Conchs

CATALYST · 11-12-2007, 09:42 PM

Tell me about these. Are they good sand cleaners or is there something better?

vdituri · 11-12-2007, 09:46 PM

What kind of sand cleaning?

Frankie · 11-12-2007, 09:47 PM

My Queen is an algae hound! She pretty much stays on the sand but i find her on the rocks occasionally. I think the one thing i like most about her are her eyes. reminds me of Gary from sponge bob.

My best sand sifter is my Sand Sifting Starfish. He is all over the sand bed and only sifts the top layer.

kathywithbirds · 11-12-2007, 10:38 PM

I had two, can't find the one. The one left is the type that's smoother, not with the points on the shell... I had gotten a fighting and a queen and I forget which is which, but they both seemed to eat cyano. One liked algae too. Fun to watch, kinda alien lookin. I am a newbie but am now a big fan as far as them and cyano. Look on pacificeast aquaculture's site, it's the one labeled "cyano grazing conch."

cracker · 11-12-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CATALYST

Tell me about these. Are they good sand cleaners or is there something better?

What little I understand ,certain conchs are great for the sb. They are hardy & interesting to watch. They are omnivores & will sift thru the sb for algae& such.I also understand certain others ( conchs or whelks maybe)are predatory & it can be hard to tell them apart. They can grow fast & need enough open Sb to range for food. I aquired a fighting conch( I hope) today for sandbed duty. If mine stays on the sb like Frankie's, it will have plenty to eat for some time!

framerguy · 11-12-2007, 11:12 PM

They are great sand sifters, but the queen (up to 16") and fighting conch (up to 4")are herbivorous and may not survive if there are other sand dwelling herbivors. They need LOTS of food, and will accept herbivor pellets if you don't have enough algae growth. Each animal needs 2 sq. ft. open sand for sifting. As for something "better", that's a matter of opinion. There's probably not something better and as COOL as a conch. Cerith snails may be more effective, but... not as cool!

jg2269jg · 11-13-2007, 12:50 AM

i have 2 queens they are like 4 to 5 inchs and knock over everything but they are cool to watch

ASH · 11-13-2007, 01:35 AM

We just got a conch about a week ago. Then about 2 days later our tank decided to cycle and and our serpent star didn't like the water conditions and dropped all but on leg...Our conch (don't know if it's queen or fighting) ate the starfish body....or at least tried too. The next day I got the starfish body out of the tank but left the legs in there because they we're still moving and I really just wanted to observe them. But last night I got the flashlight and checked out the night life of the tank and there was my conch devouring the legs. It ate every single leg that fell off of the star.

R.I.P pat.

But my point....I thought they we're just algae eaters I would have never expected they would be meat eaters. I guess it's time for some research and maybe consider taking him back.

CATALYST · 11-13-2007, 02:44 AM

Wow. They get that big? I think I'll look at the snails.

Witfull · 11-13-2007, 03:37 AM

fighting conchs and sand conchs are great they stir the sand to about 1" deep.

Heyyou · 11-13-2007, 06:23 AM

my fighting conch has been on the rocks the whole time doesn't get on my sandbed....

michael_cb_125 · 11-13-2007, 07:22 AM

I have 4 Queen conchs in my 100 gallon. They do a great job at cleaning my sand bed, rocks, and glass. They go everywhere. But they LOVE Cyano, and red slime. I accredit my clean tank to my conchs. They are my favorite snails. Plus when they get big you can just make fritters>

lcstorc · 11-13-2007, 08:00 AM

I love my conchs. I have both fighting and queen and they do a great job.

framerguy · 11-13-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Wow. They get that big?

It takes YEARS to get that big, something like 20, they grow slowly.

Ash, I don't know what to think about yours. Maybe it's not a fighter or a queen. There are meat eating conchs. Those two really are herbivorous and eat grasses, algae and other green stuff. Maybe you got a FREAK!

cracker · 11-13-2007, 09:18 AM

Here is an article by Dr Ron Shimek on predatory whelks. He makes some fairly cut & dry distinctions between the whelks & conchs.
Whelks by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

11-12-2007, 09:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
CATALYST Achilles Tang Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 835 View Gallery Karma Komment	Conchs Tell me about these. Are they good sand cleaners or is there something better?

