Sand sifter recommendations

[Tcook]

Do you think a starfish would help spread and level out the sand mounds the conch made

No. You could easily do another conch. Also consider nassarius snails. Yen or so for that tank.

 

[Neon_Devil]

I would get a clean up crew from Reef Cleaners. My tank, rock and sand bed haven't ever looked this clean.

 

[DEE’S reef]

So I’m probably going to go to the lfs to get some more clean up crew could a starfish work because they look cool and I want to get one but I’d like if it served a purpose in the tank.

 

[Freenow54]

+1 for Diamond Goby. Sand bed looks immaculate since I got one, however at first he was making quite a mess. Seems to have become a model citizen lately though. Maybe just a phase thought depending on tank size it wouldn’t hurt to have some variety, conch and nassarius snails work as well but not quite as fast as a Diamond Goby.

Nassarius or Trochus I forget which snails do great work on your rock , and clean around Coral frags as well . Bumble Bee snails and either the Nassarius or Trochus ( one is much smaller than the other ) disappear into your substrate and are rarely seen. Buy lots of the smaller ones . It doesn't matter that I am not sure which is which , as all four the goby and snails complement one another beauty

 

[Freenow54]

So I’m probably going to go to the lfs to get some more clean up crew could a starfish work because they look cool and I want to get one but I’d like if it served a purpose in the tank.

Do research Starfish can be super aggressive , and eat Coral according to my research only not experience

 

[PointerReefs]

+1 for Diamond Goby. Sand bed looks immaculate since I got one, however at first he was making quite a mess. Seems to have become a model citizen lately though. Maybe just a phase thought depending on tank size it wouldn’t hurt to have some variety, conch and nassarius snails work as well but not quite as fast as a Diamond Goby.

Nassarius or Trochus I forget which snails do great work on your rock , and clean around Coral frags as well . Bumble Bee snails and either the Nassarius or Trochus ( one is much smaller than the other ) disappear into your substrate and are rarely seen. Buy lots of the smaller ones . It doesn't matter that I am not sure which is which , as all four the goby and snails complement one another beauty

The nassarius snails are the ones that disappear into the sand, but they come out at night or in my case also when I drop some aminos in the tank. I think the bubble bee snails can also bury themselves but are mostly on the rocks. They don’t seem as active to me as some others but maybe that’s just me. Indeed though they do all work together well. Bumblebee’s are good for vermited snails though.

 

[Freenow54]

The nassarius snails are the ones that disappear into the sand, but they come out at night or in my case also when I drop some aminos in the tank. I think the bubble bee snails can also bury themselves but are mostly on the rocks. They don’t seem as active to me as some others but maybe that’s just me. Indeed though they do all work together well. Bumblebee’s are good for vermited snails though.

Strange rarely see my bumble bee snails

 

[PointerReefs]

The nassarius snails are the ones that disappear into the sand, but they come out at night or in my case also when I drop some aminos in the tank. I think the bubble bee snails can also bury themselves but are mostly on the rocks. They don’t seem as active to me as some others but maybe that’s just me. Indeed though they do all work together well. Bumblebee’s are good for vermited snails though.

Strange rarely see my bumble bee snails

Same I always have to go looking, I guess what I meant when I said on my rocks I meant in some crevice hiding. lol

 

[MadreeferNJ]

I have 2 conch, 2 sea cucumbers, serpent star and a brittle star to help clean sand.

 

[zwalter38]

So I’m probably going to go to the lfs to get some more clean up crew could a starfish work because they look cool and I want to get one but I’d like if it served a purpose in the tank.

The only starfish that will help out with your sand as far as I know is a sand sifting star. They are typically white so not as fancy as a biscuit or linkia for example. However I have two in my 130 and they were the difference between hair algae on my sand and clean white sand. I also have a few conchs and nassarius however they difference came when I added the stars. I don’t belief they will bother corals or anything however I would be concerned with a tank that is only a month and a half old. There might not be enough long term food for the starfish.
I would personally stick to the conchs maybe add a few more and see. If you end up getting a sand sifting star just keep an eye on it, if it starts looking skinny or you notice it withering away I’d remove it and see if the lfs would take it back.

 

[Freenow54]

The only starfish that will help out with your sand as far as I know is a sand sifting star. They are typically white so not as fancy as a biscuit or linkia for example. However I have two in my 130 and they were the difference between hair algae on my sand and clean white sand. I also have a few conchs and nassarius however they difference came when I added the stars. I don’t belief they will bother corals or anything however I would be concerned with a tank that is only a month and a half old. There might not be enough long term food for the starfish.
I would personally stick to the conchs maybe add a few more and see. If you end up getting a sand sifting star just keep an eye on it, if it starts looking skinny or you notice it withering away I’d remove it and see if the lfs would take it back.

I have never had starfish would they eat copepods ?

 

[zwalter38]

I have never had starfish would they eat copepods ?

I’m not totally sure to be honest, I’ve had sand sifters and a biscuit star. I have not personally witnessed them eating copepods. I would tend to think they wouldn’t hunt them like mandarins, but would eat them if they were an easy snack. From what I understand they eat biofilms, some algae, sponges, detritus, and other organic waste.

 

[Tcook]

The pretty starfish, linkia and biscuit, live off biofilms in large established tanks which is why they don’t last longer than 6 months for most reefers. They can easily injure an arm and then completely disintegrate. Others like the chocolate chip are carnivores towards corals. Stick with the serpents. There is a member here that sells bright red serpents. The bright green serpents can get quite large and catch fish.

 

[DexterKarin]

I would get a clean up crew from Reef Cleaners. My tank, rock and sand bed haven't ever looked this clean.

This!!!! Great to deal with. I think most would say your system is way to young for starfish.

 

[Freenow54]

The pretty starfish, linkia and biscuit, live off biofilms in large established tanks which is why they don’t last longer than 6 months for most reefers. They can easily injure an arm and then completely disintegrate. Others like the chocolate chip are carnivores towards corals. Stick with the serpents. There is a member here that sells bright red serpents. The bright green serpents can get quite large and catch fish.

who is the member?

 

[NanoSteam]

15 Nassarius and 20 Cerith snails (not the dwarf variety) are constantly flipping my sand bed over.

Ceriths I think don't get any attention in this area but every morning they burrow all over the sand bed and when lights go out they come out to do their cleaning then go back in when lights are on in the morning.

There's almost a fresh layer every morning.

 

[JumboShrimp]

(Now that I taught all of my FOWLR Butterflies to eat clams, there is no hope for a Nassarius whatsoever. )

 

[Tcook]

who is the member?

Live Goods - Red Serpent Starfish

Hello, I have 3 qty True Red Serpent Starfish available. Beautiful Vibrant Red. $99.00 each or 2qty for $175.00 plus $50.00 Shipping Via next day air anywhere within the US.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Smitty126]

The pretty starfish, linkia and biscuit, live off biofilms in large established tanks which is why they don’t last longer than 6 months for most reefers. They can easily injure an arm and then completely disintegrate. Others like the chocolate chip are carnivores towards corals. Stick with the serpents. There is a member here that sells bright red serpents. The bright green serpents can get quite large and catch fish.

Had a chocolate chip ate a whole colony of star polyps before I could get him out. Had no use with a brittle star though