What CUC Member to add for cleaning my sand bed?

[Reef_at_Sea]

Hello,

Wich clean up crew member would you recommend for cleaning my sand bed? my sand bed is growing quite some algea and detritus atm, i have 2 conches, 4 nassarius snails for the sand atm but that doesn't seem to cut it, should i just add more nassarius? (i have more cuc but those are not for the sand).
i've been looking into starfish & cerith caeruleum, any experiences?

it's a 40 gallon rectangular.

Thanks

 

[Gumbies R Us]

You could try a sand sifting starfish and see if that works!
Also, check this thread out, has some good suggestions!

what are the best CUC to prevent algae on sand

This is a 13 gal tank. My rockwork is 99% algae free thanks to my Mexican turbo snails and hermit crabs, but I have had a problem with algae growing on the sand, eventually forming mats. I took out the sand for a month to work on the problem. The sand is back in and I want to prevent its return...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[jayala12]

Cerith. Starfish will eventually starve to death

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Cerith. Starfish will eventually starve to death

That’s what i found from research as well.

 

[Slocke]

Pistol shrimp is probably the best

 

[VintageReefer]

Sand stars have a dismal survival rate.

If two conches aren’t keeping it clean then you might have a problem. Are they larger conch like a fighting conch? Or smaller species like strawberry ?

One fighting conch and a handful of nassarius keep my 75g sand very very clean.

 

[VintageReefer]

Could try a sand sifting goby

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Sand stars have a dismal survival rate.

If two conches aren’t keeping it clean then you might have a problem. Are they larger conch like a fighting conch? Or smaller species like strawberry ?

One fighting conch and a handful of nassarius keep my 75g sand very very clean.

They are strawberry conches indeed.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Sand stars have a dismal survival rate.

If two conches aren’t keeping it clean then you might have a problem. Are they larger conch like a fighting conch? Or smaller species like strawberry ?

One fighting conch and a handful of nassarius keep my 75g sand very very clean.

in my previous 20g, this clean up crew kept my sand clean as well, but in my 40g they aren't keeping up, im thinking about doubling the amount of snails, but i don't wanna overdo it.
Ceriths also seem interesting, i think strawberry conches are pretty large allready haha

 

[Rollnwthdatide]

Hello,

Wich clean up crew member would you recommend for cleaning my sand bed? my sand bed is growing quite some algea and detritus atm, i have 2 conches, 4 nassarius snails for the sand atm but that doesn't seem to cut it, should i just add more nassarius? (i have more cuc but those are not for the sand).
i've been looking into starfish & cerith caeruleum, any experiences?

it's a 40 gallon rectangular.

Thanks

I wouldn't advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size. It will just slowly die away. You could add some cerith snails for sure but I would also look at limiting the amount of nutrients (mainly via feeding) being put into the tank and try to get a better nutrients export going.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

I would highly advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size. It will just slowly die away. You could add some cerith snails for sure but I would also look at limiting the amount of nutrients (mainly via feeding) being put into the tank and try to get a better nutrients export going.

My tank is currently in a fishless period, i'm not feeding alot (once a week a very small pinch to keep the inverts & bacteria happy) but still there is quite some algea growth on the sand bed (only on the sand bed).

"I would highly advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size" You mean advise against right?

 

[Rollnwthdatide]

My tank is currently in a fishless period, i'm not feeding alot (once a week a very small pinch to keep the inverts & bacteria happy) but still there is quite some algea growth on the sand bed (only on the sand bed).

"I would highly advise getting a sandsifting starfish for an aquarium of your size" You mean advise against right?

Indeed. Sorry for the predictive text mess up.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

Up.

I keep getting green algea on my sand bed
Should i just need more flow on my sand or a better sand sifter?