11-12-2007, 09:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,035 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Conchs My Queen is an algae hound! She pretty much stays on the sand but i find her on the rocks occasionally. I think the one thing i like most about her are her eyes. reminds me of Gary from sponge bob. My best sand sifter is my Sand Sifting Starfish. He is all over the sand bed and only sifts the top layer. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

11-12-2007, 10:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
kathywithbirds You talkin ta ME? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly area, NJ Posts: 4,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs I had two, can't find the one. The one left is the type that's smoother, not with the points on the shell... I had gotten a fighting and a queen and I forget which is which, but they both seemed to eat cyano. One liked algae too. Fun to watch, kinda alien lookin. I am a newbie but am now a big fan as far as them and cyano. Look on pacificeast aquaculture's site, it's the one labeled "cyano grazing conch." __________________ (\__/) (\__/) (@.@) (^.^) (")_(") (< >)

11-12-2007, 11:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
framerguy Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 2,920 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Conchs They are great sand sifters, but the queen (up to 16") and fighting conch (up to 4")are herbivorous and may not survive if there are other sand dwelling herbivors. They need LOTS of food, and will accept herbivor pellets if you don't have enough algae growth. Each animal needs 2 sq. ft. open sand for sifting. As for something "better", that's a matter of opinion. There's probably not something better and as COOL as a conch. Cerith snails may be more effective, but... not as cool! __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 75g Main, 55g Fuge w/DSB/+-25#LR, 25g Sump, turboflotor skimmer, 2x250w MH(9hrs/d), 4x65w PC(14h/d), 950gph mag drive/seaswirl return, 100# LR, 3" SB chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

11-13-2007, 12:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
jg2269jg Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 171 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs i have 2 queens they are like 4 to 5 inchs and knock over everything but they are cool to watch

11-13-2007, 01:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
ASH Neon dottyback Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Panama City Beach FL Posts: 624 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs We just got a conch about a week ago. Then about 2 days later our tank decided to cycle and and our serpent star didn't like the water conditions and dropped all but on leg...Our conch (don't know if it's queen or fighting) ate the starfish body....or at least tried too. The next day I got the starfish body out of the tank but left the legs in there because they we're still moving and I really just wanted to observe them. But last night I got the flashlight and checked out the night life of the tank and there was my conch devouring the legs. It ate every single leg that fell off of the star. R.I.P pat. But my point....I thought they we're just algae eaters I would have never expected they would be meat eaters. I guess it's time for some research and maybe consider taking him back. __________________ Have a look at our "work in progress" http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...5gal-gift.html

11-13-2007, 02:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
CATALYST Achilles Tang Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 835 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs Wow. They get that big? I think I'll look at the snails.

11-13-2007, 06:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
Heyyou Tubeworm Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 32 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs my fighting conch has been on the rocks the whole time doesn't get on my sandbed....

11-13-2007, 07:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
michael_cb_125 Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 3,073 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs I have 4 Queen conchs in my 100 gallon. They do a great job at cleaning my sand bed, rocks, and glass. They go everywhere. But they LOVE Cyano, and red slime. I accredit my clean tank to my conchs. They are my favorite snails. Plus when they get big you can just make fritters> __________________ 240 Gallon MIXED REEF SUPER TANK Well at least thats what I want it to be 240 Gallon Custom Made Starphire Tank Life Reef Custom Sump,Life Reef Skimmer, Little Giant Return, 2 1200gph Koralias, 2 1580 GPH Tunze Turbelles, 1 Vortec, 72" Solaris I series, PM Kalk Reactor, Custom Made Fug, way to many more things to list Jose say hello to your NEW LITTLE FRIEND!!!!!!!!

11-13-2007, 08:00 AM	#13 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,449 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Conchs I love my conchs. I have both fighting and queen and they do a great job. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

11-13-2007, 09:18 AM	#15 (permalink)
cracker Reef Lobster Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,604 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Conchs Here is an article by Dr Ron Shimek on predatory whelks. He makes some fairly cut & dry distinctions between the whelks & conchs. Whelks by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com

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