Does anyone have any suggestions

Here is a pic of my tank, I just added that huge white "dead" rock in the middle yesterday. Does anyone have any good ideas as to getting my sand bed cleaned up. We dont have pepperment shrimp here in hawaii and every place that I call does not ship them here. Also how long will they last in shipment. will they last 1 day 2 days or 3 days can someone help

 

Peppermint shrimp do not keep your sandbed clean besides picking up whatever food falls on it. You need to get some algae eaters and sand stirrers. What kind of snails do you have access too?

What fish are you feeding with the lettuce by the way?

 

thats for "Dorie" I read somewhere that you can use it as a supplement. I have also noticed the false percs nipping at it too. Have you heard of this and will iit harm them. There is basically nothing here. The turbo in the pic is from FL can you recommend somthing what do you think about the rock

 

oh yeah i got confused with what the pepperment shrimps job. sorry ive just been reading so much here lately. They are for my glass anemone for got the scientifil nam aisp...whatever. thanks for clearing me up am but what about the sand? hehe

 

You may want to look at adding greater flow in your tank to stir it up some more and keep the debris in the water channel to make it to your filter / skimmer.

 

Like amcarrig asked before, what snails do you access to??? Cerith will keep your sand clean. One turbo isn't enough for a 75gal thats for sure.

Marc.

 

i have 2 turbos from fl because thats all they had avail at the time. this part of the year there are none avail here because of the current so i would have to get a relatvie to get me some stateside

 

The lettuce will not harm the fish. In fact, I have used both lettuce and broccolli successfully to stimulate a fussy tang's appetite. That being said, however, I don't think the hippo will eat much of it. Unlike other species of tangs, they are primarily planktivores. They will pick at the lettuce but they won't eat it as much as other tang species.

 

Your best bet to clean up and stir up the bottom of your tank are Nassarius, Margarita and Conch snails, Tigger Tail Cucumber, Watchman and Sleeper Gobies, and possibly a Sand Sifting Star!
What is your phosphate level? May be feeding too much! May have a problem with lighting intensity!

 

one turbo will do its part. Relying on snails to clean your tank is a common mistake. I would 86 the lettuce for dori and switch it with some nori....or julian sprungs algae or equivelant. You need another 2 phs, 300 gph, and a good reef geek to help you along. Try 2 turbos (if they are real turbos, not a version of astrea....which is what corporates label them as) and a cucumber. Contrary to popular belief the chance of a tank crash from one are slim.