Sand Sifting Gobies

[kkiel02]

What are some different types besides the engineer and diamond gobies? Or are those the only two that are available to us reefers?

[Regric25]

Check out this link. Not sure if its all of them...
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/blennygobyprofiles/tp/sandsiftinggobies.htm

[tebstan]

Dragon gobies don't seem to be sold as much as the diamonds, but still are reasonably priced and easy to find.

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/TebstansTank/Fish/Goby10-25-09.jpg

[Mike]

I have heard they don't do as much sand sifting.

[kkiel02]

I am leaning towards a group of engineer gobies as we saw this at a LFS up in Dallas and it looked pretty cool.

[Regric25]

Just know that engineer gobies get pretty large 12" and will look like eels when adult size.

http://www.3reef.com/photos/data/520/medium/DSC_7648.JPG
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u54/e_baer/100_2020.jpg

They are pretty nice though.

I had a Dragon goby and it sifter A LOT of sand. My tank always had little pairs of piles of sand all over the place.

[Mike]

Engineer gobies dig, but don't actually sift the sand do they? Will they keep your sand clean...

[tebstan]

I have heard they don't do as much sand sifting.

I've never had a diamond to compare him to. I have other sifting critters as well (star, snails) so it would be tough for me to say. I like their tough guy look. :)

[BSJF]

Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby

[Troy Valentine]

I've got 2 engineer gobies, one 16" and the other that is 6". They do a wonderful job moving the sand. However, becareful they will burrow under the largest of rocks and cause an accidental avalanche of rocks/coral. Also if your system is aged they will stir up a lot of detritus, your corals will love it but your tank will become unsightly for a while until it settles. They would be a great addition if your system is new. They will keep your sand nice and fluid.

[txmike]

how is that big o guy doing?

[Troy Valentine]

Very well:) He has mapped eel sized catacombs throughout the sandbed. Its so cool to watch him find shortcuts to food. Thank again Mike.

[tony]

careful if you have a lot of flow and a small(er) tank. i got a sand sifter and it was constant sand storm

[ErikH]

Engineers are awesome. I had a sleeper that sifted sand ALL DAY and got sand on EVERYTHING. The engies stay in their hole and move sand out. The sleepers get sand, swim upward, and sift as the rise towards the middle of the tank dropping sand everywhere.

Were the engies you saw small and around the hole of a large engie?

[kkiel02]

No its was just a group of 15 or so. They were fun to watch but it sounds like they dont sift the sand too much. Louis had some that I was thinking about but I am still debating. They are tempting since they look like an eel when they get bigger like mentioned above. Troy does yours bother any other inhabitants in the reef or is it peaceful?

[Troy Valentine]

They are very peaceful with all of their tankmates, including cleaner/peppermint shrimp. However, their burrowing nature can be a problem if you keep corals on your sandbed. They can inadvertenly cover them.... So becareful with clams, and corals close to the sandbed. Also keep in mind that these fish burrow under live rock that isn't touching the bottom of the tank. So if your live rock isn't touching the bottom, expect your rock structure to drop an inch or two depending on the depth of the sand bed.
What I am beginning to notice is that I am getting the denitrification effects of a deep sand bed because of the way the goby is moving the sand around. In some places I have 5 inches of sand that has gathered, and less than an inch in others. I increased flow over the areas of DSB to aid in nitrogen removal, and I must say it is really beginning to have a positive impact on my system. Nuisance algae is melting away very quickly.

[kkiel02]

Sounds good. I put my rock on the bottom of the tank so it should hold up fine.

[350gt]

Instead of starting a new thread, just decided to bring this one back to life......


My diamond goby is the man!!!!

I had him in my nano and like mentioned above always caused a sand storm. I grew tired of it cause all my frags were always covered, so I threw him in the 110. He did wonders for my DT, sand is always turned over as he went all over the tank making tunnels.... But now my nano doesn't look so great, so I now know what he did for that little tank.

[alton]

I like my two. They do a great job

[350gt]

I really wanted a yellow watchman goby, you think it's too late as this guy is claiming both sections of the tank? I see a peppermint shrimp in his tunnel every now and then....

[Monica25]

Do the yellow watchmens sift?

[350gt]

That I know of.....

[kkiel02]

I ended up going with the tiger shrimp goby. He sifts like crazy. Never saw one until I was at elegant the other day.

[350gt]

Wow, i just looked it up, very cool looking fish......

[johnsutter71]

We have a dragon Goby that sifts like crazy actually. I just added a video yesterday and about half way through you can see him cleaning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BizLyrm_KH0&feature=youtu.be