Need Substrate Cleanup Crew That Actully Do Something

[Alex Brown]

Hi, I need to get my sand turned over more so than right now, lots of brown and purpel algea growing daily right now. My stafish is very small, and doesnt sift the sand much atall! (Also and Ideas why he likes to climb the glass? I put him on some prawn the other day but he wasnt interested).

I looked into sea cucumbers, but a little bit concerned about them being poisonus. My box fish died last week whoch made me worry about things being poisonus in the tank.

Is there anything else less destructive that turns sand over well?

250L tank. Reef tank.

Cheers.

 

[chris348]

I have 3 Blue Cheek Gobys who are just awesome !!!!

Have a look into them.

Your boxfish, dont they release alot of toxins when stressed?

 

[Alex Brown]

I was thinking of a white goby, whats your thoughts on them? I would like something that stays very small and doesnt take up swimming space, are gobys mainly bottom dwellers?

Yes I read everywhere about toxic in box fish, I had to remove him to a QT when I found him resting on the bottom but still moving. I knew he was on the way out. I was very lucky when he got caught on the powerhead that he didnt nuke my tank. He was however only 1cm square.

One of the most interesting fish I have ever seen.

 

[chris348]

Gobys are just fascinating little guys, i love them lol.. 3 blue cheek and one rock or clown goby. Full of character...

 

[Sea Turtle]

I have 3 Blue Cheek Gobys who are just awesome !!!!

Have a look into them.

Your boxfish, dont they release alot of toxins when stressed?

Do they really clean the sand? My sand is a little dirty also and could use a good a sand sifter.

 

[chris348]

Not sure if they clean the sand as is, but they do a great job of shifting the stuff lol....

Along with them and the water movement, it usually stays in good condition. Also chucked a star fish in for good measure too, along with the usual suspects (CUC)..

 

[Sea Turtle]

Not sure if they clean the sand as is, but they do a great job of shifting the stuff lol....

Along with them and the water movement, it usually stays in good condition. Also chucked a star fish in for good measure too, along with the usual suspects (CUC)..

I have heard that they get sand all over the rocks and corals. Have you had this problem with them?

 

[chris348]

Had a real nightmare with them when we first started yes.

Just had to re-arrange the corals from the front of the tank to higher up and out of the way. It is not too bad though, also if the water movement is good then it wont settle for too long, or you just clean it off during a weekly clean.

I just keep them along as i love watching them scooping as they go lol..

 

[Sea Turtle]

Had a real nightmare with them when we first started yes.

Just had to re-arrange the corals from the front of the tank to higher up and out of the way. It is not too bad though, also if the water movement is good then it wont settle for too long, or you just clean it off during a weekly clean.

I just keep them along as i love watching them scooping as they go lol..

So, I would imagine since they are constantly moving the sand that your sand stays very white asd bright? Mine really has a lot of algae growing on it. Not bad, but the sand sure has a yellow tint to it. I would love to have all nice white sand. I have a lot of corals, on the bottom, I have a lot of Zoa's and toarch corals, will this be a problem?

 

[SkiFletch]

Look up diamond goby. Your tank is probably big enough to support one

 

[bitfishy]

I've read in a number of places that those plain brown cucumbers aren't poisonous/toxic.

 

[shibby]

blue cheeks or chalks are awesome creatures though they do seem to pose problems to some sand dwelling corals by covering them.

i dont believe they eat the algae i think they just sift looking for small organisms and thus not letting the algae get grip with constant movement. i think however they are hard to keep longterm.

my favourate cleaners are blue knuckle hermits seem more active and less lazy then reds, and cerith snails are always a good one to have.