How many inverts can I add at once?

[Weboh]

My LFS has a big sale coming up soon and I have a few more things I want to get for the tank, so it'd be nice if I could get them all on sale.

I'm planning on getting the following:

A small zoa colony
A BTA
A cleaner shrimp
A purple firefish
A couple more feather dusters


I know there's a limit to how many things you can add to the tank at once—particularly if we're talking fish, since they'd have to destress and get used to their environments and everything. But since these are mostly inverts, would the same rules apply? I have a feeling I probably still shouldn't add a lot to my tank at once. I want to get a good deal on the livestock, but not at the expense of killing them or my tank.

[AlSimmons]

How big is your tank? How long has it been set up for? What kind of lights do you have? What are your parameters?

[Weboh]

Aw, I thought it would show my signature. It should this time. I have the right lighting and parameters and it's been set up going on 4 months, so I don't think that's an issue here.

[Sk8r]

Take out the starfish: it'll eat your worms and such you need. I'd say add whatever cleanup crew you can feed without having to feed them specially. Red micro hermits, scarlets, are the best in my book.

[mcgyvr]

Its fine to add everything from your list at once..

[Weboh]

Take out the starfish: it'll eat your worms and such you need.

I don't think I have any worms and such. I didn't get live rock—just life rock and live sand. I was under the impression that the starfish would eat detritus and such and was good for the tank. This should probably be its own thread though.

I'd say add whatever cleanup crew you can feed without having to feed them specially. Red micro hermits, scarlets, are the best in my book.
What do you mean? Take out the starfish and replace it with crabs and other cleanup crew? I really like the starfish.

What about the original discussion? Do you think it's fine to add all those things at once?

[lewisrhoades]

You should be fine to add them all at once but if I were you I would wait on the bta. They can be finicky and should be put in after at least 6 months.

[CHizer]

I'm planning on getting the following:

A small zoa colony
A BTA
A cleaner shrimp
A purple firefish
A couple more feather dusters




These would be ok to add at once. I agree with the above advice to wait a few months for the BTA and maybe add a few hermits in there.

Since you're in St. Pete check out the Tampa Bay Reef Club forum on here. Lots of good advice on local shops along with trading and selling. Always good to make local friends in the hobby!

[Weboh]

These would be ok to add at once. I agree with the above advice to wait a few months for the BTA and maybe add a few hermits in there.So BTAs are more sensitive than zoas? I would have thought the coral would be more sensitive. I added Dr. Tim's bacteria to jumpstart my tank, so I don't know if I can add a couple months to the recommendation. I don't want to try to save 20% and end up losing 100% if it dies...

Since you're in St. Pete check out the Tampa Bay Reef Club forum on here. Lots of good advice on local shops along with trading and selling. Always good to make local friends in the hobby!
Thanks, I'll check this out! It looks like the place they're meeting this month is the place I'm going to anyway. Should be fun!

[Weboh]

I was going to edit my previous post, but apparently I can't? Anyway, turns out no, the two places aren't the same. The sale my LFS is having is on the same day and has a bunch of vendors offering wholesale prices, so it sounded the same, but is not. And Palm Harbor is not local enough for me. Maybe next month.

[hotelbravo]

What do you mean? Take out the starfish and replace it with crabs and other cleanup crew? I really like the starfish.

What about the original discussion? Do you think it's fine to add all those things at once?
A sand sifting starfish will starve to death over the course of a few weeks to months in a 30 gallon. Remove it or you will kill it.

All that you have listed should be find to add at once with caution on the anemone

[Weboh]

A sand sifting starfish will starve to death over the course of a few weeks to months in a 30 gallon. Remove it or you will kill it.

All that you have listed should be find to add at once with caution on the anemone

I've just done some reading. Looks like they do require minimum 60 gallons, plus a three inch sand bed. Plus there needs to be worms and everything in there too, which there isn't. It does spend a lot of time burrowed which it seems they only does when they run out of food.

Saltwatersmarts says they're often erroneously recommended by people for this purpose because they do their job too good. Some sites say it needs an 80 gallon tank and expert care. And other sources like saltwaterfish say it only needs a 10 gallon tank and minimal care. But they grow to a one foot diameter, so there's no way. If it's usually not suited for this purpose, why is it so often advised for it? I guess because "it does a good job in my 100 gallon tank so it should do fine in yours too." Even though they know what size tank I have...

What do I do with the starfish? I doubt the store will buy it back. They'll take it for free, I'm sure...

[CarrieB]

What do I do with the starfish? I doubt the store will buy it back. They'll take it for free, I'm sure...


Post it on your local reef club forum for someone with a bigger tank.



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[sushistevek4]

sell the star he'll also wipe out all the beneficial bacteria in that sandbed

[Weboh]

My LFS will buy the starfish back, and it's going back today. I'd still like a sea star. Do you know of any that are reef safe, easy to care for, and will live in a 30 gallon tank?

[ReefsandGeeks]

Serpent stars or brittle stars are really the only good choice for starfish. Linkia and fromia are very difficult to keep with low success rates. Chocolate chip stars can be fine, but will eat coral, so are reserved for fish only tanks.

[Weboh]

Serpent stars or brittle stars are really the only good choice for starfish. Linkia and fromia are very difficult to keep with low success rates. Chocolate chip stars can be fine, but will eat coral, so are reserved for fish only tanks.

Thanks. I'm going with a banded one. I'd also like to get a sleeper banded goby. I know that they like to sift sand, so I'm thinking it could take the place of the sand sifting starfish. Would it compete with a branded star for food? Do you think my tank could support both? Would the goby add to the bioload so much that I wouldn't be able to get a firefish as well? I know the goby will hang out on the bottom of the tank, so space-wise, it seems fine to have that many fish.

Thanks for your advice so far, everyone. It's been invaluable.