Starfish

[squall7733]

I've had experience with most invertebrates and corals in the reef enviroment but still havnt touched on starfish(or similar inverts)...

I'm curious what do they do for the tank? What do they eat and produce?

 

[Opcn]

what they eat is entirelly dependant on species, Some eat pods in the sand, some eat algea, some eat clams and some eat corals, however you need to have your tank well established first.

 

[squall7733]

I have this nasty green algea growing on my sand, think a star fish would eat tha right up? the hermit crabs cant handle it ....

Could anyone recomend a few good species to have in tanks that would help eliminate pests like algeas.

My tank is well established.

 

[Opcn]

you will have to describe the algeaq better than that, also fill us in on the species of hermits in your crew and whether or not they are eating it (but just not fast enought to deal with it). Getting "a starfish" is only a cure for a lack of having echinoderms in ones tank. but in order to best identify the solution for an alge problem we need to identify the algea problem it self

 

[squall7733]

growing over the glass is a mix of brown and green algea, mostly green now... Thats not really my problems as I can easily scrape it clean. The snails I have in the tank seem to wonder over the rocks enough to keep them algea free. and so far I havnt had any problems with algea on my corals.

The problem I have is the sand has grown a thick algea, its a deep green and some of it is starting to form a brighter green slime. I was thinking the problem could be I have nothing really sifting the sand. Or I may not have enough hermits in the tank. I believe they are simple red legged hermits. I'm sure if I added more my problems would start going down, and thats what I'm going to do soon. I was just looking into starfish because I wouldnt mind having another unique clean up crew. I like large turbo snails , and interesting shells. So adding a star fish to the mix would add a little bit more life to the tank. I just dont know what kind to get.

 

[Tiggs]

i would suggest that you sort the algae if its really that bad!

if you think its just lack of critters then red hermits are the thing (i have found)

i have many snails and few touch algae on the sand. i also have 3 stars (sand sifter, marble and an African * ) only the sand sifter moves across the sand (as you would expect) and has little impact on the surface......however, at night the hermits go to work and come off the reef onto the sand and clear everything - my sand is persil white by the morning.

T

* yes i know Africans are not reef safe....but i had a word with mine and he's cool

 

[squall7733]

thanks I've come to the conclusion that I should just get tons more hermits in there... And a ton more snails so I dont have to clean the glass every other day lol.

Maybe starfish some day for fun but not as neccessity.