ideal DSB clean-up crew?...

[thebigblue]

its time to add some more clean up type critters to my 125...

when i setup the tank about a year ago i added about 40 snails and 4 fighting conchs...i also have a serpant star...i have 150#s of LR...

what else should i add to help keep the sandbed clean?...

i have been battling flatworms and a small case of cyano occasionally...i realize that this "crew" wont really help either problem, but i would like the DSB to be worked a little more than it is...

i have been staying away from all crabs (except my mexican staghorn hermit) for fear that they will do more harm than good...??

thanks

brad

[scubadude]

Hey Brad

Are the conchs helping with the cyano problem? Current and nutrients could be part of the problem but I suggest more worms in your sandbed and if you have the SB room a cuke might be a good addittion, or some nassarius snails would help turn up the SB a bit.

[thebigblue]

thanks for the reply

the conchs dont seem to touch the cyano, and from what ive read they wont...

i do need to increase circulation, i have a closed loop in the works...as far as nutrients, my phosphates are always 0 ppm when i check...i feed once a day, and not very much...

i think a couple cukes are on my shortlist...and the nassarius snails are a great idea, ive read they turn up the bed pretty good...??

i wonder how many i should get?...

i might be able to get some bristle worms free from a LFS that hates them...good idea?...

thanks again

brad

[zhenya]

Hi Brad,
I have two fighting conchs in my 75g and when I did have a little cyano they actualy ate it pretty good.I realize that they're mostly diatom feeders,but given no choice they go for it,atleast in my case they did.

[Palmetto]

Other than reducing the amount of nutrients in the water through more frequent water changes or increased skimming, increasing your circulation will do more to eliminate the cyano than anything else, IMO.

[reefeze]

inland aquatics detrivore kit is excellent. Also, you could try some of IPSF's products, such as reef worms.

HTH
RE

[thebigblue]

ok, heres a list of stuff im thinking about from www.etropicals.com

ive ordered from them before and was pleased...and if you order over $60 the shipping is free...

nassarius snails (50) @ $1.20
tiger tail cuke (1) @ 11.50
lettuce nudibranch (1) @ 4.75
atlantic cuke (2) @ 2.95

Total = $82.15 shipped

im staying away from crabs...even the scarlet and blue legs...thoughts on this?...

thanks

brad

[kevinpo]

You could add a pair of Twin Spot gobies (Signigobius biocellatus). They sift the top 1/4" of sand and are peaceful and quite entertaining fish. I almost always get a comment or two from visitors on them. They are also inexpensive. I don't know what they do for cyno but they eat the brownish algae and keep my sand looking bright white (I use Pure Caribbean Aragonite).

Mine roams the entire tank (8'x44"). I also have a pinkspotted shrimp goby but he keeps to a much smaller area. He also creates some sand piles whereas the smaller goby doesn't.

Regards,
Kevin