Newbie Question

swisha · 08/28/2006, 06:04 PM

Hi,

First off I would like to thank everyone that has brought useful information to this forum. Being new to reef keeping, this forum has guided me in the right direction for setting up my own marine aquarium.

Thank You!

Now for the question...I just finished aquascaping the 50lbs of LR I bought from my LFS and i noticed something on the back of the aquarium...turns out it's a baby starfish. My question is a 2 parted one

1. Will it live through the cycle, granted it doesn't wander into the overflow?

2. Should I feed it? If so, then what?

Paco1l1d · 08/28/2006, 06:12 PM

If its a small brittle star it will more than likely that it will survive, even if it doesn't there are plenty more hidden in the rock where you can't see them.
I wouldn't bother with feeding it, it and all the others sould get enough "waste" food from the dieoff of the rock. Along with the fish, if you plan on getting any in a few weeks, wll give you PLENTY of ditritus for them to eat.

bertoni · 08/28/2006, 07:27 PM

To Reef Central

I agree. Once the ammonia level hits zero (if it ever goes up at all), some light feeding with phytoplankton should help keep organisms on the live rock going. I use DT's Phytoplankton, but BioPlankton and Phyto-Feast seem good, as well.

Sk8r · 08/28/2006, 07:58 PM

It's probably an asterina. They'll live through a cycle. They're incredibly tough.
Things I've had survive a cycle [admittedly mild] with uncured live rock un-live sand and a certified ammonia spike: feather dusters, asterinas, discosoma mushrooms, sponges, macroalgaes, peanut worms, bristleworms, spiorbid worms, stomatellas, asterinas, strombus grazer snails, xenia, and a stray bit of bubble coral.

dee67 · 08/28/2006, 09:19 PM

I notices tiny starfish for the first time in my tank almost a year after I set it up. And, my tank has cycled, re-cycled, and cycled again! Do not be surprised what you see on your rock, I have all kinds of stuff growing that I did not add! B-E-A-utiful!!

BurntOutReefer · 08/28/2006, 09:48 PM

agree with bertoni/sk8r....(not that they need any validation)...:-)

08/28/2006, 06:04 PM	#1
swisha Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 128	Newbie Question Hi, First off I would like to thank everyone that has brought useful information to this forum. Being new to reef keeping, this forum has guided me in the right direction for setting up my own marine aquarium. Thank You! Now for the question...I just finished aquascaping the 50lbs of LR I bought from my LFS and i noticed something on the back of the aquarium...turns out it's a baby starfish. My question is a 2 parted one 1. Will it live through the cycle, granted it doesn't wander into the overflow? 2. Should I feed it? If so, then what?

08/28/2006, 06:12 PM	#2
Paco1l1d Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: mars Posts: 321	If its a small brittle star it will more than likely that it will survive, even if it doesn't there are plenty more hidden in the rock where you can't see them. I wouldn't bother with feeding it, it and all the others sould get enough "waste" food from the dieoff of the rock. Along with the fish, if you plan on getting any in a few weeks, wll give you PLENTY of ditritus for them to eat. __________________ <'}}}}}>< Current Tank Info: 90 starfire cube colorful stick tank, 5 gallon fuge, 10 gal sump

08/28/2006, 07:27 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* I agree. Once the ammonia level hits zero (if it ever goes up at all), some light feeding with phytoplankton should help keep organisms on the live rock going. I use DT's Phytoplankton, but BioPlankton and Phyto-Feast seem good, as well. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/28/2006, 07:58 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It's probably an asterina. They'll live through a cycle. They're incredibly tough. Things I've had survive a cycle [admittedly mild] with uncured live rock un-live sand and a certified ammonia spike: feather dusters, asterinas, discosoma mushrooms, sponges, macroalgaes, peanut worms, bristleworms, spiorbid worms, stomatellas, asterinas, strombus grazer snails, xenia, and a stray bit of bubble coral. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/28/2006, 09:19 PM	#5
dee67 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Posts: 25	I notices tiny starfish for the first time in my tank almost a year after I set it up. And, my tank has cycled, re-cycled, and cycled again! Do not be surprised what you see on your rock, I have all kinds of stuff growing that I did not add! B-E-A-utiful!!

08/28/2006, 09:48 PM	#6
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	agree with bertoni/sk8r....(not that they need any validation)...:-)