[reefin_with_jesus]

Greetings, everyone. Some questions for you helpful folks. I have read plenty about sand-sifting stars and how they can decimate a LS bed, but right now I'm more interested in actual experience with these creatures. For those of you who have/had a sand-sifting star with a DSB:

1.) Does your sand bed look healthy, i.e. lots of critters moving around?
2.) Did you notice a decline in your critter population once you added your star?
3.) Does your star look healthy?
4.) How long have you had your star?
5.) How long has your tank been set up?
6.) How big is your tank?

I have recently aquired one of these creatures after hearing of others success with sand-sifting stars and DSBs. I would like more input on the matter, though. I have a 90-gallon tank with a 4-inch DSB. The tank has been up for about 2 years, but I just switched my substrate from CC to a DSB about 2 months ago. Thanks for everyone's input. Again, I'm not interested in book knowledge on the subject...I have plenty of that. I need some hands-on type of knowledge now. Thanks again. Lance.

[Northman_with_reef]

You should fill your reef with Holy RO water

[Bamm Bamm]

I had a White Linkia (burrowing starfish) for 2 years.. Just recently passed, He helped out alot I have a really healthy divser DSB but also notice that I do have a lot less critters in the tank that had the starfish opposed to the tank with no sand sifter's and the one without the sand actually always looks better..

[reefin_with_jesus]

Thanks, Bamm Bamm. C'mon, guys. More of you have to have some experience in this area. Otherwise, everyone is just going off of what the "experts" suggest with no real experience of their own. I would hate to think this is the case.

[Bughead]

I had a common silver star once, about 5 or 6". He seemed to be a nice guy and certainly did keep the sand white. I found out later that he may have been keeping the sand too white and keeping these stars is a bad idea, even in a large tank because of their ability to deplete the sand of all life. ( I returned him to the LFS). I don't know if this is the kind of star you mean, and the scientific name escapes me right now. But I'd advise against it.

I've had many sand sifting gobies, which do a good job and are fun to watch. The only drawback is they sift sand all over the rocks and corals, and cleaning them off with a turkey baster becomes an almost daily job. I wouldn't keep one in a reef tank because of that.

[platapus]

I have 2 sand sifting stars about 4" each, I have had them since that tank was first setup (8 months )... I have read, after I already added them that, that they can deplete infauna.....

1.) Does your sand bed look healthy, i.e. lots of critters moving around? I have nothing to compare it too, but there are worms, snails, copepods, etc still visible, there would probably be more with out the stars.
2.) Did you notice a decline in your critter population once you added your star? No, they were one of the first things added after the cycle....oops!
3.) Does your star look healthy? Very Healthy, both of them.
4.) How long have you had your star? 8 months
5.) How long has your tank been set up? 8+ months
6.) How big is your tank? 100 gallon with a 4" - 7" DSB.