe I should give another one of those a shot if I can find a small one somewhere

 

[SevTT]

I am trying to get some more information on the best livestock to clean my sandbed. I syphon out my sand as best I can but due to my tank being an extra tall, and my LR it is tough to get to most of my sand. I have nassarius snails, hermits, 2 emerald crabs and 2 cleaner shrimp.

I have read good things about fighting and little bear conchs and used to love my sleeper goby and it got me to thinking. What is the best thing you have had for cleaning your sandbed?

Well, probably the best sand-cleaner would be a sea cuke, but those have minuses too. I've been impressed with the way Cerith snails clean gunk against the glass under the sandline.

Oh, and good live sand. Try and get some spaghetti worms or medusa worms. They're great at sucking up detritus.