Sand cleaners

[Snake Man]

does anyone know of any good sand cleaning inverts? i would like to get some cukes but there toxicity makes me rule them out. what about queen conchs or any other sand cleaners? any info would be appreciated.

 

[DennisL]

I added a Queen Conch (after searching for one for about six months) and it seems to be doing real well. Never leaves the sand, and it seems the sand is whiter after it leaves an area. I bought from Premium Aquatics but I think I saw that North Coast Marines also has them.

 

[2poor2reef]

Queen conch is the best sand cleaner I own. Wouldn't have a sand bed without one. I also like to keep a mopping cuke also. That and a good pop of spaghetti worms keep my sand clean.

 

[raptor1]

Try www.flying Fish Express.They have reef relief clean up crews,for sand beds.They offer them in different size tank options.I placed an order this past friday.

 

[Snake Man]

do any of you know of any cucumbers that arent toxic? id love to get some but im afraid to take the chance with my livestock. What about Nudibrachs, i like there colors but dont want one to just waste away due to lack of food.

 

[2poor2reef]

Try these snake:
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/2000/jan/wb/default.asp
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=c361abe3a149342e1d6ba821f62d8dd5&threadid=24956&highlight=holothuria

 

[salefen]

The nudibranch would very likely get cought up in a power head or be sucked up by the overflow, or starve. What about a white sandsifting starfish I have one. It eats everyhing in the sand but it keeps it clean. So if your not trying to grow things in your sand they might be a good addition.

 

[popepain]

i would not put any slugs in your tank most the time its just money down the drain or sump.but for cumbers the pink and black is a good sand sifter so are the tiger tails and both look good.i have these and 2 brown cumbers that most people donmt like and refer to them as the big poops in my tank.for something diffrent you may want to try the filter feeders like the small yellow cumber or the pink and yellow cumber .and if your one who like the wierd kinda stuff as i do you may eveeen try a muddsa worm or a sea apple (sea apple should be on tanks a year or older in my view.

hope that helps

 

[Henry1]

I have a HUGE Red Leg hermit crab (4 1/2 inch across) in the sump with a couple of smaller ones. Did a great job stirring up the sand looking for food and keeping the substrate clean . . . too clean though as no worms or pods can grow in the sump.

One caution, they are powerful and can easily overturn LR three times its size. I don't suggest to have them in the display tank. Red legs grow too fast and too big.

Just some additional info I hope will help.

 

[Mac1]

Two cukes that I've used with good luck to clean my sand are the Tiger Tail and this brown, Turd like "Sand Cleaner" cuke I found at my LFS. Sorry I don't have any id on it for you. Best way to describe it is a knobby, brown, 6 inch turd... By far the best I've found. Worlds better than the tigertail's I've had. However thr Tigertail's don't contain toxic poison's. If you lose one, it will only pollute your tank in the normal biological way.. nothing out of the ordinary. Be advised however - my Cuke's have gone MIA for a month, only to turn up eventually.

- Mac

 

[Snake Man]

thanks for the help guys i think ill just try the tigertail cukes since they are not toxic,and a few queen conchs. if any of you know of any other similar inverts that arent toxic please let me know, especially any nudibranchs that you can keep alive.

 

[Snake Man]

acctually im still reading from various sources that all cukes are toxic. does anyone know where i can find more info on this topic? any input on queen conchs and burrowing snails(cerith i think, not sure of name)

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Snake Man:
<STRONG>acctually im still reading from various sources that all cukes are toxic. does anyone know where i can find more info on this topic? any input on queen conchs and burrowing snails(cerith i think, not sure of name)</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The toxicity of "mopping" cukes is so low that an animal would have to eat it to be affected. Queen conchs are great but one is plenty since they get really big. A better choice would be the fighting conch, strombus malaculus or something like that. They only get to 4 or 5 inches vs 12" for the strombus gigas.

Cerith are an excellent choice as well.

[ August 21, 2001: Message edited by: Guy ]

 

[Mouse]

Snake man, your right about the Cerith snails, there really good and they make mad patterns in the sand. On another note i thought you might like to know i havejust bought a breeding pair of Honduran Milks, one Hypo and a Het for Hypo. Im so excited about them breeding i can hardly wait, he he!!!