nugrad2005 said:
Do any of the kind of stars you are talking about eat or attack corals? I've heard that some stars will do that.
-Dan
Some do, in fact, munch the corals. Here is about as much as I know about stars: Linckias do NOT eat corals, but are mainly filter feeders and algae/phytoplankton eaters (mine, an orange) actually mingles with my mushrooms and polyps, in between harmlessly)
Also, serpent and/or brittle stars do not eat corals. They are non aggressive, nocturnal mostly scavengers. They just hide under rock, hand out a tenticle or two, and wait for food to drop. They are fantastic for reefers, IMO.
DO NOT add Choclate Chip stars or any of that body shape. Sand sifters, I'm not sure of. DO NOT add Red Knob Sea Stars. I think any "knobby" or really thick bodied star fish are more agressive and can consume the corals, mostly mushrooms, polyps, clams, and the other noncessiles.
Finally, do not add stars to your tank if you have Trigger Fish, or they will be fodder. Good luck!