| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
aceofspadeskb 
Guest
Joined: February 20 2013
Location: Smithfield
Status: Offline
Points: 562
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Sand Sifting Starfish
Posted: June 06 2013 at 10:42am |
|
So I was in Aquatic Dreams(fantastic store!) the other day with my wife(who is still in the reef tank conversion process) and she absolutely fell in love with a sand sifting starfish they were selling. Our system includes a 55 gal display and 20 gal sump. Currently we only have 3 residents, 1 melanurus wrasse, and 2 green chromis so I know we don't have a bioload sufficient to get the starfish. The system has been set up for only a couple months as well. My question is, will a sand sifting starfish *ever* do well in a 55 gal? And if so, how much of a bio-load should we have before getting one?
I have heard horror stories of these things starving to death, dying, and crashing the tank as a result. I'm trying to be more responsible than that.
Thanks in advance!
|
 |
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 07 2013 at 7:35am |
Aloha, Some may disagree with me but the only time I recommend a SSStar is for an older sand bed in a tank that is 75gal or larger. And even then, the SSStar should only be a temporary resident. They can wipe out a live sand bed of all the good micro-fauna that are a big part of water filtration. In a proper environment a SSStar is rarely seen because it finds plenty to eat underneath the sand surface. When it is very hungry it goes on the prowl, moving quite rapidly, searching the entire tank for a morsel of food. It's very likely that is why it looked interesting at the LFS. That's my 2 cents.  Mahalo, Mark 808-345-1049 call or text to "talk reef"
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
AcroNem
Guest
Joined: June 02 2013
Location: Orem Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 528
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 07 2013 at 9:17am |
|
I both agree and disagree, mark is right that a SS star shouldn't be kept in a young tank, as is true for most starfish. But I have had a SSstar do fairly well in a 55 in the past. BUT, you will most likely never see it unless you like to creep on your tank at night.
Always here to talk salt
801-850-7577 Justin
Edited by AcroNem - June 07 2013 at 9:17am
|
|
aceofspadeskb
Guest
Joined: February 20 2013
Location: Smithfield
Status: Offline
Points: 562
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 07 2013 at 9:34am |
|
I kinda figured that is what the answer would be. Any other starfish recommendations that may appease the wife? I know my tank is too young now, but we're trying to plan the tank out well ahead of time. It would need to be "cute," visible, and able to live in a 55. Also, how old should the tank be before adding a star?
|
|
fishyman19
Guest
Joined: September 05 2012
Location: Orem
Status: Offline
Points: 259
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 07 2013 at 10:15am |
|
I 2 of those in my 55 gallon that had only been up for a couple months. One died and the other did great! I never saw it so I figured that it had moved on, but when I put in a harlequin shrimp to take care of my Astreia star problem the first thing I saw it eating was my sand sifting star...
|
|
90 Gallon mixed reef. Wife's 12 gallon nano cube mixed reef!
|
|
Shane H
Presidency
Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 07 2013 at 1:16pm |
Get a cucumber instead. They're quite ugly, but they are a great addition to a reef tank. They keep the sand bed fairly well cleaned and they don't eat the micro-fauna, just algae.
BTW - I think many consider Fromia sea stars to be reef safe. But again, a more mature tank would be most suitable. You might look for one of those in six months to scratch that itch.
|
|
Dan9554880
Guest
Joined: June 28 2012
Location: West Valley
Status: Offline
Points: 813
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 07 2013 at 3:04pm |
|
+1on fromia I think that they will be the best choice of all other types of starfish.
But again your tank needs to be mature
|
|
210 Mixed Reef
20 Nuvo nano reef
Learn your tank, not the hobby
|
|
