seagrass beds and seastars

[mr. bojangsjang]

With a DSb of 6 inches for seagrass, does it need to be burrowed in to keep oxygenated by fish/inverts? Will serpeanent stars pose any threats for established seagrass?

 

[graveyardworm]

does it need to be burrowed in to keep oxygenated by fish/inverts

Not quite sure what your asking.

I dont believe serpent seastars would present a problem for seagrass. I have some micro stars and a brittlestar neither of which bother my seagrass.

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

I am asking whether the DSB needs to be moved around/oxygenated via burrowing fish/inverts.

 

[graveyardworm]

The DSB should be maintained as you normally would. Occasional replenishing of infauna to maintain diversity.

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

What type of maintence needs to be done normally? How do you replenish?

 

[graveyardworm]

Here's an article. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-06/rs/feature/index.php

 

[graveyardworm]

Maintenance could include periodically changing out a portion of the sand bed, recharging the sand bed with good quality live sand from another reefer or online source, also occasionally replacing pieces of LR with new stuff.

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

Wouldnt relpacing a portion of the sand bed be bad? Why would the LR need to be switched every so often?

 

[graveyardworm]

Changing a few pieces of your LR every so often will help to maintain diversity. What ends up happening over time is some populations of critters just arent sustainable in our tanks so they eventually die off while others which are more adaptable become the only critters left changing out some LR periodically helps to maintain diversity. Everyone seems to have a different opinion of sand beds. If you follow the teachings of some of the experts youll find that changing out a portion of the sand bed every so often is not bad.

Let me see if I can some more info.

 

[Cody Ray]

I agree with David on replacing portions of the sand and rock. Not only will this add to your biodiversity but it will also prevent the build up of phosphates. Phosphate binds to calcium (liverock and sand) so by replacing portions of each you provide new surfaces for phosphate to bind to. This is the reason sps corals hate phosphate. It makes it difficult for them to lay down calcium if too much phosphate binds to their skeleton.

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

Do you think the sepent star will uproot macros or move the aquascpae around?

 

[graveyardworm]

I would doubt it, mine stays on the sand and hides out in the rockwork, it doesnt actively dig in the sand.