Invert possibilities for nano tank cleaning

[Reef addict 01]

hello everyone my friend has a 10 gallon tank that is coming along beautifully! he still has some issues with some brown sand I believe they are diatoms and some detritus here and there. I have a 75 gallon tank and I have recently purchased a starfish that has done an absolutely amazing job cleaning the sand bed. I dont remember what kind sadly lol id have to post a pic. but anyways the question I have is is there some type of an invert besides snails he can put into his tank to effectively clean his rocks and sand bed. I understand that he has limited space however the plan was to swap things out as they grew too large for the tank any suggestions?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

The starfish you have is most likely a sand sifting star. About the only thing that will eat diatoms that I know of are snails and chitons. I have some Astrea Snails and they do an amazing job on cleaning my rock. Some people dont like them cuz they can't right themselves if flipped, but the work they do for me is worth it to me and most the time it's not an issue. If I see one flipped it's really not that hard to right them. I have some tiger conches and fighting conches that do a pretty good job in the sand bed. The fighting conches are way to big for the nano though. I'd try a tiger conch, but be careful he does run out of food. Conches cant leave the sand bed so they are a good sand cleaner.

 

[Reef addict 01]

it's definitely not a sand sifting star I know that for a fact. its brown and pink I had a sand sifting star and I hated it was destroying my sand bed. but thanks for the input will check into it