Need advice quick on Sand Sifting star!!!

[rperez915]

55 Gallon tank with sump that has been up since sept. of last year. When i got home this evening i notice my sand sifting star fish upside down with part of one of his legs missing. In addition to this one of my clowns was floating on the bottom of the tank and seemed to be struggling a little. Once i notice what was going on i quick did a water change with what i have availble which was about 4 gallons. I live in an apartment so i do not have an RODI and do not make i own water. I get it from a local fish store. At this point everything esle seems to be fine. All other fish seem active, all inverts(pep, hermints, nassarius, astrea) seem fine. Just the star fish and the one clown really have me worried. The star fish isnt really moving after i flipped him over. Should i take him out just in case he bit the dust to aviod an amonia spike or should i sit and wait it out. I will be heading to the LFS in the morning and getting another 10 -15 gallons to change out.


Amonia 0
Nitrate 0
SG 1.024-1.025
Temp: 80
PH 8.0
NO copper detected.

 

[mscarpena]

The sand sifter would not worry me because I would have told you to begin with that it is destined to die in your tank. I would remove it and focus on what is wrong with the clown. Dont get another sand sifter they slowly starve to death in tanks. Maybe a 200-300 gallon tank could handle a sandsifter. Also they eat beneficial micro-organisms in your sand.

 

[rperez915]

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately i belive the SS Star died so i took him out and stood up almost all night watching the clown. His color seems to be back and he is eating now. Did another 5 gallon water change and will do another tonight when i get home from work to make sure what ever it was that made him look and act that way exits the tank. Thanks once again.