|
|
Post by Rigor on Oct 29, 2014 18:22:21 GMT -5
I will be shutting my 120 down and starting up a 300 gallon tank.
Somewhere along the line, I picked up asterina stars. I don't want them in the new set up. They have killed, or aided in the death of a few corals and my clams.
Picking them out of a 120 gallon tank is not working fast enough.
Some forums say to use a Harlequin shrimp. But at an 1 1/2" I can't see them keeping up with the stars unless I add several dozen. Then when the stars are gone I have to maintain them.
Is there a good way to wipe them out? Like a dip I can use when transferring rock from one tank to another.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by maineultraclassic on Oct 29, 2014 18:42:58 GMT -5
The Harlequin shrimp will surprise you..........they will run out of food before you know it.
|
|
|
|
Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 29, 2014 18:44:46 GMT -5
Nutrient control and siphoning them out works well. Adding a harlequin shrimp is a good bet too.
|
|
|
|
Post by industry on Oct 29, 2014 20:12:49 GMT -5
I just added a harlequin tonight and he's eating them already.  |
|
|
|
Post by Rigor on Oct 29, 2014 23:04:14 GMT -5
How much was he?
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by industry on Oct 30, 2014 4:36:06 GMT -5
Bought him in a group buy with Jason in Dresden for $40 from divers den.
|
|
|
|
Post by gotareef on Nov 3, 2014 15:48:35 GMT -5
these starfish were a deciding factor when I upgraded from a 120 to a 180 I took the rock out scrubed with fw and soaked in extremely high mag water to kill all inverts then moved the rock into the 180 it took me a wile because I moved a little at a time to the 180
but I just won a $100 gc to live aquaria if you want to make a group order...
|
|
|
|
Post by Rigor on Nov 3, 2014 16:08:42 GMT -5
PM sent
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by Lance on Nov 5, 2014 16:35:21 GMT -5
I just don't buy that Asterina are a problem. I've yet to see or read anything definitive that points to them as an issue. I can certainly see them being opportunistic...when I had an issue w/ AEFWs a while back I saw them on damaged areas of the Acros but never on healthy tissue. If anyone has links to real research on them please share. Otherwise I think that they are awesome BECAUSE they are easy to propagate which means you can keep Harlequin Shrimp alive. |
|
|
|
Post by gotareef on Nov 5, 2014 17:43:21 GMT -5
dd has shrimp pairs for $80 and single for $40
|
|
|
|
Post by Rigor on Nov 5, 2014 18:27:41 GMT -5
I read some other's issues. Some seemed to blame the stars on their inability to maintain a proper tank. Some claimed the stars ate their corals or led to inevitable demise.
I used to think they were helping the system along and kept them around. And they may play a part in a healthy reef tank.
I personally do not want them in my tank after loosing my clams.
My clams were doing awesome for several months, or more until I gradually noticed them not opening properly and to their fullest extent.
Water changes, new bulbs and chemical test did not help.
Eventually I removed a clam and found a star or two under the mantle irritating the clam.
Before the clams started going down hill, I noticed, and recorded, my clam puffing or trying to relocate. I realize now the clam was trying to expel the star from its mantle.
Science or no science, I want them gone. My personal option.
If you were closer I would feed your shrimp for you.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by gotareef on Nov 6, 2014 8:58:45 GMT -5
I have personally seen them eating my corals.
imo harlequin shrimp might survive but unless a tank has millions of these starfish not sure a harlequin would be a right choice...
first off harlequin dont eat starfish, they eat the little suction cups off the feet of the starfish.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasonandsarah on Nov 6, 2014 9:59:02 GMT -5
If you research these stars you can never find 100% definitive proof of them eating healthy corals. I read and read and read. 100% of the time someone says they're eating healthy coral they have no proof.
All that being said, I rip everyone I see out of my tank. They're opportunistic feeders and they WILL eat unhealthy or dying corals. My feeling on this is that every coral that's not doing good shouldn't just be eaten without trying to save it.
There's also a fine line between dying flesh and freshly cut flesh and once a coral starts to be eaten the dying flesh and the healthy flesh almost become one and the same. As more gets eaten more can slightly die off. This is why I hate hermits but at least with hermits you can put the frag or unhealthy coral on a frag rack and is out of reach until it's healed up.
This is just my opinion on them and I don't try to aggressively eradicate then or anything but if I see them their gone. I try to keep a small population. They seem to be very happy with detritus and brown algae when there's enough to go around.
Sent from my SM-N910R4 using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by BriMc on Nov 6, 2014 12:01:49 GMT -5
I had a major infestation of them a few years back to the point where they started to die due to lack of food which started a mini cycle in my tank. After the cycle and vacuuming as many on the corpses that I could I haven't seen one in over a year. Last week doing some routine cleaning I found one on the front glass on the tank.  I guess it is a 50/50 on which route you take, Harlequins need to be fed starfish after they get the original problem back in check. Manually siphoning them out adds to your cleaning routine and if you miss a cleaning they multiply pretty quickly. |
|
|
|
Post by Lance on Nov 6, 2014 12:21:10 GMT -5
I had a major infestation of them a few years back to the point where they started to die due to lack of food which started a mini cycle in my tank. After the cycle and vacuuming as many on the corpses that I could I haven't seen one in over a year. Last week doing some routine cleaning I found one on the front glass on the tank. I guess it is a 50/50 on which route you take, Harlequins need to be fed starfish after they get the original problem back in check. Manually siphoning them out adds to your cleaning routine and if you miss a cleaning they multiply pretty quickly. To get to the level of a major infestation, don't you think that you had some other issue? These guys seem to opportunistic omnivores. To reach plague levels they must have had a lot to eat...then maybe they didn't, leading to a crash. I'm pretty convinced that... a) they do not eat healthy corals or mollusks by preference
b) they'll eat dying or necrotic anything if available c) if starved, they may go after healthy animals d) if you have tons you probably have another issue that needs to be addressed BTW - Another control option is Bumble Bee Shrimp. Apparently they like echinoderm tube feet but are not obligate feeders like Harlequin Shrimp, i.e. they will eat other foods. I am curious if either of this shrimp will attack other echinoderms like urchins and cucumbers. |
|
