Sandsifting Goby selection

[courtjester]

I am currently stocking my 75g reef tank and am looking for a sandsifter that someone could recommend - preferably not a prawn goby due to a lack of prawns over here!

 

[derek_drennan]

I have had two different kinds of goby in my tank at one time or another. First I had a Gold Head Sleeper Goby, and after a rogue crab got him, I bought a Diamond Head Goby. Both do about the same thing, but in my experience, Diamond Heads need more space (that should not be an issue in your tank) because they are more territorial. It’s also cool to get a mated pair of Sleeper Gobies. A bit of warning for you, your sand bed will constantly be reorganized. I think it’s worth it though. Cool fish...

My two cents...

Derek

 

[munchieiam]

would a diamond head get along with an established Lawnmower or vice versa ??

 

[Anonymous]

Gollum-
Current opinion is that sand sifting is neither required nor desired for the health of a deep sand bed.

Ty

 

[DrDave88]

Could someone please explain the reason why it is bad to have a goby sift the DSB? I am looking at haveing both, and well i am a little confused now? is this jsut one person's oppinion or is this general knowledge that i have not picked up on?

Dr

 

[Anonymous]

A DSB is there as a place for anaerobic bacteria to grow. This bacteria converts nitrates (NO3) into N2 gas which bubble up to the surface. The key here is anaerobic (little or no O2). If you go stirring up the sand to significant depths all the time, you have an aerobic sand bed which does nothing for you. So that's one bad thing about sand stirring.

Secondly, the nice thing about DSBs is the zero maintenance involved. The presence of bugs, worms and other sandbed fauna is what keeps the DSB from turning into a big waste pile of poo and uneaten food. Anything that is a significant consumer of sandbed fauna should therefor be avoided.

Lastly, the sifting gobies make a sandstorm mess that to me is unsightly and a constant irritation to corals.

Ty

[ February 05, 2002: Message edited by: tyoberg ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

One more thing...

there are sandbed swallowers like cukes that only eat bacteria--most people agree that they are OK.

it's the sandbed fauna predators that should be avoided.

Here's a good sandbed F.A.Q.

 

[rlp1]

I wished someone would have advised me not to get a yellow-headed sleeper goby. I had one that I managed to keep alive for 2+ years. After sifting all life from the sandbed I had to target feed him daily because he was too slow to compete for food with the tang, clownfish, & blennie. I believe he eventually succumbed to malnutrition. Another bad thing was that he kept ALL the sand (3" in a 75 gal) piled into several big piles. Also, if you have any corals sitting down on the sand they will be constantly irritated by the sand that the sleeper sifts all over them. Why do you feel the need to have your sand sifted? If you just want something that keeps the sand looking nice, I recommend nassarius snails. They do a good job keeping the top layer stirred & looking nice.

 

[derek_drennan]

Munchieiam,
I had a Lawnmower in my tank at the time. Got along fine with the gold head. However the Diamond Head had issues, whenever the Lawnmower came too close.

Ty,
Good issues that you rise against owning these fish. I really liked the behavior, but ended up trading the Diamond Head in after a few months due to coral irritation. Something to think about.

Derek

 

[courtjester]

Thanks all for the info - will look more into the inverts for the job!

 

[DrDave88]

On the topic of sifting the sand via a goby - say i have a 6" DSB refigum (sp) under my tank, in which plently of pods and other food migrates up into the tank to feed the goby, is this going to slow down his appetite to destroy the benifits of the the DSB in the tank, or is he jsut going to get fatter? also, will having the DSB refigum under the tank allow for the filtration to be effective?

i am starting up a tank in a few monthes, i need to finalize my plans

dr