Milky White Water

[dburr]

I have a common brown serpant star. He gor my Bangii and a squamipinnis anthias.

I try ti keep him well feed but... I guess not enough. The Bang was missing one day, never saw him. 2 days later I saw the anthias head, like it was cut in two. Both were healthy, swimming and feeding like normal. Thats the only thing i could pin it on.

 

[beckzilla]

Sorry to hear that

What are you feeding your star?

 

[fishykah]

[sorry, I've gotten a little behind]
With respect to my water changes, I was mixing in a 50 gallon plastic garbage can. ...a clean one -- never used for garbage -- it was brand new from the local Target store. Used a spare heater and a 550 Penguin powerhead for mixing. I'd start the mix a couple days prior to make sure salt was thoroughly dissolved and so temp and SG were correct.
Now, for the kicker...
I was using tap water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YIKES!
Over the years, I've learned that that was probably my biggest no, no. I had actually forgotten about that detail until surfing other threads on the SWF message boards.
No doubt a source of phosphate.
Kelli

 

[fishykah]

...forgot to chime in on this:
"Yeah, what DO you feed a starfish??"
How often? Do you just place it next to them and hope no one else in the tank nabs it?
Never had a star, but would like to have one in my next tank.
Kelli (again)

 

[dreeves]

My serpent star usually sticks a leg out between rocks...i will try and get a piece of squid, clam or whatever to a close proximity of the leg..he will usually grab it and chow it out.
Bacterial blooms can be caused by any number of things. Most often it is a newer tank, semi-established bio filter, tons of nutrients, lighting and off it goes. A recurring bloom (if that was your problem), could also be caused by numerous things. More then likely it was created by excessive food/decaying, and the subsequent amonia spike. A major die-off of livestock could also cause it as well. But I would tend to believe the sudden input of too much food (which decays rather quickly) could have been the cause.
But then, I could be so far out in left field...you just never know for sure after the fact.