CUC for clean sand bed

[Letterkenny]

I have a little over month old 130 that I have been battling some algae issues on the sand. I used a larger grain sand than my last build so it wouldn’t blow around but looks like that may be contributing to the problem. Ordered a large CUC online but due to shipping snafu, they were all DOA. What’s best to stock for a clean sand bed to get rid of diatoms and cyano? Currently have about 5 nassarius (had more ordered) and 1 diamond goby in QT.

A couple other facts, Tank cycled through Turbostart, nitrates are around 7 and phosphates are a bit high at 0.07. Running a protein skimmer and chaeto reactor with flow provided by 2x MP40s running reef crest at 70% during the lighting period.

 

[HuduVudu]

Out of curiosity what is your Alk?

 

[Letterkenny]

Out of curiosity what is your Alk?

 

[frank10]

I try to buy critters that reproduce

I use http://ipsf.com/
strombus grazers
live sand activator
worms

 

[Letterkenny]

Also, I stocked it recently with 2x Algae Barn Ecopods and been feeding daily phyto to hopefully help with this algae and also just to get pods stocked.

 

[Letterkenny]

Here’s a photo. Looks nasty after even doing a water change a couple days ago. Also have some cyano randomly on The rocks. Would cyano come in worse if a little bit came in from another tank vs just starting via dry rock?

I am thinking of about 10 more nassarius snails and 2 tiger conches. Would a couple gyres also help?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nassarius snails and sand sifting starfish

 

[Letterkenny]

Nassarius snails and sand sifting starfish

Thoughts on conch?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thoughts on conch?

I like conchs such as fighting conch but hard to trust

 

[R.Weller]

When the diamond goby comes out of QT, it will do the job. We have a mated pair in our 300gal along with a sand sifting starfish, but the gobies are amazing. After adding them, the tank was cloudy for 5 days. Nature’s finest for that job.

 

[Letterkenny]

When the diamond goby comes out of QT, it will do the job. We have a mated pair in our 300gal along with a sand sifting starfish, but the gobies are amazing. After adding them, the tank was cloudy for 5 days. Nature’s finest for that job.

Only downside is that he won’t be done until September 8th. I plan on getting ~10-15 more nassarius snails but just need to find some in stock. Might try the website with the shipping snafu again given it wasn’t their fault.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Local reefers are saying good things about sand dollars near me. A lfs recently had them for super cheap so there were many buyers. But with your tank only being a month old I’m not sure. I definitely think the fighting conch and starfish are good choices. Maybe a sea cucumber as well?

 

[Letterkenny]

Local reefers are saying good things about sand dollars near me. A lfs recently had them for super cheap so there were many buyers. But with your tank only being a month old I’m not sure. I definitely think the fighting conch and starfish are good choices. Maybe a sea cucumber as well?

Heard some not so good things on the sea cucumber, Any specifics with the starfish? Never had one in my previous tanks.

 

[Anubisxii]

My diamond goby hid for two days, the next turned my tank upside down. Sand has never been cleaner and I have 5 nass's. Tank was cloudy for 2 days but has never looked better. I will diamond goby every tank I have moving forward.

 

[MabuyaQ]

Holothuria edulis or Holothuria atra.