Serpent stars

[kimmeewoo]

I need a good sand sifter that won't eat the critters in my sand bed. Would a serpent star fit the bill? Do I need anything else to sift my sand in a 29g?

Is a serpent star the same as a brittle star?

Thanks.

Kimber

[bill-e]

serpent stars are fine but they are not sand sifters.

You might want to try a bunch of nassarius snails. not only do they replace hermits as janitors, but they bury themselves in the sand when not foraging, so they tend to keep the sand loose. I'd recommend at least 30 for a 29 gak tank.

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Bill Esposito
bespo@cereal.mv.com
JAqua for the AquaController 2
http//cereal.mv.com/jaqua.html
My Reef Page
http//cereal.mv.com/reef
The box said "Use Win 95 or better", I chose better so I run OS/2!

[FishDaddy]

Kimber,
The concept of "sand stirring" is a misnomer. While the organisms that live in the sand bed do crawl through the sand and sometimes create channels, the sand bed itself should be left intact for the denitrification process to be most effective. According to Dr. Ron Shimek,

Siphoning, disturbing or cleaning of the sediments will result in significant removal or mortality of sediment organisms and may severely damage the functional aspect of the sand bed.

http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog...ek_090698.html
Dr. Shimek also promotes the use of Nassarius snails as effective detrivores. Though these do burrow into the top of the sand, they don't feed on the living organisms.

After they are done feeding they bury themselves in the upper one half inch
(1 centimeter) or so of sediment. They do not seem to have any negative effects on my sand infauna. The worms and other animals seem to tolerate this disturbance well. Again, this is what one would expect, as these are normal components of normal sand ecosystems.

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/li...=&RecordNo=166
So long as you have an ample population of worms, various 'pods, and other such critters, your sand bed shouldn't need "stirring".
Dick http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by FishDaddy (edited 12-27-2000).]

[kimmeewoo]

The reason I was inquiring about a "sand sifter" is that I don't currently have any sand critters, except the very few that may have recently migrated from my live rock. I recently switched from crushed coral to a sand substrate, which is not live.

I can't afford IPSF's sand activator kit right now, and can't find anyone to give me enough live sand to seed my bed, so I'm looking for the next best alternative. I'm just not sure what that next best thing would be! Any suggestions?

[FishDaddy]

Kimber,
The critters from your LR will eventually migrate to your sand and multiply but it will take time. We've got enough Oreegoner Reefers on this board that surely we can get some members close by to get you some sand from their established tanks.
Volunteers, anyone??
Dick http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Alice]

Email me Kimber, I can hook you up with some great live stuff either from one of my tanks, some from the shop or both. You might want to come up and make a trip to the area LFS sometime anyway, just to add to your wish list if not to actually buy anything http://www.thereeftank.com/ubb/wink.gif

~Alice

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Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too!

[NaH2Ofreak]

Kimber, Im with Alice all the way. About the last 4 times that I was in the store that alice works at "seahorse aquarium", Woody the owner let me take some sand/crushed coral out of his live rock storage tank. I put it in my sump and also in my main tank. This stuff is LOADED with life!! And its free!! Its the same as garf grundge only it isn't $5 a pound! hth!! dennis

PS: Go to Seahorse aquarium. Meeting Woody the owner is definitly worth the trip!!!