Sand sifting star

[chevegan]

hey just picked one up for kicks and the fact that I have a thin layer of algae across my entire SB. Any reason for or against this invert? Input always appreciated.

 

[photobret]

A great addition, have heard they can decimate your sand ecosystem but never had any problems, he disappeared when I added my Harlequin Shrimp pair. Cant figure that one out..... Interesting to watch and a good sand sifter. A plus all round.

 

[Gooli]

always good experiences with them and long term as well.

 

[DRC69]

They sometimes climb the sides of your tank. They scratch my tank walls. Never again.
JMO.
thx

 

[discotu]

i've had 2 in my 225g for over 2 years now...but, while they do stir up the sand bed here and there...they don't really work fast enough to keep the sand bed free of algae.

Photobret, Harlequin Shrimp eat the feet of starfish...thats most likey why yours is gone!

 

[sharkE]

i have a baby sting ray, he keeps my algae off my sand

 

[photobret]

ummm yeah... I know it was a bad attempt at humour. HAHA.

 

[chevegan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12858177#post12858177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DRC69
They sometimes climb the sides of your tank. They scratch my tank walls. Never again.
JMO.
thx

Glass tank?

 

[FOSELONE]

gets some diamond gobies...they go to work...

 

[reef_doug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12859762#post12859762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FOSELONE
gets some diamond gobies...they go to work...

If you go this route, only get one. They are incredible at cleaning the sand... unfortunately they usually die from starvation. I just lost mine after 3 years. He did too good of a job and was not aggressive enough to compete against the other fish for food, especially the Flame Hawk.

 

[billyb1122]

someone gave me a large sand sifting star once because it kept knocking over rocks with corals. That said, you don't want to get one that's too big.

 

[glockcoma]

I have had both, my star is gone due to the same problem as Photobret, but it doesnt stand a chance against the diamond goby, that fish is amazing at stiring your sand bed, and fun to watch when they pick up rubble and shells and transfer it to their cave.

 

[chevegan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12859762#post12859762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FOSELONE
gets some diamond gobies...they go to work...

I got one initially but lost it after a day, have no idea where he went

 

[reef_doug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12861339#post12861339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chevegan
I got one initially but lost it after a day, have no idea where he went

They are notorious jumpers!

 

[SWIMCOACHTOM]

Be careful with the diamond gobies because they are jumpers. I had my first one for about two years, then I recently bought a replacement but this one jump. I used to have the top covered, but with the heat, I prefer to keep the top semi uncovered. Good Luck!

 

[yellowslayer13]

i bought a golden head sleeper, he sifts and eats prepared foods.

 

[crsandoval]

The sleeper head wrecked my tank, spreading sand all over the damn place. I had that fish almost two years, then one day he was gone... I had a terrible asterina star outbreak so I got a harlequin and had to move my sand star out. Now the sand bed looks horrid. I think I might go back to Diamond heads, but this would be version 4.0

 

[reef_doug]

Sleepers spit out sand on your rocks.
Diamond Spots just usually sift it.

IMO... I would only consider the (Orange) Diamond Spotted one.

 

[crsandoval]

I agree the Diamond Spot, made the sand look like a pillow. What was interesting is that you could see the trails left by crabs and snails in the tank. Now the sand bed looks dull.

 

[coral acquisition]

sand sifting stas tend to work slow and they can starve and die after taking all the nutrients in your sand.

with gobies, i hate that they make caves and mess up your aquascape. mine died cause it dug too deep and moved the rock and it fell on it.

maybe nasaurrius snails or other snails? i just siphon the top of my sand to clean it.