reef safe goby

[fishforlife]

I have read mixed reviews about Gobies and reef tanks. i an in need of a sand sifter and have been looking at the yellow head goby and the orange spotted goby. Many have said that these gobies will "dust" all the live rock and corals from the substrate they sift.

Can you recomend a sand sifter for reefs?

[coraline79]

I had a "orange spotted" goby, aka diamond goby, and currently have a pink spotted one. They generally stay near the bottom, and dig holes in the substrate, they might dusk the first inch of liverock, but you probably don't have anything there. The only think I have heard is about Clown Gobys. They are tiny and like to sit on things, including sps, and they will potentially kill the spot they sit on, after time.

[Gseclipse02]

i have a few gobys im not sure if they are bad (fire fish goby, neon goby and another kind but i forgot what its called)

and what do you mean by "dust" ???

[fishforlife]

"dust" I guess refers to covering the LR and coral with substrate. Some have said the yellow head goby will do this and it can potentially kill corals...

[Gseclipse02]

substrate meaning something toxic i take it ... hmm i dont ever see my gobys near my corals but i dont have a yellow head (i almost bought one last week glad i didnt)

[Kristy]

Substrate = sand (they're like snowblowers when the mood strikes!)

Even still, we love our little diamond goby, definitely the hardest working fish in our tank, constantly scooping up sand and keeping it clean, moving it a bit in the process. It's really fascinating to watch him decide it's time to make a new tunnel and go to work. Once in a great while he covers up something we had low on the sand bed and we have to move it or blow it off with the turkey baster. Would only be a problem if you don't look at your tank every couple of days.

Oh yeah, lots of other good gobies out there too! We have a yellow watchman goby, neon goby, firefish goby, and a Randall's shrimp goby. All great fish, totally reef safe. Diamond goby is the only that the sifts the sand (out of those).

[Gseclipse02]

my neon goby hides under a rock and might pop his head out every 3 days or so ... my g/f saw him for the 1st time 2 nights ago and we have had him for 2 weeks now

[cowboy572]

I have a banded goby in my 55 and he's more of a bottom of the tank sifter. He will occasionally dust my brain coral and some of my rock. But like Kristy says all it takes is a turkey baster to blow it off.

[ErikH]

I have two 10"+ engineer gobies. As you can imagine "engineer" tends to be a fitting title. If your sand is more coarse than fine, it really shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[blindside]

I have an orange spot goby, and he does great in my tank. I have not noticed any sand all over the rocks or coral.

[alton]

The big issue with sand stiring Gobies is if your live rock sets on the sand and they burrow under it and the rock falls on there head.

[RaceRat]

We just captured and moved our sand sifting dragon goby from my tank to hubby's tank last night. I couldn't deal with him anymore..:angry:
He never bothered anything, just made a mess. He liked to pick up sand, go to the TOP of the tank and drop it everywhere!

[tony]

if you have a lot of flow do NOT get a sand sifter

probly the single worse mistake i have ever made with any tank

[coraline79]

if you have a lot of flow do NOT get a sand sifter

probly the single worse mistake i have ever made with any tank

If that is the worst mistake you have made in Reefing, you are a way better reefer than me!!!!!:thumbs_up:

[medi]

if all you need is something to sift your sand, you might consider a couple of sand sifting stars. I had several in my 110, and they always did a nice job of keeping the sand clean

[tony]

If that is the worst mistake you have made in Reefing, you are a way better reefer than me!!!!!:thumbs_up:

translation: lucky

my 30 cube is now 4 years old and other than losing an inmate once in a blue moon ive had zero problems with it

[fishforlife]

will the sand stars and/or gobies get rid of brown algea? That is my primary problem.... My water tests come back spot on, but I have this brown algea that keeps popping up...my corals and fish are healthy and thriving, but my sand is a bit yucky (technical term) to look at...

Would the goby keep it a nice white?

[Mr Cob]

I love sand sifting gobies of all types. I have never had a problem with any of them becoming a nuisance by blowing too much sand on my corals.

I also do not have any nice corals on the sand though. The only corals I have on the sand are various paly colonies and green star polyps...basically all of the aggressive growers that need to be on islands :)

I think that their job duty is of much more value than to not have one. Coupled with nassarius snails they do a great job keeping the sand clean.

[medi]

How long has your tank been running? I have a 12G nano that has been running for about 6 weeks and has been taken over by a "brown" algae. I have been hoping and praying that it is still the cycle taking it's course. Sand stars feed on the detritus in you sand so they are always good to have. also, they do a lot of moving so they stir up the top layer of sand pretty well

[brewercm]

Another good sand stirrer would be a fighting conch or two depending on the size of your tank.

[Mr Cob]

Another good sand stirrer would be a fighting conch or two depending on the size of your tank.

Yes, I have one also...and it does a great job...only see him at night though.

[fishforlife]

I am thinking about the diamond watchman goby. i like the size and color. Seems to be the right fit for my 125G.

Thoughts?

And anyone can answer the "do gobies help get rid of brown algrea?" question..

[jrodriguez]

i have several gobys in my tank they sift sand and everything is fine