sand sifting fish or star? - Aquarium Advice

hackteck · 01-18-2006, 02:20 PM

well ive been up and running cycled now and now i'm starting to get diatom algae, what kind of fish or star could i get to get rid of it on my sand bed before it gets unsightly?

tripper · 01-18-2006, 03:47 PM

Diatoms are just part of the cycle. After your cycle is complete, the diatoms will burn themselves out. Usually takes about a week or two. I wouldn't be too concerned. However, after you cycle is done you can get a fish in there and start stocking, just take it slooowwwww. You might also want to get a cleanup crew in there to start keeping things in check. A good mixture of hermit crabs and snails would be a good start.

tripper

hackteck · 01-18-2006, 04:13 PM

i already have a cleanup crew and my tank is already cycled everthings 0 except trates which are 10

tripper · 01-18-2006, 04:28 PM

Oh, well in that case you should be all set to add fish. I wouldn't be too concerned with the diatoms, but if you want to get a star that will help, I would suggest a brittle star. They should help with cleaning the diatoms on the sand bed and on your [acronym:5ea0baf102="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:5ea0baf102].

As far as fish go, there is nothing that's really going to touch diatoms, but you can add a hardy fish at any time now.

tripper

hackteck · 01-18-2006, 04:48 PM

should i wait a few more weeks to add a star not really for the diatoms but to add some diversity to my tank or would it be best to wait?

**melosu58** · 01-18-2006, 06:13 PM

My suggestion would be a sand sifting goby. A dragon goby or diamond goby or watchman. There are several types that will not only take care of diatoms but will keep sand moving so as not to give algea a foothold.

hackteck · 01-18-2006, 06:45 PM

what do goby's eat? dont want anything thats hard to feed

Brenden · 01-18-2006, 06:56 PM

Anything that drifts past them.

hackteck · 01-18-2006, 07:07 PM

what about one of these?, keep in mind i want to get corals in the next couple months after my tank has matured, so i dont want to get anything that will bother or eat any corals. are these ok also i have a cleanup crew right now various snails and crabs and 1 clown fish

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=572

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...pcatid=216&N=0

mwrmma · 01-18-2006, 09:15 PM

hey hackteck, just wondering how long it took for your tank to completely cycle? i'm assuming you did the fishless cycle with [acronym:bb5833aac8="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:bb5833aac8]. i just got my 90 full of [acronym:bb5833aac8="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:bb5833aac8] and i'm waiting for a cycle to occur. ( Just a little impatient, but i guess everyone is at first)
good luck!

01-18-2006, 02:20 PM	#1
hackteck Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: atlanta,ga Posts: 675	sand sifting fish or star? well ive been up and running cycled now and now i'm starting to get diatom algae, what kind of fish or star could i get to get rid of it on my sand bed before it gets unsightly?

01-18-2006, 06:13 PM	#6
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,669 Images: 80	My suggestion would be a sand sifting goby. A dragon goby or diamond goby or watchman. There are several types that will not only take care of diatoms but will keep sand moving so as not to give algea a foothold. __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

01-18-2006, 06:56 PM	#8
Brenden Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 3,876 Images: 32	Anything that drifts past them. __________________ The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist. If guns kill people...Spoons make Michael Moore fat.

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01-18-2006, 03:47 PM	#2
tripper Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 431 Images: 2	Diatoms are just part of the cycle. After your cycle is complete, the diatoms will burn themselves out. Usually takes about a week or two. I wouldn't be too concerned. However, after you cycle is done you can get a fish in there and start stocking, just take it slooowwwww. You might also want to get a cleanup crew in there to start keeping things in check. A good mixture of hermit crabs and snails would be a good start. tripper

01-18-2006, 04:13 PM	#3
hackteck Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: atlanta,ga Posts: 675	i already have a cleanup crew and my tank is already cycled everthings 0 except trates which are 10

01-18-2006, 04:28 PM	#4
tripper Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 431 Images: 2	Oh, well in that case you should be all set to add fish. I wouldn't be too concerned with the diatoms, but if you want to get a star that will help, I would suggest a brittle star. They should help with cleaning the diatoms on the sand bed and on your [acronym:5ea0baf102="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:5ea0baf102]. As far as fish go, there is nothing that's really going to touch diatoms, but you can add a hardy fish at any time now. tripper

01-18-2006, 04:48 PM	#5
hackteck Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: atlanta,ga Posts: 675	should i wait a few more weeks to add a star not really for the diatoms but to add some diversity to my tank or would it be best to wait?

01-18-2006, 06:45 PM	#7
hackteck Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: atlanta,ga Posts: 675	what do goby's eat? dont want anything thats hard to feed

01-18-2006, 07:07 PM	#9
hackteck Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: atlanta,ga Posts: 675	what about one of these?, keep in mind i want to get corals in the next couple months after my tank has matured, so i dont want to get anything that will bother or eat any corals. are these ok also i have a cleanup crew right now various snails and crabs and 1 clown fish http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=572 http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...pcatid=216&N=0

01-18-2006, 09:15 PM	#10
mwrmma Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 105 Images: 5	hey hackteck, just wondering how long it took for your tank to completely cycle? i'm assuming you did the fishless cycle with [acronym:bb5833aac8="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:bb5833aac8]. i just got my 90 full of [acronym:bb5833aac8="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:bb5833aac8] and i'm waiting for a cycle to occur. ( Just a little impatient, but i guess everyone is at first) good luck!