Sandsifter help needed

THE ROOK · 09/18/2010, 01:04 PM

In my 75 reef, I have a 4-5" translucent cave goby that does an awesome job keeping the sand white & clean.

Recently set up a 29 biocube as a 2nd tank. What are some recommended sandsifters for these smaller systems?

fstar25 · 09/18/2010, 01:10 PM

My fighting conch does an incredible!!! job.

THE ROOK · 09/18/2010, 02:01 PM

Fstar: Will just one do the trick? Very interested.

drauka99 · 09/18/2010, 02:48 PM

nassarius snails

love them

only thing is (i have been told) that they are sensitive to heat when introduced. I started with 5 and recently saw several grown ones as well as a few smaller ones so they seem to reproduce fairly well in a tank

fstar25 · 09/19/2010, 10:34 AM

The main thing about the conch is not starving it. A 75 will probably support 3-5 if that's your main sand cleaner. If you have nas snails as mentioned above (which I'm a big fan of) plus maybe a sand sifting star (not recommending that by the way) then you'll need fewer conches. I would get one, if he's not keeping add another etc...

At my LFS which is a really good one he keeps too in a 14g and they do fine. But the are the only sand cleaners.

Oh and make sure you get fighting conches and not a Welk!

Hope that helps :-)

~Frank

THE ROOK · 09/19/2010, 12:19 PM

Grabbed a fighting conch today. Is there an easy way to tell the difference between the two?

cody6766 · 09/19/2010, 12:52 PM

I keep a fighting conch and a handfull of nassarius snails in my 40br. They all do a very good job keeping the sand turned and clean. I kept one conch and about 6 nassarius snails in my 33g cube in the past, along with 2 turbo snails and a few astreas for the mess on the rocks

fstar25 · 09/19/2010, 03:45 PM

There are some good threads on RC about conches vs. Whelks. Think I spelled it wrong last time.

~Frank

09/18/2010, 01:04 PM	#1
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Sandsifter help needed In my 75 reef, I have a 4-5" translucent cave goby that does an awesome job keeping the sand white & clean. Recently set up a 29 biocube as a 2nd tank. What are some recommended sandsifters for these smaller systems?

09/18/2010, 01:10 PM	#2
fstar25 Getting there Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Friendswood, Tx Posts: 884	My fighting conch does an incredible!!! job. __________________ The only thing I know for sure is nothing! Carrie, why do you want someone in need to die? -iCam Current Tank Info: 29G BioCube with LED lighting, media basket, fuge (chamber 2), MJ1200 return pump, K nano & K 1 power heads, 32# LR, ~2" SB

09/18/2010, 02:48 PM	#4
drauka99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: at the Beach in Fl Posts: 792	nassarius snails love them only thing is (i have been told) that they are sensitive to heat when introduced. I started with 5 and recently saw several grown ones as well as a few smaller ones so they seem to reproduce fairly well in a tank __________________ "Aliie, Eat a Snickers, you're "HANGRY" - me "I sometimes enjoy watching shadow puppet shows" - jpfelix "Bacon is Love." - Fat Man Current Tank Info: 240 Algae Farm System Running

09/19/2010, 10:34 AM	#5
fstar25 Getting there Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Friendswood, Tx Posts: 884	The main thing about the conch is not starving it. A 75 will probably support 3-5 if that's your main sand cleaner. If you have nas snails as mentioned above (which I'm a big fan of) plus maybe a sand sifting star (not recommending that by the way) then you'll need fewer conches. I would get one, if he's not keeping add another etc... At my LFS which is a really good one he keeps too in a 14g and they do fine. But the are the only sand cleaners. Oh and make sure you get fighting conches and not a Welk! Hope that helps :-) ~Frank __________________ The only thing I know for sure is nothing! Carrie, why do you want someone in need to die? -iCam Current Tank Info: 29G BioCube with LED lighting, media basket, fuge (chamber 2), MJ1200 return pump, K nano & K 1 power heads, 32# LR, ~2" SB

09/19/2010, 12:52 PM	#7
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	I keep a fighting conch and a handfull of nassarius snails in my 40br. They all do a very good job keeping the sand turned and clean. I kept one conch and about 6 nassarius snails in my 33g cube in the past, along with 2 turbo snails and a few astreas for the mess on the rocks __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

09/18/2010, 02:01 PM	#3
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Fstar: Will just one do the trick? Very interested.

09/19/2010, 12:19 PM	#6
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Grabbed a fighting conch today. Is there an easy way to tell the difference between the two?

09/19/2010, 03:45 PM	#8
fstar25 Getting there Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Friendswood, Tx Posts: 884	There are some good threads on RC about conches vs. Whelks. Think I spelled it wrong last time. ~Frank __________________ The only thing I know for sure is nothing! Carrie, why do you want someone in need to die? -iCam Current Tank Info: 29G BioCube with LED lighting, media basket, fuge (chamber 2), MJ1200 return pump, K nano & K 1 power heads, 32# LR, ~2" SB

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