worried, don't know what to do.

kelrn98 · 10/16/2009, 12:53 AM

I have 2 tanks one 120g 4' long, one 110g 6' long. I've had the 110g set up from the beginning, but just bought the 120g a few months ago. The 120g was already an existing reef, thriving, so I moved it and all of it's inhabitants.

So, now my problem. I have never had any sandsifting stars, and there is one in this tank. It is a shallow sand bed, there is around 200# LR, large fuge with sand, LR, cheato, lots of pods and worms. There is also a healthy, fat mandarin that came with the tank.

I know the tank was set up for several years before I purchased it, but I don't know how long the star and mandarin were in there. I know, after reading that these stars are highly controversial. But what to do with it. I could take to a LFS so they could sell it to someone with a new nano, and you know they would. The star is doing fine in my tank. But I am worried about the future of my mandarin. Any suggestions or actual personal experiences (not hear say) with sandsifting stars in established reef?

muttley000 · 10/16/2009, 04:01 AM

Is alternating the star between the 2 tanks every month or 2 an option? Idea is to give the sandbed time to regenerate in the off time.

billdogg · 10/16/2009, 06:14 AM

As long as you keep it in the tank without the mandarin, you should have no problems keeping him well fed. The star will eventually decimate the sandbed of whatever tank it is in, that's what they do, then it will starve. It may tank a year in a larger tank, but it will nearly always happen. You could always keep trading a few cups of sand back and forth. That would keep both sand beds alive? It might be worth a try.

JM.02

RobbyVonAwesome · 10/16/2009, 08:38 AM

I don't know what the big deal is with these stars. I've had a sandsifter for about three years now, and never had a problem. He started out in my 20 gallon, then as I upgraded, a 30 gallon, and is now in my 120. He's doubled in size, and appears healthy to me. I overstock my tank with fish, so that may help keep the sand full of food for him. Mine seems to be different from some sandsifters becuase he likes to climb the glass, but he still spends 98% of the time buried in the sand.

As for the mandarin, if he was fat and happy when you bought him and has been thriving in that tank, he should be fine. 200# of rock is more than enough to support a pod population for him. I have less than that, and I have literally thousands of pods, even with a mandarin in the tank. I wouldn't put any wrasses in there with the mandarin.

Good luck!

kelrn98 · 10/16/2009, 08:50 PM

I may just move the mandarin to the other tank as it has a pod infestation. They literally cover the sand bed at night in that tank. It would be possible to move the star back in forth, but I'd hate to have to acclimate it each time and risk killing it from stress. I didn't buy the mandarin either, it came with the tank. I'm still open to others opinions. Thanks.

10/16/2009, 12:53 AM	#1
kelrn98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 856	worried, don't know what to do. I have 2 tanks one 120g 4' long, one 110g 6' long. I've had the 110g set up from the beginning, but just bought the 120g a few months ago. The 120g was already an existing reef, thriving, so I moved it and all of it's inhabitants. So, now my problem. I have never had any sandsifting stars, and there is one in this tank. It is a shallow sand bed, there is around 200# LR, large fuge with sand, LR, cheato, lots of pods and worms. There is also a healthy, fat mandarin that came with the tank. I know the tank was set up for several years before I purchased it, but I don't know how long the star and mandarin were in there. I know, after reading that these stars are highly controversial. But what to do with it. I could take to a LFS so they could sell it to someone with a new nano, and you know they would. The star is doing fine in my tank. But I am worried about the future of my mandarin. Any suggestions or actual personal experiences (not hear say) with sandsifting stars in established reef? __________________ ~Kelly~ Current Tank Info: 96x24x30 -300g mixed reef: 75g sump, 35g fuge, 2x MP60, 4x Radion Pros, reef octopus X5000 skimmer, way too much LR and a few fish

10/16/2009, 04:01 AM	#2
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	Is alternating the star between the 2 tanks every month or 2 an option? Idea is to give the sandbed time to regenerate in the off time. Last edited by muttley000; 10/16/2009 at 04:02 AM. Reason: attemt to correct spelling:)

10/16/2009, 06:14 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	As long as you keep it in the tank without the mandarin, you should have no problems keeping him well fed. The star will eventually decimate the sandbed of whatever tank it is in, that's what they do, then it will starve. It may tank a year in a larger tank, but it will nearly always happen. You could always keep trading a few cups of sand back and forth. That would keep both sand beds alive? It might be worth a try. JM.02 __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/16/2009, 08:50 PM	#5
kelrn98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 856	I may just move the mandarin to the other tank as it has a pod infestation. They literally cover the sand bed at night in that tank. It would be possible to move the star back in forth, but I'd hate to have to acclimate it each time and risk killing it from stress. I didn't buy the mandarin either, it came with the tank. I'm still open to others opinions. Thanks. __________________ ~Kelly~ Current Tank Info: 96x24x30 -300g mixed reef: 75g sump, 35g fuge, 2x MP60, 4x Radion Pros, reef octopus X5000 skimmer, way too much LR and a few fish

10/16/2009, 08:38 AM	#4
RobbyVonAwesome Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 394	I don't know what the big deal is with these stars. I've had a sandsifter for about three years now, and never had a problem. He started out in my 20 gallon, then as I upgraded, a 30 gallon, and is now in my 120. He's doubled in size, and appears healthy to me. I overstock my tank with fish, so that may help keep the sand full of food for him. Mine seems to be different from some sandsifters becuase he likes to climb the glass, but he still spends 98% of the time buried in the sand. As for the mandarin, if he was fat and happy when you bought him and has been thriving in that tank, he should be fine. 200# of rock is more than enough to support a pod population for him. I have less than that, and I have literally thousands of pods, even with a mandarin in the tank. I wouldn't put any wrasses in there with the mandarin. Good luck!