What CUC Member to add for cleaning my sand bed?

FuriuzReef

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Hello,

Wich clean up crew member would you recommend for cleaning my sand bed? my sand bed is growing quite some algea and detritus atm, i have 2 conches, 4 nassarius snails for the sand atm but that doesn't seem to cut it, should i just add more nassarius? (i have more cuc but those are not for the sand).
i've been looking into starfish & cerith caeruleum, any experiences?

it's a 40 gallon rectangular.

Thanks :)
 

Gumbies R Us

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You could try a sand sifting starfish and see if that works!
Also, check this thread out, has some good suggestions!
 

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Sand stars have a dismal survival rate.

If two conches aren’t keeping it clean then you might have a problem. Are they larger conch like a fighting conch? Or smaller species like strawberry ?

One fighting conch and a handful of nassarius keep my 75g sand very very clean.
 
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FuriuzReef

FuriuzReef

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Sand stars have a dismal survival rate.

If two conches aren’t keeping it clean then you might have a problem. Are they larger conch like a fighting conch? Or smaller species like strawberry ?

One fighting conch and a handful of nassarius keep my 75g sand very very clean.
They are strawberry conches indeed.
 
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FuriuzReef

FuriuzReef

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Sand stars have a dismal survival rate.

If two conches aren’t keeping it clean then you might have a problem. Are they larger conch like a fighting conch? Or smaller species like strawberry ?

One fighting conch and a handful of nassarius keep my 75g sand very very clean.
in my previous 20g, this clean up crew kept my sand clean as well, but in my 40g they aren't keeping up, im thinking about doubling the amount of snails, but i don't wanna overdo it.
Ceriths also seem interesting, i think strawberry conches are pretty large allready haha
 

Rollnwthdatide

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Hello,

Wich clean up crew member would you recommend for cleaning my sand bed? my sand bed is growing quite some algea and detritus atm, i have 2 conches, 4 nassarius snails for the sand atm but that doesn't seem to cut it, should i just add more nassarius? (i have more cuc but those are not for the sand).
i've been looking into starfish & cerith caeruleum, any experiences?

it's a 40 gallon rectangular.

Thanks :)

I wouldn't advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size. It will just slowly die away. You could add some cerith snails for sure but I would also look at limiting the amount of nutrients (mainly via feeding) being put into the tank and try to get a better nutrients export going.
 
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FuriuzReef

FuriuzReef

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I would highly advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size. It will just slowly die away. You could add some cerith snails for sure but I would also look at limiting the amount of nutrients (mainly via feeding) being put into the tank and try to get a better nutrients export going.
My tank is currently in a fishless period, i'm not feeding alot (once a week a very small pinch to keep the inverts & bacteria happy) but still there is quite some algea growth on the sand bed (only on the sand bed).

"I would highly advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size" You mean advise against right?
 

Rollnwthdatide

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My tank is currently in a fishless period, i'm not feeding alot (once a week a very small pinch to keep the inverts & bacteria happy) but still there is quite some algea growth on the sand bed (only on the sand bed).

"I would highly advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size" You mean advise against right?
Indeed. Sorry for the predictive text mess up.
 

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