Sand sifting fish

[bobmakespancakes]

I have a 13 gallon tank and I need something that will sift the sand for me I was looking at gobies but I saw that they can get big what would you suggest?

 

[lmm1967]

Fighting conch, yellow cucumber - if your sand is mature (AT LEAST 6 months with fish and other critters in the tank).

Nassarius snails are another option.

 

[CCauthers]

Nassarius and conchs would be my recommendation

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Nassarius and conchs would be my recommendation

ok so I looked up conches and everywhere says they need a bigger tank would they be ok in a small tank?

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Nassarius and conchs would be my recommendation

and how many nassarius snails should i get?

 

[ScubaFish802]

+3 for Nassarius, they are the only thing that has literally dug into + turned the sand. They spend 99% of their time fully submerged in the sand in my experience, occassionaly I see their little snorkel poking out of the sand bed.

 

[daybreaksky]

a dozen may be enough for that size.

 

[ScubaFish802]

I've found 2-3 go through my entire 32gal tank daily. They are very fast - for snails.

 

[bobmakespancakes]

a dozen may be enough for that size.

ok thanks!

 

[bobmakespancakes]

I've found 2-3 go through my entire 32gal tank daily. They are very fast - for snails.

so is more or less better? my sand is very very bad

 

[ScubaFish802]

so is more or less better? my sand is very very bad

The only thing I would caution is while it is bad now, once they catch up any that can't be sustained will starve to death. In my experience adding smaller quantities of snails at a time and then adding more later (if needed) has worked best for my tank. 12 seems like a lot for a small tank like that but I guess it depends on other factors.

 

[PokeFish]

Well.. do you want to sift your sand? Or clean it? I dont think nassarius snails will clean your sand. They just burrow under and come back up. I have a conch. It's really cool. It burrows in the sand and walks around eating algae from the sand, or detritus or anything. Only bad thing is they get on my rocks and bump my corals

 

[bobmakespancakes]

The only thing I would caution is while it is bad now, once they catch up any that can't be sustained will starve to death. In my experience adding smaller quantities of snails at a time and then adding more later (if needed) has worked best for my tank. 12 seems like a lot for a small tank like that but I guess it depends on other factors.

ok maybe ill try adding 1-4 and a conch for now then thanks!

 

[PokeFish]

The only thing I would caution is while it is bad now, once they catch up any that can't be sustained will starve to death. In my experience adding smaller quantities of snails at a time and then adding more later (if needed) has worked best for my tank. 12 seems like a lot for a small tank like that but I guess it depends on other factors.

Yes i had only 3 in my 20 gallon and they all starved eventually so i brought them back the my lfs

 

[bobmakespancakes]

one last question will hermit crabs or an emerald crab try to hurt any of these?

 

[PokeFish]

one last question will hermit crabs or an emerald crab try to hurt any of these?

Nope. Actually not sure about the emerald crab. I had hermits with my nassarius snails. I got my emerald after the snails left, but the crab wont hurt the conch, and doesnt hurt my astrea snails, so should be fine

 

[bobmakespancakes]

Nope. Actually not sure about the emerald crab. I had hermits with my nassarius snails. I got my emerald after the snails left, but the crab wont hurt the conch, and doesnt hurt my astrea snails, so should be fine

ok thanks

 

[ScubaFish802]

I am 'snail-only' so can't directly give advice. But from my understanding crabs should generally leave them alone unless they too are starving.