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msduncan
07/26/2006, 10:28 AM
Should I starfish be treated just like any other fish or coral you add to a tank? In other words -- can I send it in earlier as a cleaning crew member as long as the tests are all clean, or should it be treated like a fish or coral that should only be sent in after a couple months?
serpentman
07/26/2006, 10:38 AM
Are you considering a starfish or brittlestar?
msduncan
07/26/2006, 10:50 AM
A starfish I think. One that is reef safe.
Andrew
07/26/2006, 10:52 AM
I wouldnt start adding the clean up crew until you get fish so they have something to clean up.
angelsj247
07/26/2006, 11:20 AM
i added my clean up crew before i got fish. i think thats what everyone says to do. In my opinon i would wait til you get fish for the starfish, bc, they will need more waste and stuff to eat.
msduncan
07/26/2006, 11:53 AM
Sounds good. Cleanup crew (snails, hermits) in bound as we speak.
chris.hampton
07/26/2006, 04:02 PM
You need to be careful with the acclimatizing too, starfish are known for trouble with it! A slow drip over a couple of hours i think is recommended!
itz frank
07/26/2006, 04:06 PM
All my starfish i floated for 30 minutes and then dropped them in the tank. No drip or anything. They were fine and still are.
itz frank
07/26/2006, 04:11 PM
Oh wait, as for the question. I think that unless you have a bioload for your LS and LR to be handling then you shouldn't add a Starfish since they eat good critters in ur sandbed that your tank needs. After you begin establishing a bioload it would be a better idea. The larger your bioload, the larger you pod population and what not will be that the starfish will be feeding on.
chris.hampton
07/26/2006, 04:16 PM
Sorry i could be wrong i'm just reading up on things at moment!! Although it feels like i have been reading for ever, i can't wait much longer to get things up and running!!!
smcdonn
07/26/2006, 05:07 PM
I do believe star fish need a well established tank. Most starfish other than brittle stars and such usually die of starvation anyways. My LFS has a hard time keeping Linkias (spelling?) in their 600 gallon reef. I just added a starfish to my 75 reef even due to this fact. He hasn't moved since I dropped him in. Hopefully he's going to make it. Cheers