Starfish / PODs / Sandbed

[balakoth]

I read awhile ago that most sand sifting organisims are bad for a DSB as they eat most of the Pod population in the live sand.

My question is, I have two sand sifting Starfish, and they work up a storm turning over my sandbed and keeping it as clean as its been in ages.

People say I should take them out and switch to a Serpent or a Brittle. Problem there is, I have a serpent, he sits in the rocks, and only comes out at feeding time. The brittle I did try ate my clown fish.

Since I DO NOT have a DSB nor will I ever have one in my main display (Going a DSB Sump) are these starfish going to hurt my tank ? Do I need to worry much about my Pod population?

They keep my sand clean and I cant find anything else that will do half the job. Eventually I want a few Conch, that in team with my nas snails, 2 sand sifters should do a grand job.

Anyone see anything wrong with this?


Thanks

- Joe

[cyberchef]

Originally posted by balakoth
I read awhile ago that most sand sifting organisims are bad for a DSB as they eat most of the Pod population in the live sand.

Since I DO NOT have a DSB nor will I ever have one in my main display (Going a DSB Sump) are these starfish going to hurt my tank ? Do I need to worry much about my Pod population?
- Joe

Joe I think a lot depends on what kind of fish or other creatures you plan on keeping in the tank. Some species only eat the live critters that grow in the SB and on the LR and such. If your planning on keeping anything that depends on Pods for it's supper, such as dragonettes or some of the gobies, then I would stay away from anything that will give it competition for it's food source. If your planning on keeping things such as lion fish then it probably won't matter since you will need to feed them heavily anyway.

[balakoth]

So basically its about Food Competition? I only have two fish that I actually feed right now, the lawmower seems to just graze on his algae.

I guess im still a bit lost on the full beneficial factors of Pods and things such as that in your Sandbed. They simply for another food source?

Is there anything other than fish that eat the pods? Meaning if I leave my starfish in there and dont plan to go with any gobbies should I be fine?

Mostly they were there to keep my sandbed clean, the FS I ussually get stuff from isnt real keen on taking their inverts back and id hate to "toss" two starfish because I decide to get some kind of pod eater later. heh


Thanks for the help.

Joe

[balakoth]

Did some self study. Think im going to get rid of the Starfishes to help the sandbed mature. Seems like even without a DSB a LIVE sandbed is beneficial to my corals and some fish that I should keep it that way.

Again my problem is. What the heck do I do with two sand sifting starfish. I suppose if anyone in the Seattle areas has need for some Sand Sifters, you can take them off my hands.

*sigh* Why oh why do I keep blowing money on things that only hurt me in the end.


- Joe

[Doug1]

Well pods are a food source for several types of organisms, the larvae provide zooplankton, and the larger ones eat detritus. Excess food and waste goes thru something on the order of 8 levels of reduction by various critters before being reduced to elements in the end

[balakoth]

The sandbed fauna seems to be one of the largest portions of the biological cycle in my tank. So in a round about way Doug... your saying that I need to ditch the **** Starfish...? Dont be shy!

Again with the problem of what do you do with Starfish that you dont want! My count of Friends who own a Reef Tank.. Let alone a Fresh water tank = NULL



Thanks for the info anyways!

- Joe