sand sifting star

hello all
i bought a star on saturday droped him in and he buried right in. sunday morning where he dug around there is clumps of bright green algea in his tracks.
my tank is still fairly new but should be perfect now.
dos yous think hes doing his job and stiring that stuff up.
i got him mainly cause im still in the brown algea stage and i want to mix it up a little.

 

Sand sifters need a big tank or they will starve eventually and disintegrate. (Mine did.)

I think Craig is the only one I know that got his to eat mysis.

 

Ditto to what mat said...

I had mine for three months then all of a sudden he "fell" apart.

At first i thought it was reproducing but when it decayed i knew he just died!!!! must have run out of food as it would move from any food i put near or under him

levi

 

my sifter died also it was awful i really liked that starfish :'( :'(

 

i called the lfs where i got him from and asked about the algea he was stiring up and he had no idea.
i was looking elsewhere and he bagged the star up missing an arm. he said i could return it for credit. i think ill just return him.
what type of fish do you guys recommend for stiring the sand a bit. the algea on top is starting to get a little annoying?

 

No critters, just increase the water flow ;D

 

LIES!!! i have had a sifter in my 12 gallon 4 like 8 months now and hes doing great!!! to each is own i guess... lol i was joking about the lies thing.

 

more water flow BL? More on the direction of the sand, or just more tank current?


I just got an extra powerhead, but have no idea where to point it!!!!

Scoffer

 

hmmm...dont put it at the sand...i did that and it just makes a bit ditch...not goot looking really...um...usually the algae usually goes away after a while...maybe some nassarius snails, they stir up the sand pretty good...

Bruce