wesreyn Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Why do you want to get rid of them? They add biodiversity to your tank and don't harm anything... Besides, what are you going to feed the Harlequin when they are gone? You can't have that many Asterinas to keep him going for too long in a 75g, maybe a month. Don't get me wrong, Harlequins are super cool, I would just rather have the biodiversity in my tank... but then again I run a more natural setup and am skimmerless. I have about 5 in my 180g that are the size of a dime and a nickel, not to mention the countless others of smaller sizes. I agree they are probably beneficial in moderation. I bought some rock from a guy on here that was shutting down his tank. The population was totally out of control. They had stripped almost all of the coraline algae off the rocks. You could see spots all over where they had munched it. I bought a harlequin and it took him 3 months to clean them off of 50 pounds of rock. You could say the same thing about urchins and add that they bulldoze down rocks and stuff. I could say the same thing about some ones predator fish. It is relative to what somebody wants to do. When someone wants to go natural, it does not mean that they are simpletons. It means they choose more natural. I like to be informed. However, I hear a lot of fear mogoling. Patrick It's not fear. Just an experience I have been through with them. Like I said at the beginning of the post, I'm sure they are beneficial in moderation. Sorry to hijack the thread, good luck with the sale!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michae52 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 My turbo snails are bulldozers, but the only hair algae I ever have is from things that I buy from other members of this club. My "bulldozers" make quick work of the hair algae. Also just so there is no misunderstanding I am not saying that everyone's tank has GHA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Maybe I got it wrong but I always thought they were bad. I'm not trying to kill your sales but I think people need to research what they are putting in their tank before they pull the trigger. http://www.nano-reef...rtebrates/?id=9 Class: Asteroidea Order: Spinulosida Asterina starfish, or more commonly known as Fiji starfish are generally dime sized or smaller with a large body, irregular arm length, and an irregular number of arms. They tend to hide among corals and in the crevices of the live rock during the day and can sometimes be seen clinging to the corners of the tank. This type of starfish has been shown to eat coralline algae and some corals; specifically acropora, xenia, green star polyps, zoanthids, and several types of soft leather corals. These starfish divide across the main body with two or three legs of varying lengths and multiply rapidly. Remove these starfish if they start to bother your corals. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/asterinafaqs.htm If you read the discussion in the above link, it is a matter of opinion as to the merits of good verses bad. Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michae52 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Remove these starfish if they start to bother your corals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Why do you want to get rid of them? They add biodiversity to your tank and don't harm anything... Besides, what are you going to feed the Harlequin when they are gone? You can't have that many Asterinas to keep him going for too long in a 75g, maybe a month. Don't get me wrong, Harlequins are super cool, I would just rather have the biodiversity in my tank... but then again I run a more natural setup and am skimmerless. I have about 5 in my 180g that are the size of a dime and a nickel, not to mention the countless others of smaller sizes. I agree they are probably beneficial in moderation. I bought some rock from a guy on here that was shutting down his tank. The population was totally out of control. They had stripped almost all of the coraline algae off the rocks. You could see spots all over where they had munched it. I bought a harlequin and it took him 3 months to clean them off of 50 pounds of rock. You could say the same thing about urchins and add that they bulldoze down rocks and stuff. I could say the same thing about some ones predator fish. It is relative to what somebody wants to do. When someone wants to go natural, it does not mean that they are simpletons. It means they choose more natural. I like to be informed. However, I hear a lot of fear mogoling. Patrick It's not fear. Just an experience I have been through with them. Like I said at the beginning of the post, I'm sure they are beneficial in moderation. Sorry to hijack the thread, good luck with the sale!!! I did not start this thread and I am not familiar with what it means to "hijack a thread". I think that the conversation is relavant and it does not need to be dismissed. It is relavant to discuss different ways to view the same topic. In most of my conversations on reefkeeping, I try to be inclusive in my view of reefkeeping practices. I do not dismiss other points of view as someone in disagreement to be avoided or blasted for a differing point of view. This a wonderfully complex hobby, to be enjoyed by all. For some of us, ignorance is bliss, or perhapes "technology rules" or maybe "less technology/more biology". It does not matter to me what others think to themselves. When they think out loud on a public forum, them I say "Lets talk about it". Patrick In the case of a schewed population of Astria Stars, I would guess that lack of biodiversity created the problem. You choose a natural predator. Another method of controlling this population, would be to reduce nutriant input or to establish healthy populations of biodiversity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Why do you want to get rid of them? They add biodiversity to your tank and don't harm anything... Besides, what are you going to feed the Harlequin when they are gone? You can't have that many Asterinas to keep him going for too long in a 75g, maybe a month. Don't get me wrong, Harlequins are super cool, I would just rather have the biodiversity in my tank... but then again I run a more natural setup and am skimmerless. I have about 5 in my 180g that are the size of a dime and a nickel, not to mention the countless others of smaller sizes. In my 90g I have a harlequin shrimp in the overflow. Every few nights I scrape asterinas off the side of my tank and drop them in the overflow. It feeds the shrimp, keeps my flame hawks in the main tank from eating the shrimp, and helps control the population of asterinas in my tank. I disagree with the statement that there wouldn't be enough asterinas to keep the shrimp alive for long, I've been doing this for over six months. The shrimp is still fat and happy and the asterina population maintains itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troypt Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 If you read any of Dr. Shimek stuff-he states that the majority of asterina stars are reef safe and don't eat coral. He does say that they are many different kinds of asterina stars, and some will eat coral, but they are not common in aquariums. I used to have so many that they covered almost the entire front glass of my tank. They never bothered any coral. Now I did get a harlequin shrimp because I think they are cool and it ate them all. Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Woods, are you selling ministars individually. I raise your hundred ministars a thousand Tiger Pods. Are we still playing Texas Holdum? Sorry if I helped to hijack your thread. I am interested in the ministars. Can we work out a trade? Some decorative macro or thousands of Tigers. Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tx4x4hoss Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 If you have any left i would like one plz! pm sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 Patrick, yes, if you want to trade, I am sure we can work something out. Not sure if you mean the mini Brittle stars or the asterinas, but either way i am open to trade for some macro, especially some red decorative... I will pm you and we can work it out off this thread. Derrick, I will respond to your pm and we can coordinate it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zilkerfish Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Bump, I can make more Critter Starter Kits if anyone is interested... I'd like some critters! Shoot me a text at 512 739 4833 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 http://ipsf.com/ministars.html Mini serpent stars is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyRay88 Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Thanks for the kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rjohn Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 any critter kits available? Going to the meeting tomorrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Ric, I replied to your PM. Yes, more are available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Do you have any left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 Yes, I do. PM sent... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chippwalters Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Are you planning on bringing any kits to the frag swap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 I can definitely do that, but it would only be for pre-ordered kits for those specific people... I just need a PM and a commitment, a paypal would be best to reserve them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Wanted to know if you have any more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Yes, I can make several of these for anyone that wants them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atxcableguy83 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Pm sent for kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 PM responded. I can make a few more if anyone wants some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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