need a sand creature!!! sand is dirty!!!!

[oxkisses12ox]

my sand is gross... the fish dont touch it and it has some red algea growing on it and a lot of crap... i need something to eat everything and clean up the sand... but i only have a 14 gallon... so what could i put in my tank?? im getting a cleaner shrimp next week but he wont eat everything... so any suggestions????

[drummereef]

How about your phosphate? Also, do you use RO/DI water and how much flow do you have?

[oxkisses12ox]

i use NSW and i dont check my phosphate... just calcium ammonia PH temp salinity nitrate nitrite alkalinity .... ummm my flow is good...... i have a 14 gallon biocube ... i just need some bottom feeders

[Fuegofish777]

cleaner shrimp dont do a whole for the sand. if you have that much stuff on the sandbed, one animal isnt going to do it for you. You should worry more about the source. . I would say try a fighting conch but i think at least a square foot of sandbed is required for even the smallest ones. you could always try one and trade it later.

[Rhodesholar]

Nassarius snails.

[oxkisses12ox]

i will get some snails... anything else? i have three snails right now (just reg,) and one hermit

[sjfishguy]

Get a turtle conch. These things are AMAZING. I have one in my 10g and it keeps my sand looking like a just put it in. Everyone that I know that has put them in their tanks say the same thing. I have a nassarius too and he doesnt do anything compared to this guy. Get one.

[oxkisses12ox]

i am looking online and i cant seem to find one??

[Rhodesholar]

Originally posted by sjfishguy
Get a turtle conch. These things are AMAZING. I have one in my 10g and it keeps my sand looking like a just put it in. Everyone that I know that has put them in their tanks say the same thing. I have a nassarius too and he doesnt do anything compared to this guy. Get one.

Do you maybe mean a tiger tail cuke or fighting conch? Never heard of turtle conch. I looked on line as well. No mention of it. If some one does find it please post.

Also you have (1) nassariurs snail and you are not pleased with his work? The poor guys is working over time. Their should be like 5 or something per sq ft.

[jdircksen]

my nassarius snails just burry themselves in the sand. i haven't seen them since i put them in. is that normal?

[msuzuki126]

You should get a diamond goby or bullet goby, they are constantly sifting sand through their gills.

[CompNrdCR]

diamond goby needs a 50 gal setup... A yellow watchman might do the trick.

[chicky]

I recently purchased a couple (2) of sand sifting snails for my 24 Nano and they do an incredible job of keeping the sand clean. I purchased my at a local salt store so they can not be to hard to find. You might have to ask the person that works there because they stay under the sand until you feed and then they come to the surface. They kind of remind me of Hippos coming to the top of the water
Good Luck!!

[Rhodesholar]

Originally posted by jdircksen
my nassarius snails just burry themselves in the sand. i haven't seen them since i put them in. is that normal?

Yes.

If you want to see them throw a little food in.

[eddiez9395]

I had a problem keeping my sand clean. I tried a Dragon Goby and in ONE day he cleaned my nano . He is always working. He moves sand like a mad man. He is also fun to watch. Good luck!

[Rhodesholar]

Here is a link to another thread about sand sifters. Good info and some personal experience by the posters.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1023266

[dragonladylea]

Get a small Pistol shrimp, it will keep your sand clean it burrows constantly.

[FishNutzBoi]

imo ur having cyanobacteria and not many thing even touch that stuff. reduce PO4 and light are the only 2 things i've done to battle it. hth

[sjfishguy]

http://www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_211.html

The "turtle conch" I believe is Laevistrombus canarium. I have always seen them called turtle conchs, but it seems they are more well known as dog conchs on the internet. Anyway, most of the conchs/fighting conchs commonly for sale are of the Strombus genus, these guys are a little different and a do a MUCH BETTER job than any fighting conch I have ever seen. No, I can't find an online dealer either, but if you ever see one at your LFS be sure to buy one. They are BY FAR the BEST sand cleaners I have ever seen and dont need a lot of room to thrive. Good luck.

[sulp]

I recently purchased what my LFS called Elephant snails. They are basically Nassarius on steriods. They look almost identical but are about 5 times the size. Actually their shells are a bit different (smoother with an almost iradescent quality). They do a great job of moving my SB around.

[sulp]

Heres a pic of my Elephant snail.....Like I said, I love them. They do a great job of cleaning up and they burrow all over my CCSB. Sice they are so big they do a great job mixing things up!

[sulp]

Notice the peice of mysis directly in front of his "trunk". He's moving in.

[oxkisses12ox]

that is soo great! im going to ask th LFS to order me 2 of them and a "dog snail"
Thank you so much!

[greenbean36191]

If you have a problem with detritus buildup, the last thing you need is more animals. You need to treat the problem, not bury it. Nassarius, gobies, sand sifting stars, etc. are only making the sand look better because they're burying the problem. They don't eat detritus. It will still rot under the sand. Cucumbers and to some extent conchs will eat it, but again they're mostly burying it. Still, they can only extract about 10% of the energy of what they take in and then other 90% gets pooped back out.

Siphon out the detritus with waterchanges, increase flow, and reduce feeding.

[oxkisses12ox]

can i scoop some of it out with a net?