New Live Rock

[PRC]

I picked up my new rock today! Craigslist special. I've been waiting for this guy to get his tank emptied for 2 weeks. I bought 180lbs. of rock...Put about 130 in my DT..about 20 into my sump and gave my nephew the rest for helping me carry it.

Now I know what everyone kept talking about w/critters in the rock..I only had about 40lbs of rock until today, and I didn't have anything crawling out of it....I also inherited the 4 legged starfish that you see in the bottom right hand side...I didn't really want him, but if I didn't take him he was going to meet his certain death. And I've got about 20 little starfish 1/2 the size of my fingernail, they were hiding in the rock. My water is still real cloudy. So all in all it was a good day. Here's a before and after.

 

[VAreef]

ooo I forget what they call those little white starfish but some can really take over a tank and become a pest.

Thats some real nice rock placement there. Very nice looking!

 

[PRC]

You gotts be kidding me..about the white starfish...So I guess I'll start sucking them out of the tank.

 

[VAreef]

I can't say for sure they are bad but if my memory serves right they aren't good. I don't think they eat corals or anything just multiply really fast. Hopefully someone with more exp with em will get on here soon

 

[mng777777]

I wouldn't kill the stars till you know for sure what they are. It sounds like they are asterinas. The 5 leg variety are just fine and you can leave them. If you get any with 6 or 8 legs then they are not reef safe. Either way, there is a possibility that they could over populate but there are a number of simple ways to deal with them. I'd keep them and just deal with them if they get out of hand. Then again, I really like stars.

 

[andysgirl8800]

Congrats on the live rock addition! Its amazing how empty the tank looks until you add in all that rock!

 

[PRC]

Here are some pics...I've also got a CRAZY lookin spider/crab looking thing. He looks like he has fur on him..His legs are white with dark stripes, and he' got a tan body that looks to be sectioned off kinda like a turtle shell. I cna't get a pic because he won't come close enough, but he looks a little creepy! Alot creepy. T

The stars are on the glas of the tank...Sorry for crappy pics.

 

[VAreef]

Thats an evil star. Watch out for him. I would get any of em you can outa there.

 

[PRC]

He will be removed promptly. What do they do?

 

[VAreef]

They reproduce like mad and some of em are reported to eat soft corals. I got one in as a hitchhiker on some Zoos and he was promptly removed. Even if they dont eat the corals your glass will be covered with em very quickly. Also better safe than sorry.

 

[PRC]

Ha ain't that cute....See ya starfish.

Any idea what my creepy spider lookin thing might be? (read previous post) The SOB disappeared I can't get a pic of him.

 

[Smitty]

Congratulations on the new rocks...

 

[mng777777]

Yeah get that star out and be careful not to break him in the process or you'll end up with more...

 

[Bifferwine]

Asterina stars are usually reef safe -- in fact, they eat film algae. I have tons of them in both my tanks. The 5-legged, 6-legged and 7-legged + ones are no different from each other. Some of them have reportedly eaten corals, but I've never noticed that in any of my tanks.

 

[PRC]

You just bought the little fella's a stay of execution. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt because you said so...I just came back down here to terminate them! I'll cut them some slack.

I found a ricordea too...Kinda beat up. but maybe he'll heal up.

 

[VAreef]

Wow nice deal on finding the ricordea. LOL I would still kill the stars they worry me way to much

 

[PRC]

I'm still pondering it...Don't tell Biff...Do you know where there might be a list of some kind that has pics of ALL marine crabs, inverts....I'm still trying to identify that creepy ass spider/crab thing in my tank....It's driving me crazy.

 

[Bifferwine]

Check this:

Live Rock Hitch Hikers

 

[VAreef]

that creepy spider crab sounds like an arrow crab. You got a pic of him? Also I hear mantis shrimp eat those starfish

 

[Bifferwine]

But why would you want to add a mantis shrimp to your tank? Harlequin shrimp will eat them. But they only eat starfish. So once the starfish are gone, they starve to death.