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#1
11-29-2009, 06:11 PM
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Sand Sifting Star Q
We've been having an on going problem with red slime algae. we've changed everything in our tank.. got new bulbs, increased flow, decreased feeding.. increased water changes and we are still getting slime everywhere. was wondering about a sand sifting star.. we currently have two koralia 3 .. in our 46 g bow front the tank is only about 4 months old. do you think a star would help?
any other suggestions would be appreciated.. 
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#2
11-29-2009, 06:20 PM
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Do you have a UV Sterilizer, that helped mine. As well I have 2 Sand star's.
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Feed the bear goodies, make a new friend, don't feed the bear............... 8' - 165gal Reef DIY LED's Build 2012 Nano Contest Winner Febuary 2013 POTM Winner 300 gal + 60 gal Complete DIY Build
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#3
11-29-2009, 06:24 PM
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4mo old tank, its normal for this to happen.. keep up with some extra water changes, sipion as much of the slime you can out. and it will go away.
I went through 2 blooms of it in the first 8 months of my tank. Wait till you have to deal with hair algae, much worse. may want to cut back on feeding for a bit too...
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#4
11-29-2009, 06:42 PM
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no we dont have a UV sterilizer.. to be honest im not really sure what that is or what it is used for.
also another question.. i have heard from different sources.. that we shouldnt try to clean our sand.. we siphoned the sand once.. and really tried to clean it up.. and our LFS said we should never disturb the sand like that. so now we just try to clean the top and suck of the algae. What does everyone else do and how often should we be feeding the fish.. to try to get rid of this stuff ? Last edited by marknash; 11-29-2009 at 06:51 PM.
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#5
11-29-2009, 06:57 PM
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I would cut back on feeding , increase your flow and get a sand sifter of some sort A sand sifting goby is a good choice as long as you have a fine sand, pluss they are cool fish to watch. With fine sand the sand sifting starfish goes in and you prity much don't see it that often.
I have one but my sand is corse, as to what you would see around a reef on the wild. The sand sifting startfish does get down under the crose sand but seems to like being on top more. When I up grade my tank there will be more fine sand in it for him to call home. Bill Last edited by bvlester; 11-29-2009 at 07:00 PM. Reason: spelling
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#6
11-29-2009, 07:07 PM
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our sand is fairly coarse as well. we were told to hold off on gobies as our tank wasnt mature enough, at 4 months you think a goby would be ok?
as for our flow we have two koralia 3's.. right now and our protein skimmer. i suppose we could add more.. but it seems like our tank is engulfed with PHs already. Last edited by marknash; 11-29-2009 at 07:10 PM.
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#8
11-29-2009, 08:02 PM
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For sand sifing gobies to do there job the sand has to pass through their gills other wise there is no sense in getting one if you have corse sand. I like the little guys and want one, because I think it would starve in my tank because it can't sift the sand for it food. It could take in fod directly through it mouth but main corse of food should come from the sand. I read a some thing in a book once about this specific fish need specific foods some time to thrive in a aquarium.
As for the flow try changing the angle the koralia 3's are pointing that may help. Red slime algae and diatoms don't thrive in high flow tanks, you should just try and play with the angle the koralias are pointing. suck up as much as you can before changing the angles first. Bill
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#10
11-29-2009, 09:26 PM
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In my little experience i think they are called orange spot gobies. I just bought one (my tank is going on four months) and he has completely sifted all of my sand and is loving life. He will eat frozen food as well as anything that is in the sand. My sand has never been whiter.
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