Good sand-sifting fish?

[ReefMagician]

Hey,

I have a 125g and was debating between a diamond goby and a randall's goby + pistol shrimp.

My main goal was to have something that would sift through the sand but I know that the randall's goby doesn't really do that. I don't know if I'd ri sk having both a diamond back goby and a randall's goby in the same tank.

I was wondering if you guys could suggest something that would sift through the sand like a diamond back goby does so I can just get the randall's go by + pistol shrimp. Thanks!

[Grkgod36]

I have a sand sifting star that does a great job . I've had him for 2 years

[ReefMagician]

I have a sand sifting star that does a great job . I've had him for 2 years
I've heard mixed things about sand sifting stars. Do you think the sand sifting star and the randall's goby + pistol shrimp would do well in my 125g?

[mandarin_goby]

I've had no issues with my sand sifting star and 3 pistols (one is paired with a yasha goby) in my 75.

I'd say the diamond goby will sift sand everywhere in the tank while the pistol/goby stay pretty much in one place. In a 125, I'd get both!

Only reason I don't have a diamond goby is my midas blenny - they look too similar. My yasha and watchman gobies actually hang out together, so no issues there.

[ReefMagician]

I've had no issues with my sand sifting star and 3 pistols (one is paired with a yasha goby) in my 75.

I'd say the diamond goby will sift sand everywhere in the tank while the pistol/goby stay pretty much in one place. In a 125, I'd get both!

Thanks! Going to go grab them now.

[ssick92]

A Yellow Watchman Goby and Tiger Pistol shrimp in my experience is more active and better at keeping your sand clean than the randall's. Either way, I don't think you would have any issues keeping both Gobies in a 125g tank.

[shadowmonster]

Hey,

I have a 125g and was debating between a diamond goby and a randall's goby + pistol shrimp.

My main goal was to have something that would sift through the sand but I know that the randall's goby doesn't really do that. I don't know if I'd ri sk having both a diamond back goby and a randall's goby in the same tank.

I was wondering if you guys could suggest something that would sift through the sand like a diamond back goby does so I can just get the randall's go by + pistol shrimp. Thanks!

Sift the sand as in eating all the life within it or shift the sand in hopes of keeping it clean? If it's the latter I think your best bet is to just get a long stick or perhaps a small powerhead and stir it up every now & then right before a water change. If the fish has no other purpose than being a pet then by all means knock yourself out. There all one in the same now.

[billdogg]

Sift the sand as in eating all the life within it or shift the sand in hopes of keeping it clean? If it's the latter I think your best bet is to just get a long stick or perhaps a small powerhead and stir it up every now & then right before a water change.

A sandsifting goby may make too much of a mess for some. They have a habit of picking up mouthfuls of sand and letting it go wherever they might be, often while over top a prized coral. They are also notorious jumpers, so unless your tank is well covered (1/4" mesh works great) it is just a matter of time before it ends up on the floor.

Sandsifting stars will absolutely decimate the beneficial fauna in your sand bed and then slowly starve to death in all but the very largest and well established aquariums. Sure, it may take a year or more to die, but die it will. They, IMHO, should be left in the ocean.

I agree 100% with the stir it up before water changes and get the funk out then, or just do like I do - get and use a python siphon (or similar vacuum tube) and clean it that way.

[Grkgod36]

A sandsifting goby may make too much of a mess for some. They have a habit of picking up mouthfuls of sand and letting it go wherever they might be, often while over top a prized coral. They are also notorious jumpers, so unless your tank is well covered (1/4" mesh works great) it is just a matter of time before it ends up on the floor.

Sandsifting stars will absolutely decimate the beneficial fauna in your sand bed and then slowly starve to death in all but the very largest and well established aquariums. Sure, it may take a year or more to die, but die it will. They, IMHO, should be left in the ocean.

I agree 100% with the stir it up before water changes and get the funk out then, or just do like I do - get and use a python siphon (or similar vacuum tube) and clean it that way.

That's the first I hear that about the sand sifter, and I don't believe it's true . Mine is doing well and a friend of mine has had one for more then 4 years. They eat ditritus.

[billdogg]

That's the first I hear that about the sand sifter, and I don't believe it's true . Mine is doing well and a friend of mine has had one for more then 4 years. They eat ditritus.

I don't want to start an argument, but you are 100% incorrect. They are carnivores that eat all the microfauna that lives in a healthy sand bed. They will also go after leftover food, so I suppose if you overfeed enough you can keep one going for awhile, and they might even consume a little bit of detritus incidentally, but as I stated in my previous post - unless you have a very large, well established system, it will be doomed to die.

There have been countless threads about this very subject, Feel free to do a quick search. Another great source is www.wetwebmedia.com

Try this link - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sndsftstrfdg.htm

Sure - every single online vendor will insist you have several as a part of your clean up crew, but they are just trying to make a sale.

Do what you want, stock what you want. I'm just going on my experience and that of many other very knowledgeable aquarists.

end of rant

[jstack]

Hey,

I have a 125g and was debating between a diamond goby and a randall's goby + pistol shrimp.

My main goal was to have something that would sift through the sand but I know that the randall's goby doesn't really do that. I don't know if I'd ri sk having both a diamond back goby and a randall's goby in the same tank.

I was wondering if you guys could suggest something that would sift through the sand like a diamond back goby does so I can just get the randall's go by + pistol shrimp. Thanks!
please do ur research well if it's just to sift an acrylic wand is the tank's best friend you have no idea what that goby is going to do to ur ecosystem

[BigEZ77]

I really like the Orange Marked Goby, aka Orange Lined Goby. It doesn't move as much sand as a DWG (covering corals) and eat prepared food so is less likely to starve. The other thing that I really like is that it doesn't hang out in it's burrow all day, it's constantly out doing it's thing.

[FamilyTank]

Big fan of the Watchman goby and a Tiger pistol shrimp. Its amazing what that lil fella will do. I tell the kids to be like a shrimp and work hard,lol.

[Willyboz1]

Just got watchman and shrimp combo. I haven't seen any work yet. I'll give it sometime since they are still new.

[Str8linespeed]

I've got a Diamond Goby in my tank and he does a great job. The sand is nice and white. Just make sure that your rocks are stable, so that your aquascape will not fall or shift. Mine likes to burrow under the rocks, and lives under one of my bigger ones.

[FamilyTank]

Just got watchman and shrimp combo. I haven't seen any work yet. I'll give it sometime since they are still new.

Once he get bulldozin he won't stop. Takes about 3-4 days. Usually a day or 2 after they eat the first time.