Adding Britle stars,snails,and crabs

[hunt30]

OK I have 55 gallon tank. About 2 or 3 weeks ago I took out about 15 to 20 pounds of LR and Replaced it with about 25 to 30 pounds of LR. I have about 90 to 110 pounds of Lr now maybe more. My question is..is it safe now to add a britle star some emarld crabs nassails snails(didnt spell that right). I have had the tank for about 2 years and was making it into a reef tank. Only thing is I am working on building a sump. Should I wait till I replace my cansiter with a sump.
-All levels are good. ph= about 8.3 maybe 8.2
nitrites=0
Ammonia=0
Nitrates= between 10-15 ..a little high but they run a tid high in my tank
I have two tubro snails three nassail snails and a couple of red leg hermit crabs already. Is a britle star some emarld crabs and some more nassail snails too much...is this a good idea or should I make sure my tank isnt going to cycle but it has been 2 wks or so since I did the replacement of Lr.

 

[reefkprz]

I would say you could add most of those I would hold off on the brittle untill your done doing modifications to your system, stars dont handle fluctuations well if something should happen unexpected while changing things you could lose the star. wait untill your sump is up and going and system balanced out for the star. the snails and crabs should be fine though.

 

[sparkee61]

You'll never see your brittle star. They like to hide in rock and then come out at night. Great scavanger though.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by sparkee61
You'll never see your brittle star. They like to hide in rock and then come out at night. Great scavenger though.
I don't find this to be true completely, all my brittle stars made forays out in daylight after good food, my pink serpent never hid. while most times yes a brittle will hide. saying you'll never see it is a little bit of an over exaggeration.

 

[thereefkeeper]

I probably varies on the personality of the star. I have to move a certain piece of LR on occation just to make sure mine is OK. Occationally I will see a leg or two swing out for a brief second.