Conch or Cucumber?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56018
Printed Date: May 16 2025 at 10:53pm
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Topic: Conch or Cucumber?
Posted By: Shayne
Subject: Conch or Cucumber?
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 1:37pm
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Since my sand is already turning brown I'm thinking that one of the first things I'd like to add to my tank would be a conch. I've also read a lot of good things about sea cucumbers. Any recommendations as to which one I should use?
Tank Info:
90 G Main
50 G Sump w/Refuge
Utah Oolitic sand (about 3" deep)
------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Replies:
Posted By: Melissa
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 1:53pm
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I have both in my 72g and they are doing a great job. They're both also pretty cool to watch. |
Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 2:11pm
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Thanks Melissa! I think I'll probably end up doing that.
I guess I should ask, which one should I start with? I'd like to get my sand back to being clean(ish) looking again. ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: Melissa
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 2:30pm
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I don't know if I can help you with that. The cucumber came with the tank when I bought it in Feb. and I just added the conch Saturday. The cucumber was always busy, but I noticed he has some favorite spots that he spends more time in, and for variety I went with the conch. |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 2:43pm
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I would do just a conch. A lot of cucumbers can pretty much kill an entire tank when they die. They release toxins into the water which will kill fish and corals. So I would say that a conch is a safer bet, at least to start with. ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 2:44pm
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Ok, looks like I'll start with a conch. Thanks for the advice everyone! ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: Jeffatpm
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 3:12pm
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Tiger Tail cucumber is supposed to be safe from doing that when they die, they eat the sand and poop it out clean. They are a bit harder to come by however.
Conchs are just so darn cute too! ------------- 210 Reef with loads of LEDS Large Fishey Room Located Near Jordan Landing in West Jordan. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 4:37pm
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Hold on a minute, please. This is a decision that should be made with consideration for the needs of the tank and the needs of a Conch Snail in mind. A decision like this should be based on what is causing the brown color, how old the sandbed is and what is currently growing in the sand. It should not be based on rumor and hearsay such as this statement "A lot of cucumbers can pretty much kill an entire tank when they die." Please post a pic of the sand and tell us about the filtration of this tank. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 4:53pm
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I guess I should say that I'm not going to run right out and buy a conch. I just jumped the gun on feeling like I'd received enough responses to this thread. (I haven't. Please feel free to add your opinions.) Anyway, my tank is technically one and half years old. I have been running it for the last 18 months pretty much fallow. I filled it with salt water, a couple pieces of live rock, and a little live sand. I then proceeded to let it run dark for 18 months. During that time I got a large population of small white featherdusters but that's all I could visibly see.About 3 weeks ago I put on my T-5 light system and I added a couple pieces of live rock. Since then the rocks have been getting covered in various stuff. My sand has been getting brown spots (Like the stuff BobC has on his sand) and a little bit of other stuff. I've also noticed through the glass that the sand is getting little tunnels dug in it.
Filtration: I have about 3" on Utah Oolitic sand in the display tank and a 10"x14"x5" sand bed in my sump. I'm guessing I have around 90lbs of rock (which I bought from Mark
 ). I'm trying to pick up some chaeto either tonight or tomorrow.I'm at work now but I'll try to get some pics up some time tonight. ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 10:29pm
Here are my tank pics.     ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:02pm
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I'm going to be blunt here, for a reason. Do not add any kind of sand sifting creature in that tank. That would be the wrong thing to do. It could starve. Also, that is not what this tank needs right now. The brown algae growing on the sand and rocks is a normal part of a new tanks growth. Yes, this is like a new tank, because without much light, nothing was able to grow as it should. Thanks for the pics. For me "a picture [really is] a thousand words". ASAP, I'd add 20 Astrea Snails along with 10 Cerith Snails and stand ready to add more as needed to eat the algae that will start to grow on the rock and glass. Because of how this tank had some life added but has been sitting in the dark, my worry is that a nuisance algae bloom could come on fast and hard. Don't worry about the sand right now. In normal cases it goes away on it's own and the Ceriths will help keep it from getting out of control.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:17pm
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Thanks Mark!
Do you think I could add Nerite snails instead of Astrea? I've been reading about snails and it seems that Astrea don't survive as well in our tanks as Nerite.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php" rel="nofollow - http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/index.php
Do I want any hermits? ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:20pm
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Also, I should apologize to Ann. I shouldn't have singled out her statement. The thing I have found is that Cucumbers do not die and kill properly set up and biofiltered tanks. The horror stories we hear and which get rumored all over the www are started by hobbyists, usually newer hobbyists, with little knowledge of how to keep things alive and thriving. Sure, Cucumbers do put out a toxin but for a properly set up tank that has enough growth in the sand to support a Cucumber, death is rare and of no consequence to the other organisms. The coral and/or fish might get a little stressed for a short while, but AC can quickly absorb the toxin. The key is, as I said above, to learn the needs and take proper care of our tanks and our animals. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:25pm
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I added to my last response above yours Mark. ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 3:04pm
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Astrea do fine and are plentiful. Nerites are good too. I like a mix of snails because each one does it's job a little differently and the combination does a far better job than just one type alone. No Hermits at this point. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Shayne
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 3:12pm
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Thanks again! ------------- 21G Reefer Nano |
Posted By: willrileyiv
Date Posted: May 06 2012 at 6:37pm
| i have a conch in my 46 gal as well as a sand sifting cucumber because i was told by a member on here that if it did die it woundt kill off my tank but both are doing awesome |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: May 06 2012 at 7:26pm
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Didn't read above.... but cucumber guy here. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: sabeypets
Date Posted: May 06 2012 at 9:51pm
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Hated my conch it was clumsy and tipped over any frag I put on the sand, I'm with Adam on this one "cucumber guy here" ------------- Shaun American Fork "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams |