Quote:
Originally Posted by
meowzer http:///forum/thread/379974/sifting-star-fish-not-sifting#post_3305074
I just got one for my 225G...I agree with btld....they should not be in smaller systems.
I have not "trained" mine yet though...LOL...
BTLD.....I'd like to hear more about your training and reseeding of your sand if you don't mind
Training (this may not always work, but it's worked so far for me, keep in mind, these guys used to be in my 40G together):
Every time I fed, I dug them out of the sand (you can usually find where they are fairly easy) and squirted reef plankton, rotifiers, oyster feast, very small shaved salmon and other small foods (you get the idea) right onto the sand and on them. They then realized that the top of the sand has food so they don't need to dig. They now just graze along the top of my sand, and when I feed, I make sure they get food on the sand next to them. All filtration and powerheads must me off for this to work and you have to VERY GENTLY squeeze the turkey baster onto the sand to make sure you don't kick everything up all over the place.
As for the reseeding, this is going to be tough for you:
Every once in a while I will buy 1-5lbs of LS for someone's tank or refugium from my reef club. Occasionally I'll get it at the store, but there's only one tank at one store that I trust to get it from and if the owner isn't there or there are two many customers in the store, they won't give it to me. Sometimes I'll steal sand out of my other tanks or the refugium. I do this every 3-6 months depending on how I feel the sand looks.
There's really no way to keep them from eating stuff in the sand, even if they are fed, but I have noticed that by training them and feeding them, they don't eat nearly as much out of my sand bed. It is my belief that in 100+G with a mature sand bed and fish to produce waste, they should be just fine.
