Pretty sure I messed up

cass · 08/18/2009, 06:54 PM

Set up a 34 gal reef tank 3 months ago. 14 corals later, 6 inverts, and 20 snails...

Inverts are an emerald crab, a porcelin crab, 3 scarlet red hermits, and a blood shrimp.

I bought a small red starfish. It was bought last Saturday. Two days go by he does not move much. The third day it went behind my rock wall and came out torn up. Alive but torn up. It went into a hole in the rock and is still there.

What do I have in the tank that would do this?

Sisterlimonpot · 08/18/2009, 07:26 PM

You may have some sort of predator in there. What are your water parameters?

cass · 08/18/2009, 07:35 PM

I agree a predator. Something was eating at it. I was thinking one of the inverts.

Water parameters? I doubt that would have anything to do with it.

Seamus1 · 08/18/2009, 09:15 PM

Do you hear a clicking sound at night when the lights are off? Possibly a mantis shrimp...

Flipper62 · 08/18/2009, 10:13 PM

It sounds like something was attacking the star.

One thing to remember about starfish, First they dont do well at all with Temp changes or Salinity changes. They also can starve & die fast if there is not enough food for them to eat.

If the star starts to die, it will start to flake apart. That can also look like its being attacted.

BurntOutReefer · 08/18/2009, 10:41 PM

define "small red starfish"
linkia? Sand? etc

Flipper62 · 08/18/2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BurntOutReefer
define "small red starfish"
linkia? Sand? etc

Could also be a Red Fromia Star

billdogg · 08/19/2009, 05:59 AM

IMO, it is probably dying. Most stars have a dismal track record, especially in new, small tanks. If you want a star, try one of the serpant stars or perhaps a brittle star (except the green - aka "green Death")

sedor · 08/19/2009, 06:19 AM

If its a linkia star they don't lost long in our tanks anyways, not even with perfect conditions. I could see one of your crabs doing some damage if it got to close.

cass · 08/19/2009, 06:27 AM

No clicking sound at night. The starfish was fine for 2 days. It went behind the rock wall and came out with legs being bit off at the ends and a spot near the middle that was torn open. No flaking apart. Water parameters are Temp 78, sal 1.023. Alk/Kh 11.5. Calcium 430. This is the first and only thing that I have lost.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/19/2009, 08:06 AM

How did you acclimate the star?

spw4949 · 08/19/2009, 08:26 AM

3 month old tank & a starfish IMO do not mix....like someone above mentioned they will look torn up sometimes when they are dying.....it's probably wasting away from lack of food.....

jlemoine2 · 08/19/2009, 09:36 AM

I agree with the assessment that the star was/is probably dying. I've seen them come apart and drop parts of legs when going downhill. On smaller tanks, parameters such as salinity, pH, and temp fluctuate too much for most starfish. The tank may also not be established enough to provide the nutrition a star requires.

Sorry about the loss.

cass · 08/19/2009, 09:51 AM

The tank does not fluctuate. Parameters are spot on and I test them daily with salifert test kits. I found the culprit this morning. It is/was the emerald crab. I appreciate the info.

spw4949 · 08/19/2009, 10:29 AM

Possible but more than likely it started wasting due to lack of food & the emerald capitalized on an ez snack....I have 6 emeralds in my reef & not once has any of them touched my linkia......

jlemoine2 · 08/19/2009, 10:50 AM

All tanks fluctuate to some degree, especially nanos.

cass · 08/19/2009, 12:40 PM

All tanks fluctuate to some degree, especially nanos.

With a chiller and proper testing. Mine does not. 2 part is added daily for any drop in calcium or alk. RO/DI with UV water changes every week and that water is tested before it goes in the tank. I may have posted this in the wrong section. I am not new to reefing. Again thanks for the info. Again from the above post I figured it out.

spw4949 · 08/19/2009, 12:52 PM

If your tank doesn't fluctuate you should write a book.....not to be a jerk but don't post questions if you don't want answers....no matter how long your in the hobby you can always learn something......good luck.

cass · 08/19/2009, 01:12 PM

So my tank does not fluctuate hardly at all. Sorry that rubs you the wrong way. The answer is what I figured out. I never said anything about not learning. I am always opened to learning. Your comment about the book is coming off as a jerk as well as close minded.

cass · 08/19/2009, 01:17 PM

Sorry should have said a jerk and sarcastic.

sedor · 08/19/2009, 01:18 PM

Its almost impossible to avoid a tank fluctuating unless you have thousands of dollars worth of equipment to determine exactly when a particular parameter changes and doses accordingly, but thats besides the point, your tank probably isn't fluctuating enough to cause any harm. As I mentioned before it probably was a hit or miss type things. Linkia stars do not have a good track record as far as hardiness.

Quote:

if you don't want answers....no matter how long your in the hobby you can always learn something......good luck.

I couldn't agree more! Even the experts could learn a thing or two, it never stops in this hobby.

spw4949 · 08/19/2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cass
So my tank does not fluctuate hardly at all. Sorry that rubs you the wrong way. The answer is what I figured out. I never said anything about not learning. I am always opened to learning. Your comment about the book is coming off as a jerk as well as close minded.

Close minded? Look in the mirror........

badwrasse · 08/19/2009, 10:36 PM

calm down guys yoou don't want a ''time out''

all tanks will flux to some degree, just because it doesnt show on a test doesnt mean that its not happening i dont know how anyone can get an exact reading from color coded tests anyways all your going to get is a ballpark estimation

BurntOutReefer · 08/19/2009, 10:51 PM

and IMO...3 month oldtank is barely out of a cycle....IMO way to early to add sensitive livestock...whatever that "red star" is....

