My Linkia Sea Star

pharmrjohn · 07-07-2008, 08:59 AM

OK, I am new to this. My wife sees a pic of a pretty blue starfish and asks me to get one. I say cool and purchase one, have it shipped from Tampa Bay and place it in my system. No I did not read up on it. Did I mention I am new at this? So it is a big one and seems to be thriving. I was very, very happy with it until last night when I read up on it. Now I am nervous.

It evidently requires expert care. I am no expert. I have read that it's diet is both unknown and film algae. I have both.

It is supposed to be very sensitive to nitrates. I have 80ppm. Today I do a 20g (out of 75) water change to get that down.

Sea Stars are not supposed to be kept at a salinity less than 1.024. My stars have all survived and mine is 1.020 (I am working to increase it to 1.025 slowly over the next month or so).

Any input would be appreciated. I am willing to take it out of my system and to the LFS if maintaining it is an exercise in futility. I am not going to kill anything purposefully.

Thanks and Rock on.......John.

Tangster · 07-07-2008, 09:07 AM

They are not as sensitive as many would have you think, First off they should only be placed in a well aged mature system , The experts have not a clue what they feed on . I say its micro organisms in the bacterial slime jelly covering the rocks and wall of the system. As for reading LOL I have seen it in print by well known experts that stated that they can not ever be exposed to the air LOL .. Stray voltage will tweak them out more then about anything . I have had them not do well in a system not grounded then add the grounding probe they went right along like one we have here It was fine for a long time then noticed it looked faded and off lost a tentacle /Arm for a better word and a lump well a few weeks later I saw my ground probe had been pulled fro the tank and laying on the floor put it back in the system and its colored right back up and looking well again. But I'd say not in any system less then a yr old in my opinion .

antonym518 · 07-07-2008, 09:18 AM

they are sensitive. When I do a water change mine looks a little weird. My salinity is lower too, like 1.022. I have no idea what they eat. My rock is between three months and 10 months old. But he seems to always be on the glass. Have had him for a while at least 6 months. Never seen him actually eat. He is bigger though and looking good. Good luck. Get those nitrates down anyway. Just let water evap and add with high salinity water. Don't have to wait a month. I have been getting mine up over the last two weeks should be right by now.

pharmrjohn · 07-07-2008, 09:19 AM

Thank you Tangster and 518. But what is a grounding probe?

Nykademus · 07-07-2008, 09:19 AM

First off, try to get into the habit of researching before you buy.. I'm not chewing on you, just trying to save you some trouble down the road. I have been bitten for several hundred dollars in the past.

What I have heard about them is that they tend to starve more than anything else, but that is about the extent of my knowledge of that one. If the tank is not mature, I would consider taking it back if you can.

About your specific gravity though, it does not have to be brought up as slowly as you have suggested, over a weeks time should be fine.

Good luck in what you decide though!

antonym518 · 07-07-2008, 09:30 AM

ground probe, which I don't have. Is a probe that you put in your tank and then plug in and it takes out any extra current floatn around in your tank. From your equipment. I will actually get one soon.

pharmrjohn · 07-07-2008, 09:35 AM

Yeah, actually I am a research hound. I definitely missed on this one though. It was soooooo purdy.

Tangster · 07-07-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharmrjohn

Thank you Tangster and 518. But what is a grounding probe?

Its a simple salt proof wire connected to a titanium tip that set's in the sump or tank and is connected to the grounding system for the home via the receptacle , If you have a VOM meter ? A volt Ohm meter put the scale on A/C lowest you can set it put the probe in the tank and one to the plate screw on the wall plug and make sure you have a good contact ass where the meter goes to. Oh and yes you may well want to set up a coil denitrater to rid the system of them also. Bad things indeed . Search aquarium grounding probe . We use them by the box's every client gets one ..