orange linkia question 4 u experts

[jtwilson21]

a have a 55 gal. tank and about two months ago received an orange linkia star in my swf order. a have 50 lbs of live rock and a two inch sand bed (not live). At the time when i introduced my star into my tank i had just regular flourecents that came with my tank when i bought it, however about two weeks ago i purchased a coralife 2*65 watt 10,00 daylight and 2*65 watt actinic blue lights to eventually get ready for some corals. When i first introduced my star it did decent in there, but since the last two to three week it looks bad, i mean like it is about to kick tha bucket. I was wondering if the new lights could be the problem? I have pretty good sized powerheads, one pointed at the top and one pointed at my rocks, i have a hang on the back carbon filteration system ( a whisper 60 to be exact) i use oceanic salt and have a specific gravity of 1.026. i dont really know my nitrates and nitrites or anything like that since my lfs is evil and i dont trust them and since i am in college and dont have a hole lot of money for test strips (those things are expensive)......sorry to ramble but i just want one of those gorgeous looking tanks that some of you guys have ..........please help me guys

 

[bang guy]

I don't see how light can affect a Starfish.

 

[dacia]

Orange linkias are very difficult to care for. Your system may be perfect in every way for other starfish, but the linkia is so delicate that even in perfect systems they still just die...
I agree with Bang Guy that the lights probably have nothing to do with it.

 

[jtwilson21]

ok

 

[areijin]

I was thinking of getting one too. I read that they take an extra long time to acclimate. Did you do this?
Experts:
So what is the proper way to acclimate for these guys? I was thinking a bucket in super slow water for about 5 hours. Should I put a heater in there so it doesn't become too cold or is it could in the first place and needs to slowly become the temp of your tank? I have never bought livestock online yet so I don't know how then water temp thing works. What about a PH for aeration?

 

[bergamer]

I have the same lights you have- the coral life 4 x65
and my orange linkia is fine.
its strange I have heard that they are hard to care for, but I have had no difficulties and it has been easy.
I only acclimated him for 30 minutes

 

[pwnag3!!]

Originally posted by bergamer
I have the same lights you have- the coral life 4 x65
and my orange linkia is fine.
its strange I have heard that they are hard to care for, but I have had no difficulties and it has been easy.
I only acclimated him for 30 minutes
how long have you had this linkia?
they slowly start to die... its not an instant thing... and if you follow the proper acclimation procedure you would have acclimated him for at least 2 hours. Good luck!

 

[ophiura]

Death after this period of time is not typically related to acclimation (such deaths occur within a month of introduction). However, sudden changes in salinity, pH, etc will cause severe stress to these animals which is another reason why large mature reef tanks are best.
To get a better idea of the issues, it is critical to know water parameters, maintenance (typical and recent), etc. How old is the tank?
Lighting is not a factor, IMO.
These stars, IMO, are marginal in this size tank. They might get by, but it is not a guarantee...they need lots and lots of LR on which they feed. They can generally not be spot fed. I'm thinking around 100lbs LR to start. The tank should be a minimum of 6 months old, and really must, IMO, be a reef tank. Water quality should be pristine. Without knowing nitrates or nitrites, this is an issue. Also what about pH, alk, and salinity??? Critical. Absolutely critical. No sudden large water changes, top offs, etc.
A long acclimation is suggested, and care should be taken to not allow the container to cool down...it should be at tank temperature. If these means you are putting the container in the sump somehow, or rigging up some other thing, it is important to acclimate for temperature and salinity, pH, etc. And the suggested period is usually at least a few hours.
IMO, wate quality is just as important as lighting when keeping corals. With a limited budget, I would have gone with the test kits first, then the lights. What about your LFS don't you like? I would recommend that you first invest "coral" money into test kits (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, alkalinity and calcium) at a minimum.