Suggestions 4 turning sand over

I wanted to know first of all if it's beneficial to have inverts that turn the sand over? If so what are some good ones to get?

Right now for a cleaning crew I have 10 turbos & 10 red legged hermits.

My lfs recommended a horseshoe crab, but they look too big and they're kinda ugly IMO. Anything else I can get?

 

Don't get a horseshoe crab. They get too big and are just too bulky. Get a cucumber or a sand sifting star. Sand sifting stars can eat your micro fauna in your sand, but I have one. I needed something to stir the sand a little so I took my chances. Also get some nassarius snails. They will stir in your sand while hunting for detritus.

 

I take it that you don't want your micro fauna to be eaten? How many nassarius snails would you suggest w/ what I currently have?

 

nassarius snails are pretty small so you can get a bunch, there fun to watch too. i have a sand sifter as well he does a good job

 

Sand sifter stars are cool. They are work-aholics. I also know that some conchs tend to move the sand around some.

The creatures that best turn your sand are the horseshoe crabs. They can be purchased as small as a quarter.They dissappear in your sand bed and are only seen again when they die. Which they will. This subject has been discussed before. They only walk forward using the glass walls and rock the turn them. They tend to get stuck under rocks and die within a short time.

Some say that diamond gobies and tiger gobies do a good job at moving the sand a bit. However, they are carniverous, they sift looking for worms, pods, and other creatures you might want to keep.

 

What about sea cucumbers? I've heard they do a good job at turning sand, but I've also read that there might be a possiblity of having toxins in the water if/when they die.

 

i love Nass. snails the best but also I like sand shifiting star.

 

I have 25 large Nassaurius snails in my 80 gallon 7 in my 20 gallon and 4 in my refugium. Best sand stirrers in the business IMHO.

 

At what stage of the tank should you add the Nassaurius snails? Also when should you add other critters? Thinking about a package from IPS.

Thanks

 

They are basically detrivores so as long as you have sufficient detritous from fish and other inverts, they won't starve.