Sea Cucumber vs. Starfish

sjj80 · 06/10/2008, 05:35 PM

Please help me decide which would be the best at keeping my DSB clean of detritus and fish poo in a mixed reef. What are the pros and cons of each?

Chef Reef · 06/10/2008, 05:39 PM

cucumbers wont sift the sand. SSS will. i have both in my tank. they are cheap enough so why not use both? i have 3 cucumbers and one SSS in a 55gal

Elorian · 06/10/2008, 06:11 PM

The sand sifting stars will eventually starve in most tanks; several cukes, some nassarius snails, and possibly a rainsford goby or hectori goby should do the trick (the rainsfords will also eat filementous algae off of your rocks).

HTH

Mykel Obvious · 06/10/2008, 06:13 PM

I'd start by reading here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rs/index.php

And read several of the other articles by Dr. Shimek as well:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/author/rs.php

I'd vote to never put a Sand-Sifting Star in any reef tank where you want a good population of sand bed infauna...

sjj80 · 06/10/2008, 09:43 PM

Any other opinions?

06/10/2008, 05:35 PM	#1
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	Sea Cucumber vs. Starfish Please help me decide which would be the best at keeping my DSB clean of detritus and fish poo in a mixed reef. What are the pros and cons of each? __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

06/10/2008, 06:11 PM	#3
Elorian Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 262	The sand sifting stars will eventually starve in most tanks; several cukes, some nassarius snails, and possibly a rainsford goby or hectori goby should do the trick (the rainsfords will also eat filementous algae off of your rocks). HTH __________________ Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls... (Ps 42:7) Current Tank Info: 55 Reef, 45 FW fish and live plants

06/10/2008, 06:13 PM	#4
Mykel Obvious Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Huntsvegas, Alabama Posts: 907	I'd start by reading here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rs/index.php And read several of the other articles by Dr. Shimek as well: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/author/rs.php I'd vote to never put a Sand-Sifting Star in any reef tank where you want a good population of sand bed infauna... __________________ Mykel Obvious - "I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer." Brendan Behan Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef

06/10/2008, 09:43 PM	#5
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	Any other opinions? __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

06/10/2008, 05:39 PM	#2
Chef Reef Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hallandale, FL Posts: 2,189	cucumbers wont sift the sand. SSS will. i have both in my tank. they are cheap enough so why not use both? i have 3 cucumbers and one SSS in a 55gal