Sand Algae Cleaner ?

S

sharko88

As part of the cycling of a new tank, my tank now has some algae growing on the sand. My question is what kind of critter should I get to help with cleaning the sand?
 
is it brownish and has air bubbles......if it is that is part of cycling process....



i use conch's with great sand cleaning results
 
call fish gallery...as they go fast


what you have is diatoms....usually when i start a new tank i get them also....over time they go away....but conchs are better than snails in my opinion as they stay on the sand not on the glass
 
Conch and sandsifter gobies for sure. Any variety of sandsifting goby will work. I had a yellow-headed sleeper goby that did a great job. Keep in mind with a sandsifting goby that any clams, lps, etc. you have lying on the sandbed will get a constant dose of sand and may become irritated by it. Another critter to consider is a sand-sifting cuke like a tigertail. DON'T get a sand sifting star. They will literally eat all the fauna in your sandbed and then starve to death. They are not something that should really be sold in the hobby.
 
@hegi wrote:
Keep in mind with a sandsifting goby that any clams said:
Not with the diomand goby, this is one of the few that don't sift while swimming around and spread it on top of corals, they stay on the sand bed when doing so. Mine does a great job.
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I kind of want to add a Yellow Watchman Goby eventially. Since I only have a 55 gallon tank, would the Diamond Sifting Goby cause problems? I would assume so from what I have read, but want see what you all think before reaching that conclusion.
 
what do you mean "cause problems"? If you mean getting agressive, then no, mine is very peacful, minds his own buisness.
 
The gobies can be aggressive based on territory. I would be more concerned about adding the diamond until the sand bed is more established. Typically the recommendation is to what at least 3-6 months before adding sand sifters. Both gobies you mentioned primarily are carnivores I think, so not sure they will help much with algae. From the sound of it though, good waterflow and time will take care of the diatoms.

@sharko88 wrote:
 
I had a diamond who did sift in the water column and have seen others do so as well. You may have just been lucky and got one who prefers not to. IMO if you put two gobies in a 55 gallon one of them will end up dead. With so many other creatures that will do a good job sand-sifting there is really no reason why you should have two unless you just want to try it.
 
I agree. I really didn't want to put two gobies in there. And I really want the Yellow Watchman, so I am going to just use the snails and conches.
 
@sharko88 wrote:
I kind of want to add a Yellow Watchman Goby eventially. Since I only have a 55 gallon tank said:
Don't get the Yellow Watchman Goby... I had one and man did he become a problem. He got to the point where he would take a mouthful and go swimming... he killed a brain doing that.... Then it took me weeks trying to catch the little ba..... I thought he was quite beautiful and neat, but it is the one fish I truly regretted getting.
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I have a yellow watchman goby and he does not stray far from the rocks in my tank. He builds a small pile of sand and perches on it, but for the most part never gets more than a few inches away from his escape route. So far my watchman has been a good addition to my tank. Also since he does not go far from his little holes he hides in, I doubt he has even been from one end of the tank to the other.
 
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