Sifting Sand

Hi Guys,

I know that this may seem like a stupid or senseless question, but I was wondering what you use to sift the big pieces out of your sand. My snails are doing a great job at sifting through my sand but they are throwing all of the big pieces to the top. I would prefer it if they sand was "littered". It looks like it mostly shell type material. I tried to pick it out by hand but it was too tedious and I dropped most of it. I also tried my net but it is too fine and catches all of the sand too. I was wondering if there was a net that you could use or if anyone had any tips. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Ivy

 

I use my fingers or large tweezers (cotton pliers).

 

well me personally i would get a sandshifting goby like the diamond goby always entertaining ya and is a great andshifter.but you can all just do it yourself.but you want to keepyour hands out the tank as much as possible.sandshifting starfish do the same too but it has to be a established tank with alto of food for it or it will die

 

big net, just skim it over the top and sift out the sand like a powder sugar sifter ? worked for me

 

I need to do the same thing. The only device I have is a flour sifter and its rusty! Most nets will be too fine to sift the rock crumbles without scooping up sand. I'd like to take all of the rubble and put it in a corner for the pods to live in. It would also make my sand bed look much cleaner.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Do goby's require an established tank? I was looking at getting a lawnmower blenny but the LFS said I needed to wait 6 months to have enough algae for it. Thanks!!!!

 

I was told the same thing about my lawnmower before I purchased him. I was told they eat solely diatoms. I bought it anyways after having my tank going for about 3 months. Mine eats anything and everything. Fat as can be. I feed 3 different kinds of flakes made by ocean nutrition. I also feed formula one pellets as well as rods reef food. The blenny eats it all. He munches on rock and glass all day long too.

If you have diatoms (brownish tan crap growing), I would say go for it. Just make sure he eats other stuff too at the fish store before you buy him. Very cool interesting fish with lots of personality. I would recommend to anyone!

 

The lawnmower blenny will take care of the algae on the walls and rocks, Im not really sure if it would take care of the sand though. Are there algae on your sand that you need to take care of?
Or if you want to keep the sand clean, how about some kind of sand sifting goby. The LFS suggested a 4-wheel drive goby or a yellowhead sleeper goby.

 

Syphoning the sand bed also does the trick. This process cleans the sand and helps with a WC.



Luna