Brittle Star care

[PrettyFishies]

During the tank move, it looks like the cold killed all the fish. The brittle stars, coral banded shrimp, urchins and snails/crabs survived. As well as most of the soft corals.

Temp 78/79
Sal 1.024
Amm - 0
Nit 0
Nitrate - 80ppm!!

How do care for the brittle star and coral banded with no fish in the tank?

I was told the urchins just eat the algae off the rocks?

It may be a week to 10 days till I add. I want to find and have the LFS hold them for a bit before adding.

CLEALRY I need to do a PWC ASAP!

 

[mr_X]

brittle stars are scavengers. they eat meaty foods or pellets. you can hand feed them if you like. just touch a piece of food to one of their legs, and it will curl around it.
the coral banded is also a scavenger. i wouldn't worry too much about either one of them.
10 days isn't going to hurt them.

 

[PrettyFishies]

I have Cheato in the sump/refugium how long do you think it would take to reduce the nitrates?

I currently leave the fuge lt on 12 hours at night. Should i do 24hrs?

I realized that my RO housing has a crack. I have to wait for a replacement to get here and buy RO water for an emergency PWC.

 

[mr_X]

chaetomorpha doesn't nuke the tank so you don't have to worry about keeping the light on 24/7. i don't believe that's a good practice anyway. the critters that live and breed in the refugium benefit from a night as well.
i prefer running the refugium light opposite the tank light.

i have no idea about the algae.

 

[PrettyFishies]

So far it is timed to run opposite. the sand is fresh, so, only what's on the rock is seeding it till I find someone to give me some live sand.

I'm just looking for options to get the nitrates down. I have to buy RO water today for a PWC. I just ordered a replacement housing for the ro/di. But i need to change water asap.

I guess the corals are okay with the high Nitrate? At least for right now? They are doing well it seems.

 

[mr_X]

if they are looking ok, then i suppose they are. you will know if they are unhappy.