sand sifting stars in dsb & adding to depth?

[ibnozn]

My sand bed is about 2.5 to 3" deep in my 35 hex and I have a 4" sand sifting star in it that I added about 2 months ago.

Ideally, do I not want to have one of these in my bed? I just read these guys are probably not so good as they consume too much beneficial fauna. So should he stay or go?

I also figure my bed's on the shallow side. I'd probably like to bring it up to a depth of 4" or so. Is it better to add the sand in one shot, mixing it into the existing top half inch or should I go more slowly and add a little at a time, mixing in just 1/4 inch of new sand every few days?

 

[jmadison]

I have a very similar situation. will be tagging along with this thread. also i have heard they slowly starve overtime how can u tell?

 

[Potsy]

If you're going to implement a dsb, then you certainly don't want a sand sifting star for the reasons you've already mentioned. As you probably already know, an efficient dsb depends upon the beneficial fauna within it and keeping the star would be counterproductive.

 

[goldmaniac]

sand sifter starfish will eat a huge variety of what's in your sand
if you want live sand / DSB, get rid of the starfish

typically, even if you didn't want to get anything out of a sand bed, deep or otherwise, the starfish starves after eating everything it can. in my opinion, not a sustainable inhabitant in reef or fish-only tanks.

just my $.02

 

[SeanT]

goldmaniac hit it right on the head. :thumbsup:

 

[jmadison]

Thanks to all!

 

[jmadison]

Oh, one other thing(sorry to jack thread). I am going to be moving this summer(headache) and I currently have a 50/50 mix of crushed coral and sugar fine SB. All the sugar fine settles to the bottom and the crushed coral comes to the surface. I usually siphon vac the SB every other week or so with my weekly water changes. Recently I read something about not disturbing the sand bed, is it good or bad or neither.

Also is there much advantage to my mix of crushed coral and sugar fine, as I am looking to possible get all new (all sugar) after the resetup and move. Thanks in advance.

 

[SeanT]

Remove the CC, and add more sand, if you want to maximize a sand beds denitrifying capabilities.

During a move is a great time for this.

 

[jmadison]

As for stirring the SB(or vaccum siphoning) is that bad?

Thanks SeanT: I think I will take it all out and redo with all live sand when I move.

 

[SeanT]

Once you have all sand you should have no need to vacuum it at all.
In fact, that can disturb the fmicro fauna preventing them from doing their job.

 

[jmadison]

cool cool thanks much. I am anxious to get this crushed coral out, just not a fan of how it looks and sounds like 100% sand is more benefitial and easier to maintain! Got a few new small frags from a local reefer, will be adding them tonight with water change.

 

[goldmaniac]

my refugium has less than 3 inches of sand and I feel it runs denitrification well

i can poke a finger in the sand of my refugium and bubbles escape, odorless. I believe they're Nitrogan gas bubbles, final product of denitrificaiton.

you don't want to vacuum/clean your sandbeds if you want denitrifation, instead get critters to sift thru it as they will not disturb it enough to hinder the anaerobic processes.