Best sand sifting fish?

SolidDetail808 · #1 10/15/2007, 05:24 PM

I had a diamond goby but it disappeared. It did a good job of keeping my sand clean. I was wondering if there was anything else that would do a better job.
Thanks
Mike

virginiadiver69 · #2 10/15/2007, 05:35 PM

I don't think you could beat a diamond goby. I love mine. Are you using a DSB? If so you may be better off to let it establish itself for several months (6-8 or more) before adding one though.

HBtank · #3 10/15/2007, 05:46 PM

I think they just hide the problem.

I think flow, good water quality and time for a tank to establish itself is the best solution..

But if a must, the diamond goby does a great job, but is generally not recommended for a DSB and only for SSB.

Pmolan · #4 10/15/2007, 06:25 PM

Good thread.. Im setting up a friends tank and wanted to give him options. I've never seen anything that is more of a workoholic than an ODG though.

SolidDetail808 · #5 10/15/2007, 06:38 PM

OK you guys lost me.I need tranlations for-
DSB
SSB
ODG
I'm guessing Blennies and Gobies???
Thanks

HBtank · #6 10/15/2007, 06:40 PM

DSB - Deep sand bed

SSB - Shallow sand bed

ODG - Diamond Goby

Pmolan · #7 10/15/2007, 06:42 PM

Here is a list of sand sifting gobies.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/s...fm?pCatId=1851

SolidDetail808 · #8 10/15/2007, 06:44 PM

Thanks again guys!!!
I do have a DSB it's about 3-4 inches deep. I'm thinking of going more shallow. Maybe even a bare bottom.

Pmolan · #9 10/15/2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SolidDetail808
I'm thinking of going more shallow. Maybe even a bare bottom.

Are you looking for sand sifting fish or water sifting fish if you are going bare bottom?

Tpareefer · #10 10/16/2007, 09:56 AM

IF you are going to keep a DSB, a goby, any goby will eat the fauna that we DSB owners want. If you want fauna in your sand, get a cucumber. If not, get a goby.

bkoz · #11 10/16/2007, 09:58 AM

My sixspot goby does an awsome job and hes fun to watch. I have a ssb and he seems to be happy and buisy.

agoutihead · #12 10/16/2007, 12:50 PM

Diamond gobies are my favorite, but dragon gobies are probably an equal work horse.

JeffersonReef · #13 10/16/2007, 01:47 PM

lol... funny you said yours "dissapeared"... ive had this happen to me as well with a odg. Then when I opened my canopy... it was sitting on one of my glass tank braces (tried to jump, got "beached")... too bad.

ODG are my faves, but tend to jump.

halcyon_diver · #14 10/16/2007, 01:55 PM

gotta agree...my ODG is a cool...active fish with great personality...but ever since i got him i have to "dust" off all the corals every day!!!!

SolidDetail808 · #15 10/16/2007, 07:27 PM

I've been looking at getting a dragon goby. Any experience with these, anyone?

virginiadiver69 · #16 10/16/2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tpareefer
IF you are going to keep a DSB, a goby, any goby will eat the fauna that we DSB owners want. If you want fauna in your sand, get a cucumber. If not, get a goby.

This is only true to a point. As long as a DSB has been allowed to establish itself BEFORE adding a SSG and the volume is large enough, it will not be a problem.
I have had one in a 125 gal with a 4-6" sand bed for almost a year now and have watched my sand bed and Goby flourish the whole time.

SolidDetail808 · #17 10/17/2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SolidDetail808
I've been looking at getting a dragon goby. Any experience with these, anyone?

Never mind I was thinking of the dragonets.

agoutihead · #18 10/17/2007, 03:59 PM

yes there is a big differenc between a dragon goby (sand sifter) and a mandarine dragonette

DT's_Reef · #19 10/17/2007, 04:20 PM

Diamond gobies and other sand sifting gobies are notorious for jumping out of tanks. They also tend to starve unless the tank is well-fed. If you want fauna in the sandbed (a good thing) then don't get a goby.

I use large nassarius snails and lots of flow. My sandbed became pristine looking when I jacked the intank flow up a good bit.

cateyes · #20 10/17/2007, 07:05 PM

here's my "mural goby" he's a great sand sifter, and doesn't drift too far from the sand bed... i also love his yellow lips....

SolidDetail808 · #21 10/17/2007, 11:44 PM

cateyes- he does look cool.
I'm still searching around I'm going to LA this weekend so I'll check out some LFS there. Any rare or odd looking sand sifters to look for?

Reef n' Madness · #22 10/17/2007, 11:57 PM

My diamond watchman goby does a great job sifting around in my 55 gallon. The sand bed is between 1 and 4 inches deep. As long as all of the rocks are solid and on the bottom of the tank and you keep any small frags off of the sand bed, it is a great fish. Definitely a very active fish, and voracious. It loves to dig and bury things, but the sand stays pretty clean throughout the tank.

bk_market · #23 10/18/2007, 12:00 AM

only thing i hate is the diamond goby will create sandstorm inside my tank. i hate it so much.
I prefer large nassarius snails and alot of them

hahnmeister · #24 10/18/2007, 02:19 AM

A agree, gobies are considered predators of many of the critters that help keep the sandbed healthy... worms, pods, etc. They arent detrivores really. A pack of nassarius snails (super tongans are my favorites) are the better way to go. Most sand-sifter gobies end up slowly starving unless you have a large enough tank.

At that, my favorite are the yellow heads... but they can get big.

Also, engineer 'gobies' are sand sifters as well.

And then there are those 'sand sifting crabs'. They are just cool looking. I hear they do a good job as well...
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4

Pmolan · #25 10/18/2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hahnmeister
Also, engineer 'gobies' are sand sifters as well.

These are cool because they are the only ones that resemble an eel when they are adults. The only problem is that they make elaborate tunnels under the rock. Theres no experience like seeing your liverock tower collapse to one side