Linkia Star

[arvins]

I was looking for some information on these guys. I have read so much and nothing agrees with the last thing I read

. So a few questions, my LFS has a Purple Linckia Star and he/she is an amazing looking critter BUT I've read that they were reef safe, then I've read they aren't. Some say easy to take care of others say impossible to keep alive, then there are things that say they will kill fish as well as corals and CUC. So needless to say I'm confused!
Any advise from someone that has experience with these guys would be great.
55 Gallon Tank
90Lbs Live Rock
CPR skimmer rated to a 120
T5 Lighting set to a timer with lights running right at 10 hours a day
40lbs Live Sand
PH 8.2
Salinity 1.024
Temp 78
Ammonia, Nitrites stay at zero. Nitrates hover at 5-10 with weekly water changes.
Fish: 2 clowns, 1 yellowtail damsel.
Corals: So far four small zoa colonies
Don't know if any of that matters but thought it couldn't hurt to throw it on there.

 

[meowzer]

I had one...it died (tank was too new)...I think they need more established tanks though....your tank is only a couple of months isn't it???

 

[arvins]

Yep the tank is way to new for one right now but I want to put alot of studying into anything I buy so I start researching months prior

. I was looking to get one in about six months which will put my tank at 8 months old when I get the star. But I don't want to put it in the tank if I don't know what will happen to it, reef compatibility, feeding, etc. And like I said everything says something different!

 

[ophiura]

IMO, your tank is not large enough nor do you have enough LR to support a blue or purple Linckia. In time an orange or mottled Linckia may be ok.
Anyone who says they are a threat to fish is completely wrong.
Linckia also are not a particular threat to any clean up crew. Most will die of starvation in smaller tanks within 18 months, and generally they can not be spot fed. They need lots of mature high quality LR to feed on, and the diet may be microbial/algal films (not nuissance algae) and encrusting sponges, or the microfauna that feeds on this. There is little doubt that success with them seems to be correlated with amount of surface area of LR.
Water parameters need to be at reef quality not fish quality. Specific gravity is particularly critical.

 

[arvins]

Thank you that settles that, no starfish for us. We'll stick to fish and corals, thank's for the input.

 

[ophiura]

I wouldn't say that. A mottled Linckia - Linckia multiflora - may be reasonable choice. I would just avoid the really large Linckia.