Star shaped moving critter - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

**melosu58** · 05-09-2009, 05:23 PM

IMO they are safe. The ones that mess with corals are a brown color. You can see in the pic that I have a ton of them and they dont bother any of my corals. I`ve had them for over ten years and gave hundreds away to other folks with no problems.

bumblebee1976 · 05-09-2009, 09:26 PM

I haven't got any corals because the light supplied with the tank is not strong enough to support them. There are a few polyps but they haven't really opened up, I guess the tank is too new or light not sufficient for that - the only other thing the asterina may eat are the new mushrooms I think they might have come in on but so far all it is doing is grazing the bubble tube. I have heard from the links above that it is only certain types that feed on coral - mine is an algae grazer and so is probably safe even if I had corals. Sounds like you might have been unlucky though! Just wondered if they are from the white fluffy mould like substance or not? Any answers to previous questions on thread 7 greatly appreciated. Just tested my params and strangely they are all 0 (apart from pH which has risen slightly to 8.0). What the heck is going on?!! 4 weeks and no ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. If this is down to the biorb technology all I can say is don't knock it till you've tried it. So far I haven't lost anything living in the tank.

bumblebee1976 · 05-09-2009, 09:29 PM

Sorry, my thread doesn't follow on MaiNpHRaMe, I must have been posting it as you and melosu were posting. I am really intrigued to know where these things grow from and what the fuzzy white stuff is etc.

**melosu58** · 05-09-2009, 09:46 PM

I`m pretty sure the fuzzy white stuff is a sponge. Just a common hitchiker that comes on LR. Your asternia stars came from the the same LR.

bumblebee1976 · 05-09-2009, 09:56 PM

Oh, so it didn't come with the mushrooms then? Just a coincidence that I noticed it the day after getting them. Will the mushrooms grow okay if the light is not strong enough (i.e. coral strength)? The stems seems so tough, almost like a small twig, how will they attach to the rock? Also, do I need to feed the asterinas or the shrooms? Cannot believe my tank hasn't cycled yet - any thoughts? Thank you so much for your help and the pics are great.

**melosu58** · 05-10-2009, 08:56 AM

All post that had nothing to do with the original posters question were removed. Please remain on topic.

**melosu58** · 05-10-2009, 08:59 AM

I dont feed my mushrooms Ms BB. They get all they need from the lighting and water column. They do fine. They really dont need alot of lighting to survive but they do need adequate lighting to reproduce.

bumblebee1976 · 05-11-2009, 06:00 AM

Thanks so much melosu you have been really helpful. So the mushrooms might attach but they are unlikely to multiply. The light I have is what's called an Intelligent LED - it's a 12V 50/60 Hz spec with constant moonlight, which makes the mushrooms go fluorescent in the dark!!! It doesn't sound all that strong at all tbh does it?! It's going to be a challenge to keep them on the rocks long enough to enable them to attach because I need to move the rocks to change the service kit regularly. The asterina seems to have disappeared for the moment - will he reproduce if he is a lone starfish in the tank? Also very keen to know your thoughts on why there isn't any cycling going on in my tank, not that I'm really complaining it's just that I thought it was an inevitable process! You seem very knowledgeable about this hobby and I am really grateful for your help.

**melosu58** · 05-11-2009, 11:09 AM

As far as the mushrooms they will attach to other rocks but it will need to be a low flow area where they wont be pushed around. They will grow and reproduce on their own. Does the bulb give you a wattage. WPG is an outdated way to explain lighting but it has it`s advantages when explaining to new aquarist. See if you can find a wattage number. The star will reproduce. As someone mentioned earlier they`ll just drop a leg and keep on going. Mine will be all over the glass in the morning and disapear by noon. As far as the cycle did you already use cured LR? If you did then you might not see a cycle.

bumblebee1976 · 05-11-2009, 06:06 PM

Thanks again for getting back to me. I can't find any more info on the light output so I will contact Reef One to find out. Others who keep marines in the biorb have said that the light is not strong enough to support corals. So far I have had trouble keeping the mushrooms still because I have had to move the rocks around (to haul out a crab), so the water movement knocks them off and they disappear into the holes in the rocks! I dread to think what it is going to be like changing the service kit, in terms of moving rocks etc.
I knew the asterina could reproduce by dropping a leg but I didn't know if a single one would survive in the tank.
The live rock was fully cycled when I got it and by the looks of the variety of livestock on it (including a rather large crab!) it must be very mature. So no ammonia/nitrites at all then? This is looking easier than tropical fishkeeping - everything is thriving!!