Is my sand bed too shallow?

[muppet]

http://www.madebymonkeys.net/stuff/tanksm.jpg

The tank is 55 gallons, 4' across, for reference.

[James404]

looks good to me, theres really no such thing as too shallow.

[crvz]

I agree, there's no such thing as "too shallow" (particularly considering many folks do without any sand), but what are you trying to accomplish with the sandbed? If it's merely for aesthetics, I'd say it's fine.

[muppet]

I'm not expecting a "functional" sand bed. I just want something to ornament the bottom, more or less. I just want to make sure that my snails and other, future sifters can keep it clean without dying of starvation. :)

[Toddrtrex]

The only way it would be too shallow is if you are planning on keeping any sand dwelling anemones, otherwise it is fine.

What kind of sifters are you thinking about? Some would starve in a 55 no matter how deep the sandbed is (( a sand-sifting starfish comes to mind ))

[muppet]

I probably won't attempt a sifting star. I'm thinking more like nassarius snails and possibly a goby.

[Toddrtrex]

I probably won't attempt a sifting star. I'm thinking more like nassarius snails and possibly a goby.

Sounds good. If you go with a goby, make sure to research them -- myself and others have had bad luck with Diamond watchman gobies -- starved to death even while eating prepared foods.

[muppet]

Thanks, peanut butter jar and Stupendous Man. ;-)

[xr4kw]

Sounds good. If you go with a goby, make sure to research them -- myself and others have had bad luck with Diamond watchman gobies -- starved to death even while eating prepared foods.

X2...My diamond goby would eat everything I put in the tank (pellets, frozen, flakes) and he still starved to death after around 6 mos. :sad2:

[Toddrtrex]

Thanks, peanut butter jar and Stupendous Man. ;-)

Good one.

X2...My diamond goby would eat everything I put in the tank (pellets, frozen, flakes) and he still starved to death after around 6 mos. :sad2:

That was about the same time frame for mine too.

[jeff@zina.com]

Don't forget that there are other sand-dwellers besides sand sifting stars. A jawfish will usually need a fairly deep bed, 6" or more, as do some/many gobies.

Jeff

[muppet]

Are diamond watchman gobies the same as yellow watchman gobies?

It sounds like there was some other supplement they needed that they weren't getting. I wonder if anybody knows what a comprehensive wild watchman goby diet looks like.

[Toddrtrex]

No, two different fish,

Yellow (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+228&pcatid=228)

Diamond (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+220&pcatid=220)

[greech]

Thanks, peanut butter jar and Stupendous Man. ;-)

That's funny :beer:

Are diamond watchman gobies the same as yellow watchman gobies?

It sounds like there was some other supplement they needed that they weren't getting. I wonder if anybody knows what a comprehensive wild watchman goby diet looks like.

I am no expert on gobies but diamonds sift sand constantly whereas YWG and the like tend to make a burrow or two (or live in one made by a pistol shrimp) and don't sift much more. Diamonds are also a fair bit larger that something like a YWG.

[LittlePuff]

Does a YWB need a shrimp?

[Toddrtrex]

Does a YWB need a shrimp?

Been about 10 years since I had one, but when I did have one, it did fine without a shrimp -- though would have looked neat. :)

[crvz]

Thanks, peanut butter jar and Stupendous Man. ;-)

a pleasure, good luck with the setup!