Sand Sifting Goby for a Fluval Evo 13.5?

[slaag]

Hi there, I would like a sand sifting goby for my fluval 13.5. Are there specific recommendations as to what would be appropriate? Would a "recommended 30 gallon" goby be okay if its small? Would its growth be limited by a smaller tank and thus be okay? I have seen varying sites say different things on what species are appropriate for different size tanks.

Thanks!

 

[Spare time]

Ehhhh I wouldn't. You should look at nassarius snails and a conch. Fish growth won't be limited by tank size.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Sand sifting gobies often starve to death in captivity even in larger tanks due to their specialized diet of benthic microorganisms. They often don't take/eat minimal amounts of prepared foods. It can work, but I'd say proceed with extreme caution

 

[slaag]

Ehhhh I wouldn't. You should look at nassarius snails and a conch. Fish growth won't be limited by tank size.

I was worried someone was going to say this. My Peppermint shrimp seems to have taken a liking to Nassarius snails and has attacked and killed the two I once had. I guess I'll have to replace... Maybe he wont like the conch. He seems to leave the Trochus and Astria snails alone.

 

[KyRo]

One conch in your tank would do wonders. I'm not sure how the shrimp would react to it, but when I say my conch has been the best thing for my sand in 4 years, it's not hyperbole. In my 13.5 it handles the whole sand bed on its own

 

[slaag]

One conch in your tank would do wonders. I'm not sure how the shrimp would react to it, but when I say my conch has been the best thing for my sand in 4 years, it's not hyperbole. In my 13.5 it handles the whole sand bed on its own

What is the species? Thanks a lot!

 

[olonmv]

One conch in your tank would do wonders. I'm not sure how the shrimp would react to it, but when I say my conch has been the best thing for my sand in 4 years, it's not hyperbole. In my 13.5 it handles the whole sand bed on its own

Soon as my pistol shrimp kicks the bucket, I’m getting a conch!

 

[tydeck]

One conch in your tank would do wonders. I'm not sure how the shrimp would react to it, but when I say my conch has been the best thing for my sand in 4 years, it's not hyperbole. In my 13.5 it handles the whole sand bed on its own

Conch’s are amazing. I have one in my 15 gallon. Keeps the sand amazingly clean.

 

[KyRo]

What is the species? Thanks a lot!

I believe it is a Tiger Sand Conch. You are very welcome

 

[Bucs20fan]

I was worried someone was going to say this. My Peppermint shrimp seems to have taken a liking to Nassarius snails and has attacked and killed the two I once had. I guess I'll have to replace... Maybe he wont like the conch. He seems to leave the Trochus and Astria snails alone.

Now we learned the lesson on peppermints! Sorry for your snails, im a huge advocate against peppermints. They will find the other snails in time. I would recommend a conch, either fighter or tiger variety. Very good at moving sand around. but be aware, no snails are ultimately safe when peppermint shrimp are around.

 

[slaag]

Now we learned the lesson on peppermints! Sorry for your snails, im a huge advocate against peppermints. They will find the other snails in time. I would recommend a conch, either fighter or tiger variety. Very good at moving sand around. but be aware, no snails are ultimately safe when peppermint shrimp are around.

The thing with the pep is that he absolutely destroys the aiptasia that sometimes appears. Gone in a day.

 

[slaag]

Will the conch clean this mess up?

 

[KyRo]

Will the conch clean this mess up?
View attachment 3067553

My conch cleaned up this little corner in about 10 minutes. I think it would do well on your sand

 

[Bucs20fan]

Will the conch clean this mess up?
View attachment 3067553

A conch will help alot for sure, to each their own, in a tank that size, id kill the aiptasia myself.

 

[Spare time]

I was worried someone was going to say this. My Peppermint shrimp seems to have taken a liking to Nassarius snails and has attacked and killed the two I once had. I guess I'll have to replace... Maybe he wont like the conch. He seems to leave the Trochus and Astria snails alone.

That's bizzare. I've never heard of a peppermint shrimp doing that lol. Did you see it killing the snails or just eating their dead bodies?

 

[NotReefsafe]

No to a goby. To have cleaner sand, try having less sand or stirring it up often yourself.

 

[slaag]

That's bizzare. I've never heard of a peppermint shrimp doing that lol. Did you see it killing the snails or just eating their dead bodies?

I watched the Pep attack the snails multiple times in the morning before my lights went on, and physically moved the snails to get them away from the Pep. Had to do this multiple times over a couple month period, then one morning I woke up and the snail was upside down and i could barely see the snail in the shell, i flipped him over and it never moved again. A couple of weeks later, the same thing happened, except this time, the pep was "inside" the snails shell picking away at it.

The snails were healthy and doing a great job. It's been about two weeks and now the sand bed is looking a mess. I've manually turned it over a few times to try and slow it down before I pick something else up, which it looks like I will be doing tonight.

 

[RZGreef]

The conch in my Evo 13.5 that I've had for a few months seems to do very little for the sand, mostly staying buried and sifting very little. The ceriths I have seem to be handling it more from what I can see. I was thinking about getting a second since everyone says how great they are for the sand, but was worried about then not having enough for them to eat. Perhaps mine's just a deadbeat.