sand bed maintenance?

[geno]

I recently lost another sand sifting goby -- may have jumped -- but can't find him.

Nonetheless, my question now is do I replace him or not.

I've read conflicting opinions regarding the disturbance of the sand bed. Often the opinion is to avoid removing the beneficial organisms via a sand sifting goby.

I could add a few more snails -- or other critters that would be considered beneficial but not destructive. My sand is beginning to look a bit dirty on top.

Could a few of you experienced reefers weigh in on this, please.

thanks,
-geno

 

[zippgirlrn]

I have a 75G and I have alot of nassauris (excuse spelling) to eat left over food and to help turn sand and 3 small conch, that I don't know the name of, that eats any algae on top of the sand bed, plus they bury themselves when not active so they help turnover the sand to. This is what works for me, but what works for one may not work for someone else.

 

[geno]

Gonna get a few more nassarius snails too. I asked Bob Fenner about a queen conch -- he advised that I stay clear and stick to the nassarius.

 

[fish scales2]

I believe the concern with stirring up a sand bed doesnt have to do with sand sifting gobies (unless you have a system that the sand bed has not been touched for quite some time) but more about going in and turning it up and releasing toxic gasses. Nass. snails will help out but IMO I would consider adding another ss goby but if you get one that is meant to have a commensal partner you will do better with the pair.

I often will turn a little of the sand bed when doing wc. I do have a system that I maintain that has been going for 7 years and the sand bed has never been touched. Mainly 'cause I am skeered.:yes:

 

[geno]

Thanks for the experience.

I may try another ss goby -- I like them -- but my system doesn't seem to provide the food they need to stay alive very long.

I feed mysis to my tangs, and other fish -- but they're such hogs that little food ever got to my goby. He had to rely on the sand bed -- and apparently it just wasn't enough.

Frankly, I wonder where all my snails went. No changes in parms -- even tested nitrate and nitrite today -- zero. Not sure of their life expectancy.

 

[weaglereefer]

For the goby, if you see a "normal" hang out spot for him, you can take a turkey baster, squirt some mysis into the sand where he is and he should get to it fairly quickly once he catches on to what you're doing.

 

[jr78]

I would recommend about a weekly hand stir of your sand especially if you have a big bioload