What does Reef Safe mean?

[jenmar]

Hello everyone, I have a 55 gal with a 5 in DSB and 80lbs of keys rock with nice coraline coverage and such. Is my tank considered a reef tank? I have been wanting to add a couple starfish (chocalate,general) but they say they are not reef safe, do i have to worry about this or would it be fine to add them to my tank.

thank you.

[zhenya]

Hello everyone, I have a 55 gal with a 5 in DSB and 80lbs of keys rock with nice coraline coverage and such. Is my tank considered a reef tank? I have been wanting to add a couple starfish (chocalate,general) but they say they are not reef safe, do i have to worry about this or would it be fine to add them to my tank.

thank you.

Hi jenmar, Welcome to Reefland!

I think your tank is a saltwater tank that could be either a reef tank or fish only tank, it is up to you what you make of it. Is it pretty new set up or you had it for some time now?
Anyhow, if you add numbers of inverts and some fish, some corals... it can be called a reef tank.
About those chocolate chip stars,I think you are talking about Protoreaster nodosus, they are known for eating corals and other inverts( opportunistic omnivores), hence the reason why it is considered not reef aquarium safe.
If your intentions are to keep a reef aquarium I would forgo purchasing one of those starfish.

HTH.

[Reefland]

Basically something classified as "reef safe" is something that can safely be added to an aqaurium with other common reef invertebrates without concern that it will harm those tank mates.

Something classified as "not reef safe" is just the opposite, it is known to harm (eat) other common additions to a reef aquarium.

[scubadude]

I really cant put it any better than the way Gene or Scott put it but I would like to add that if you are even slightly swaying to a reef then pick you up some good books on corals/fish and highlight or write down the things that you have read about/seen pics of that you might possibily want and then start researching the compatibility issues with each vs the others. Some times its trial and error too. Just because its written in a book that something is reef safe doesnt mean that it will be safe in your reef tank. Or that your other inhabitants will be safe with it.