reefdude

I'm looking for a really good substrate cleaner. Right now I have 4 naussarius snails, 2 jumbo turbo snails and 2 margarita snails and a lazy fire shrimp. The snails do an excellent job on the glass and live rock but the sand is still getting a little brown. I was going to get more naussarius but my LFS said they may starve if I do so I don't want to go that route. The fish I have so far are a flame angel and a black ocellaris clown. It's a 34 gal reef set up. I was thinking about a golden headed sleeper goby. I've read that they do an excellent job and chew the sand all day long. Does anyone have one or a different cleaner that works great?

cerianthus

I do know of starfish which burrows into substrate. This will not only eat off detritus but loosen the substrate thus less chance of having dead pockets.
Best off all, CucUmber which will eat DETRITUS and leaves trail of dong(?).
Only if cAN REMEMBER THE NAME. i WILL GET BACK TO YOU. i HAVE TO CHECK MY NOTES.
sHOULD BE ADDED TO REALLY WELL MATURED TANK.

reefdude

I have to be cautious with starfish because I have corals, soft, LPS & SPS. I found what I think is a chocolate chip starfish hitchhiker on my LR. He's not even as big as a dime yet but, I will have to get rid of him eventually. I don't want him munchin on my inverts and corals!
The cucumber may be a possibility. Definitely get back to me with the name of it and thank you for your help!

agsansoo

What type of substrate do you have ? Coarse or fine ? DSB or SSB ? Vacuuming the top 1" of your substrate during water changes should help. Also taking out a small amount of old sand and replacing it with new bright sand, every now and then. Helps in keeping the sand looking bright and clean. (only if your not running a DSB)

reefdude

I have fine substrate about 3" deep. I was hoping not to have to vacuum too often! I guess it will be necessary though. Thanks for the replies!

cerianthus

Last thing I would do is to suck out all the goodies on the substrate along with detritus.
Only thing I would do is to stir up substrate to have natural food for inverts. Why throw them out and buy bottles of synthetic or should I say prepared food.

reefdude

Thats exactly what I was trying to avoid! I do stir it up now a little when I do a PWC. Back to square 1!

cerianthus

So why even vacuum when you dont have to? As far as stars, ther are few reef safe star but only handful burrwing stars which I know of. And out of few, I only know of one avail to hobby but cant remember the name.

Dont know if your tank can handle Diamond Goby (Sleeper is also OK but dont ship as well as Diamond, they will stir up the substrate for free and they do excellent job of stirring up while searching for food.

reefdude

Yeah, vacuuming is out, I'll keep stirring it and choose a Goby.

cerianthus

When stirring up do so little portion and so gently. I dont want it looking like massive snow storm which can irritated certain inverts. Like I said look into burrowing star (white color) and goby. Should be able to keep the subs well groomed.

If willing, you can save vacuumed water and algae in large glass Jar and place small aeration. You will see mulm settled on the bottom. SInce water is aerated, you may see small living things, may need mag glass, moving in the jar. Free food source may be growing in the jar for filter feeder and/or feathers or other inverts. One way to tell if subs are really live!