Asterina Stars and Collonista Snails in my REEF

[crabbychris]

Hi, I have ID'ed asterina stars and collonista snails in my tank in pretty good numbers.
I have read that certain people like having these stars because they are very beneficial and good additions to your cleanup crew. However I have read that some people blame them for eating SPS corals but some also say that they only eat the decaying parts of the coral which is also beneficial and helps the coral regenerate it's tissue.
The collonista snails seem to be multiplying in my tank but are not in crazy numbers, most see them as welcome additions until they reach plague proportions which from what I have read only happens if your water has quality issues. Also most say that the snails replace any other algae eating snail and that once you have these you never need to purchase another snail.
I would like to know everyones experiences with these 2 species for the purpose of increasing my knowledge base of them.
My experience so far is that they don't bother anything and seem to be merely scavengers and algae eaters which to me is like a free clean up crew.

 

[rebelprettyboy]

Asterinas are also known Zoanthids eaters. Mine were great for 3 yrs.
All of a sudden all 3000 of them started eating my zoas and now I dont trust em. I pull out as soon as I see em..
Colln. Snials dont see to do anything to me their so small.... I have quite a few of them as well

 

[aztec reef]

Yes this are beneficial microinverts that for the most part are scavengers..
A high abundance could mean an excess of organic levels, which they use as food source.. But if you have a decent amount, i wouldn't worry. This infauna population fluxes throughout tanks life..
Its alright to have a wide range of biodiversity in reefs.. this indicates healthy environment. However u dont want any species to overpopulate or dominate your reefs..(unless its corals).
Keep a close look at them and watch where they reside. If they're in matt like algea patches or in hairy algea patches. u may need a little better maintenance routine & organic removal rituals. algea growth hinders o2 and water circulation (depleating water quality) thus outcompeting with other organisms if allowed.
As long as u dont have any crown of thorns species, no need to worry about this tiny stars eating your corals..I never had an issue, they just like strolling on sandbed.. If theres too many u can siphon out a few in your next water change..

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by rebelprettyboy
http:///forum/post/2876628
Asterinas are also known Zoanthids eaters. Mine were great for 3 yrs.
All of a sudden all 3000 of them started eating my zoas and now I dont trust em. I pull out as soon as I see em..
Same here. They were fine until I added a few small (young) frags. They killed 2 dime sized rics and were eating through the stalks on some palys and orange zoas. I declared war on them poste haste. The palys and zoas recovered and are growing very nicely.
Pay attention to where they are spending time to be sure they are not feasting on your softies. If they are not, then I would leave them.

 

[crabbychris]

INTERESTING! I just got thru doing some more reading....appearantly there are a few different species of asterina. Some of them do feast on zoos and sps but it seems that most do not. The only place I have seen them in my tank is on the glass and occasionally on the live rock feasting on algae. I myself have about 15-20 in my tank and so far they haven't bothered my zoos or other softies. Hopefully I have the ones that are beneficial.
The collonista snails appear to be beneficial from every report I have read other than the fact that they can overpopulate if there is excess algae or nutrients in the water. Also it seems that they will reproduce readily in the healthiest of reefs. As of now I probably have 100 or so that are completely devouring my algae (I almost have none now). I did have a problem with diatoms at one point and ever since I have seen these little guys it has been drastically reduced. I believe that the reduction in diatoms is credited to the snails and extra water changes. I actually hope that they continue to reproduce (even if excessive) so that I can observe what they do. I am thinking of actually recommending to people that have diatom problems to add some of these snails.

 

[rotarymagic]

If you run into any problems, you could make use of harlequin shrimp lol. They'd run through an asterinas population in a heartbeat

 

[aztec reef]

Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2876738
If you run into any problems, you could make use of harlequin shrimp lol. They'd run through an asterinas population in a heartbeat
And then the shrimp dies! due to starvation. But not before he goes through some mini brittle stars..

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
http:///forum/post/2876767
And then the shrimp dies! due to starvation. But not before he goes through some mini brittle stars..

nah he could be sold then could feast on chocolate chips. I never said he'd stay permanently haha.