Starfish and the Live Sand

[soondubu]

I've had this starfish for over a month

i have a 60g with 50lb of live sand and 70lb of lr.
i just read that the starfish will kill the live sand....
true?

 

[viper_930]

That is a sand-sifting seastar. They sift through the sand (hence the name, lol) and eat the little inverts in it. It won't totally "kill" the sand though. The invert's population will raise back up.

 

[bang guy]

I have a different opinion. I believe the critters in your sand are now gone or soon will be.

 

[sergeant]

I have one of this stars and the pod population in the tank has reduced greatly. The only place I have a good population left is in the filter/sump.

 

[soondubu]

is eating inverts good?
don't i need inverts?
does the starfish help clean the detritus?
will my sand look cleaner?
should i just return the starfish?
i plan on getting my lighting and corals soon....
have snails and hermit crabs, etc, no real algae probs...

 

[bang guy]

1 - No, Worst thing you can do to a sand bed.
2 - Yes, if you want a healthy sand bed.
3 - No.
4 - Yes it will.
5 - If you want a healthy sand bed - Yes.

 

[soondubu]

mr bang guy
thank you!
starfish will return to the LFS today!

 

[spline9]

I also have a SS. Bang is right (as ususal). Most of the critters that live in my sandbed are now gone. I think he's going to be removed (even though I like the guy). :/