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Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?Reef Talk General reef aquarium talk that has no other specific forum. |
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#1
August 15th, 2008, 07:30 PM
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Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
I'm looking for suggestions and ideas for keeping my sand bed stirred and clean - what do you guys all use? Are there any starfish that will take care of this (please, don't suggest sand-sifting stars - they don't survive in the long-term). Any and all suggestions appreciated!
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 1 55 Gal Marine Aqua-C Remora, 2 powerheads, Whisp. Filter, Nova T-5 Extreme light, Kent RO/DI water Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 15 months Other Intrests: Computers, technology, photography, gardening, cooking, art, music, films/TV, books, travel, nature 
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#2
August 15th, 2008, 07:40 PM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
Narcissus(SP) snails are what most people use, conches also. Gobies also work well.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 180gal Mixed Reef Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Newbie to Salt, 2 years planted, Freshwater Forever and a Day! Other Intrests: hunting outdoorsy things, cars motorcycles anything that goes fast drag cars
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kevinsimons (August 17th, 2008) | ||
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#3
August 15th, 2008, 08:56 PM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
Nassarius snails are by far the best. Some people use sea cucumbers, but there are pros and cons to those animals (I'm in the CON camp for that).
__________________
"If we went to a Halloween party dressed as Batman and Robin, I'd go as Robin. That's how much you mean to me... " Sarah 
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 240-gallon reef with a 55-gallon sump and 35-gallon refugium Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 7 years
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kevinsimons (August 17th, 2008) | ||
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#4
August 16th, 2008, 12:32 AM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
queen conches are good, so are gobies
__________________
"If crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight?"- George Carlin Current Aquarium(s) Description: 120 gallon with built in dual overflows Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: >1 year Other Intrests: football, paintball, workin out, saltwater fish
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kevinsimons (August 17th, 2008) | ||
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#5
August 16th, 2008, 12:39 AM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
Regular water changes.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 80 Gal. Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 2 years Other Intrests: Drums, sports, camping, astronomy and computers.
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kevinsimons (August 17th, 2008) | ||
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#6
August 16th, 2008, 01:41 AM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
Sandsifting stars can litteraly kill you sand bed, which isn't good. I would stick with snails. They won't eat every single peice of helpful bacteria and living organisms.
Current Aquarium(s) Description: 55 gallon/20 gallon sump/Aquactinics TX5/LPS/SPS Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 3 years Other Intrests: My truck, wakeboarding, and golf. I also enjoy working....
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#7
August 16th, 2008, 01:47 AM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
Quote:
 Current Aquarium(s) Description: 125 reef, mostly SPS Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: close to 20 years
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#8
August 16th, 2008, 02:45 AM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
I gotta agree with all the above.
__________________
Hunt hard,shoot straight,kill clean,apologize to no one. Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75gal. reef,NE T-5s 432 watt ,CSS65 skimmer,Pro-Clear 125 wet/dry with mag5 return Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: Little over a year Other Intrests: Hunting,camping,fishing
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kevinsimons (August 17th, 2008) | ||
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#9
August 16th, 2008, 03:08 AM
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Re: Keeping your sand bed clean - starfish?
I am certainly no expert, but let me relay some of my mistakes. Most stars (mine was a bubble tip brittle star) are some risk to fish. While they won't search out a fish to eat, they may stumble upon one sleeping in a rock one night and be grateful for a free meal (i know mine did, anyway) From what I have read blue linckias and fromias are totally reef safe..but they dont sift the sand
Sandsifter gobies are great. I love them. My only complaint with them is that they get the things living in your sand before any of the fish you have can. In my case my copperbad needs/wants them more then a sandsifter, so the sandsifter went back to the store. Also make sure your rock are placed directly on the glass and not on the sand. a sandsifter can make your rock unstable an cause a rockslide (i lost a cleaner shrimp that way) Finally, I agree with everyone on the nassarius. I have 7 "super nassarius" and many of the smaller variety. They are great. I also have a few small hermits, but, I know some people would rather not use them. I have had no confirmed problems with them, although my orange star has wounds from something picking at it at night...could be them. Anyway, hope some of my ramblings help  Current Aquarium(s) Description: *72 gallon bowfront reef *55 gallon freshwater puffer/cichld tank Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: One Year
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kevinsimons (August 17th, 2008) | ||
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