adding starfish

[superhero]

hey everyone i jsut got my new 150 like four weeks ago and just bought some reef lights yesterday (they should come in tuesday) I was wondering if is ok to add a seastar. (I think it's to soon but my mom wants to know for sure). Currently I have 8 damsels in there, two yellow two purple two three stripe and two green chromis.
My perameters are:
pH 8.1
Ammonia .50
Nitrite .50
Nitrate 7
Salinity 1.024
Temp 76.6
-Tony

 

[arkey.d]

By the levels of your water, I would wait. Looks like it's not done cycling.

 

[farslayer]

Uh, no, not in a tank that new with those parameters. Not until your tank is at least six months with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, a pH of around 8.2, and you may want to raise your temp to at least 78, I keep mine at 80. I also keep my specific gravity at around 1.025 as well. Anyway, make sure your tank is well established before you add a star. Also, what do you mean by reef lights? Are you getting power compacts, metal halide or VHO?

 

[superhero]

metal halide
-Tony

 

[viper_930]

As said, wait till your ammonia and nitrite levels drop.
But as you are waiting, what kind of star are you thinking about putting in?

 

[rayray2857]

I'm gonna warn you why you still have time to get rid of them, damsels are really mean fish and will attack pretty much any other fish you put in the tank. The 3 stripes especially. Since you have such a big tank you could get some really nice fish after its done cycling and you don't want the damsels to kill them.

 

[superhero]

Originally posted by ViPeR_930
As said, wait till your ammonia and nitrite levels drop.
But as you are waiting, what kind of star are you thinking about putting in?
I was thinking either a Orange Linkia or a Red Serpent Star.
-Tony

 

[superhero]

Originally posted by RAYRAY2857
I'm gonna warn you why you still have time to get rid of them, damsels are really mean fish and will attack pretty much any other fish you put in the tank. The 3 stripes especially. Since you have such a big tank you could get some really nice fish after its done cycling and you don't want the damsels to kill them.
What do you suggest I do should I trade them into my lfs after the cycle is done if they will take them, or do I have to get rid of them now???
-Tony

 

[brsdr32]

I would wait till after your tank is done cycling before you remove your damsels. Your lfs should exchange them for you. I would rather have damsels die rather than a more expensive fish if there would be something wrong with the tank.

 

[mbrands]

Originally posted by Superhero
I was thinking either a Orange Linkia or a Red Serpent Star.
-Tony
I've read that all of the linkias are hard to care for. I'd go with the serpent star.

 

[superhero]

thanks for your help guies
-Tony

 

[farslayer]

Linkias are very difficult to care for. From what I understand, you must have quite a bit of LR for them because it is not really known what they eat, but assumed they eat something off of the rock. They also require a very long acclimation time, 6+ hours. You will also need to certainly raise your SG to 1.026 for the linkia.

 

[sw65galma]

Originally posted by Superhero
hey everyone i jsut got my new 150 like four weeks ago and just bought some reef lights yesterday (they should come in tuesday) I was wondering if is ok to add a seastar. (I think it's to soon but my mom wants to know for sure). Currently I have 8 damsels in there, two yellow two purple two three stripe and two green chromis.
My perameters are:
pH 8.1
Ammonia .50
Nitrite .50
Nitrate 7
Salinity 1.024
Temp 76.6
-Tony
Wait till your Amonia is 0, Nirtite is 0 and nitrate is 0
Your temp would be idealy between 78-82 degrees I keep mine in the middle at 81.
Do this slowly a degree a day since you have fish in it.
Also go with the serpent star for now..it's great and probably the more hardier of the stars.
Good luck!

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by Superhero
.
My perameters are:
pH 8.1
Ammonia .50
Nitrite .50
Nitrate 7
Salinity 1.024
Temp 76.6
-Tony

No way, no how.
The water conditions indicate the tank is cycling. It is totally inappropriate for any new animals, let alone seastars, which are quite delicate. You have a good size tank for future addition, but wait for about 6 months for the tank to mature. Also, you need to determine whether you want a fish only tank (more suitable for predatory stars) or a reef tank (more suitable for reef safe stars). Many stars can not be spot fed and it is important for you to research a lot and wait until conditions are ideal. Many seastars are quite delicate and will not do well in that tank any time soon.
FWIW, IMO it is too early to add a brittle or serpentstar at this time. While they can probably go in the tank sooner than some others, getting the tank stable is still a priority, and I wouldn't add them for a couple of months yet.

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by mbrands
I've read that all of the linkias are hard to care for. I'd go with the serpent star.
Not this serpentstar though! The big bright red one is THE most delicate serpentstar in the hobby, Ophioderma squamosissimum. It is considered rare by scientists and has a survival rate about as good as Linckia's, if that. They are very prone to disintegration from acclimation shock and they should only be kept in mature tanks, just like Linckia's.
Please see my site at:
http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid
On the main page, scroll down the left side and click on "map to the 'stars." The beautiful red serpentstar is shown in one of the pictures. There are duller "red" (maroon) serpentstars that are much more tough, but PLEASE do not purchase the bright red one any time soon, if that was the one you were interested in!

 

[klongo]

Wow! I wished I'd known how special my red serpent star was when I had him. He came as a substitute on an order on my last tank. He was wonderful - came out to be spot fed, took food from my hand. I loved him until the day I found him on my living room floor! Still can't figure out how/why that happened.
I was going to replace him when my new tank gets older, but maybe I'll rethink and go with something a little safer/hardier, just in case...

 

[ophiura]

The thing with them is usually acclimation and good water parameters - especially specific gravity around 1.025-1.026. I know, someone is going to chime in and say they didn't have any of this and it still did fine. But for the most part, as a generalization, a long slow acclimation and pristine water conditions (into a mature tank) are necessary. If you can provide that, then I would go for it. If they survive those first weeks they are usually quite tough and take well to feeding. But it is important to know what your dealing with. It is a far more delicate beast than other brittlestars/serpentstars, so that should be considered when adding them. I would treat them like a Linckia...though they could go into tanks too small for Linckia.

 

[sw65galma]

Originally posted by ophiura
I would treat them like a Linckia...though they could go into tanks too small for Linckia.
Good to know...thanks
I was gonna add one to my immature tank...I think i'll wait a few more months..

 

[klongo]

Thanks - I keep my sg at 1.025 and haven't had any problems with other parameters other than some excess diatomes (probably from my Oceanic salt). Now, I'll just wait until spring and then go with a red serpent again.