More clean up Crew.....Questions :)

I'm trying to beef up my CUC a bit more.

Tank:
29gal
40lbs LR
LS

Inhabitants:
1 true perc (1in)
1 firefish (1 1/2in)
1 algae blenny (4in)
1 colony (20+ heads) of zoas
1 peppermint shrimp
6 blue leg hermits
1 scarlet hermit
2 nassarius snails
2 turbo snails
1 Florida cerith
multiple feather dusters, innumerable copepods and a couple of peanut worms


I'm looking for ideas regarding additions that will keep the sand cleaned and stirred, like a little in tank tiller, lol. Any thoughts?

 

Your CUC looks fine, the only other "inhabitant" that you might get is a Sand Shifting Star, but I dont remember the recommeded size tank for them. Your tank might be too small, I dont remember, maybe someone can confirm or reject my suggestion. Luna

 

See if you cant find a tiny pistol shrimp and goby pair that would be cool.

 

Hi Whippy
there is a species of snail that likes the sand bed and burrows in it, but I cant for the life of me remember which species it is

Steve

 

vermatid snail i believe.. they reproduce quickly as well.

 

In a tank that size ceriths and nassarius would be my only recommendations personally. I would use a turkey baster occasionally to disturb the top layer of sand, it only takes a few minutes.

Sand-sifting stars need lots of sand space, plus they eat up beneficial inverts in the sand as well ultimately hurting the sandbed unless you have a ton of space so areas it has eaten can get re-established before it gets back.

 

Thanks for the input guys!

 

I'd highly recommend a few more FL Ceriths and about 30 dwarf ceriths. These do most of the work in my tank and they're small. You might want to get some dwarf planaxis as these very tiny snails get into very small areas nicely.

Both burrow and come out to the glass at night. I have over a hundred dwarf ceriths in my 55.


I've seen the sifting star recommendation to be a 55g minimum, though I've never had one.


But mostly, what are you trying to solve here? Different snails for different problems.

 

Mainly detritus buildup on the sand. I mean I have good flow but it looks....dirty?

I'm really trying to get away from crabs as well.

Thinking about maybe some chitons and a limpet or two?


I also feel that the problem MAY be that stuff gets stuck on the trail where the snails have been on the sand (surprised that aquatic snails also leave slime trails, LOL.)

 

I prefer snails over crabs too.

Chitons and limpets - neither will sift the substrate (neither will really even touch the substrate for the most part). Limpets are really more ornamental than anything else. And when they fall over, they can not self right... Kind of a pain.

But no harm in having them either. Some Chitons are predatory, so be careful. The Fuzzy's that John sells are safe.

I don't think the slime trails are the problem...