BurntOutReefer · 08/19/2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cass
The tank does not fluctuate. Parameters are spot on and I test them daily with salifert test kits. I found the culprit this morning. It is/was the emerald crab. I appreciate the info.

what spw said....

08/18/2009, 06:54 PM	#1
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	Pretty sure I messed up Set up a 34 gal reef tank 3 months ago. 14 corals later, 6 inverts, and 20 snails... Inverts are an emerald crab, a porcelin crab, 3 scarlet red hermits, and a blood shrimp. I bought a small red starfish. It was bought last Saturday. Two days go by he does not move much. The third day it went behind my rock wall and came out torn up. Alive but torn up. It went into a hole in the rock and is still there. What do I have in the tank that would do this?

08/18/2009, 07:26 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	You may have some sort of predator in there. What are your water parameters? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/18/2009, 10:13 PM	#5
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	It sounds like something was attacking the star. One thing to remember about starfish, First they dont do well at all with Temp changes or Salinity changes. They also can starve & die fast if there is not enough food for them to eat. If the star starts to die, it will start to flake apart. That can also look like its being attacted. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/19/2009, 05:59 AM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	IMO, it is probably dying. Most stars have a dismal track record, especially in new, small tanks. If you want a star, try one of the serpant stars or perhaps a brittle star (except the green - aka "green Death") __________________ 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

08/19/2009, 06:19 AM	#9
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	If its a linkia star they don't lost long in our tanks anyways, not even with perfect conditions. I could see one of your crabs doing some damage if it got to close. __________________ Ryan

08/18/2009, 07:35 PM	#3
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	I agree a predator. Something was eating at it. I was thinking one of the inverts. Water parameters? I doubt that would have anything to do with it.

08/18/2009, 09:15 PM	#4
Seamus1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Miami Posts: 172	Do you hear a clicking sound at night when the lights are off? Possibly a mantis shrimp...

08/18/2009, 10:41 PM	#6
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	define "small red starfish" linkia? Sand? etc

08/19/2009, 06:27 AM	#10
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	No clicking sound at night. The starfish was fine for 2 days. It went behind the rock wall and came out with legs being bit off at the ends and a spot near the middle that was torn open. No flaking apart. Water parameters are Temp 78, sal 1.023. Alk/Kh 11.5. Calcium 430. This is the first and only thing that I have lost.

08/19/2009, 08:06 AM	#11
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	How did you acclimate the star? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/19/2009, 08:26 AM	#12
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	3 month old tank & a starfish IMO do not mix....like someone above mentioned they will look torn up sometimes when they are dying.....it's probably wasting away from lack of food..... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/19/2009, 09:36 AM	#13
jlemoine2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 200	I agree with the assessment that the star was/is probably dying. I've seen them come apart and drop parts of legs when going downhill. On smaller tanks, parameters such as salinity, pH, and temp fluctuate too much for most starfish. The tank may also not be established enough to provide the nutrition a star requires. Sorry about the loss. __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef w/ 40 gallon frag tank.

08/19/2009, 09:51 AM	#14
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	The tank does not fluctuate. Parameters are spot on and I test them daily with salifert test kits. I found the culprit this morning. It is/was the emerald crab. I appreciate the info.

08/19/2009, 10:29 AM	#15
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Possible but more than likely it started wasting due to lack of food & the emerald capitalized on an ez snack....I have 6 emeralds in my reef & not once has any of them touched my linkia...... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/19/2009, 10:50 AM	#16
jlemoine2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 200	All tanks fluctuate to some degree, especially nanos. __________________ -James Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef w/ 40 gallon frag tank.

08/19/2009, 12:40 PM	#17
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	All tanks fluctuate to some degree, especially nanos. With a chiller and proper testing. Mine does not. 2 part is added daily for any drop in calcium or alk. RO/DI with UV water changes every week and that water is tested before it goes in the tank. I may have posted this in the wrong section. I am not new to reefing. Again thanks for the info. Again from the above post I figured it out.

08/19/2009, 12:52 PM	#18
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	If your tank doesn't fluctuate you should write a book.....not to be a jerk but don't post questions if you don't want answers....no matter how long your in the hobby you can always learn something......good luck. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/19/2009, 01:12 PM	#19
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	So my tank does not fluctuate hardly at all. Sorry that rubs you the wrong way. The answer is what I figured out. I never said anything about not learning. I am always opened to learning. Your comment about the book is coming off as a jerk as well as close minded.

08/19/2009, 01:17 PM	#20
cass Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11	Sorry should have said a jerk and sarcastic.

08/19/2009, 10:36 PM	#23
badwrasse Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. louis Posts: 1,203	calm down guys yoou don't want a ''time out'' all tanks will flux to some degree, just because it doesnt show on a test doesnt mean that its not happening i dont know how anyone can get an exact reading from color coded tests anyways all your going to get is a ballpark estimation __________________ GOT CRABS? Current Tank Info: 90gal RR,rock wall in progress, MRC sump, reef octopus XP2000I skimmer, marineland pro lighting 2-150w MH 4-54w T5's, hydor wavemaker with 2 #4 controllable pumps, and QuietOne 4000HH return pump.

08/19/2009, 10:51 PM	#24
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	and IMO...3 month oldtank is barely out of a cycle....IMO way to early to add sensitive livestock...whatever that "red star" is....