Snowflake eel; comp; now sand sifting star and cheap live rock – 03/03/08
Wow thanks for the quick response.
<No problem, Jiahua.>
Yeah, I thought as much (but I don't think I have seen an adult moray).
It was only a spur of the moment thing when I go to my LFS and see new things.
And for your concerns referring to my system and star, I got the sand and live rock first and let it sit there for about three months (long enough?), before getting the moray and I have around 2-3 inches of sand for my star.
<If it is well populated (worm burrows etc.), it should be okay. Personally I tend to wait almost a year before getting sand sifting sea stars. Also I personally prefer deeper sand beds (DSB) to help with denitrification. Compare: www.wetwebmedia.com/deepsandbeds.htm .>
Oh yeah, one more thing: No matter where I look, live rock is always $6.99 a pound and I think it's a lot of money especially that I'm only a senior in high school and going to college. This was originally a huge project for school, but it grew into more of a hobby. Do you have any suggestions as to where I can find good deals for live rock? I want my snowflake to have more spaces to hide than just one rock and some PVC.
<I’ve had both, very good and pretty bad experiences with live rock from fellow hobbyists selling their stuff online. It is usually at least half the price, sometimes cheaper. However, it is without a doubt preferable to see the rock and select the best pieces. For high quality live rock the price you noted above is reasonable in trade. Don’t put too much live rock into a running system at once to avoid a mini cycle. Dead reef rock is much cheaper than live rock and provides the same cover, but it won’t provide as much biological filtration. I’d prefer live rock and add new pieces whenever money allows.>
-Thank you, Jiahua
<Have fun. Marco.>

Sand sifting star and nano tank -11/17/2007
These are probably really stupid questions and I fear this one may make your "funkiest query of the day!"
<Just hope Bob is too busy... ;-)><<As usual. RMF>>
Please refer to me the archives if I missed something in searching. You guys/gals have answered lots of questions for us over the last four months as we have upgraded our 90 to a 240. We are STILL in process of doing the upgrade and I have yet another question. We have a sand sifting star in the 90 with a DSB.
<Ugh>
We have only just over an inch of sand in the 240 gallon and then a DSB in the fuge. Despite their great reputation for starving and decimating the sandbed, s/he has actually grown over the past year and seems to be ok.
<Unfortunately, many marine animals can take a very long time to starve to death. If yours is growing, then I suppose it's not starving... yet. However, I suspect your sand bed has suffered dearly. And once it can no longer maintain the star fish (an inevitability), it will slowly die.>
Does the star stand a chance in the 240 without a DSB assuming the tank has several months to establish fauna in the sandbed before the star makes the switch from the 90?
<Sure, it would probably live longer. But again, you're just delaying the inevitable. And what of your poor sand bed?!">
Okay, on to the stupid part...my husband is the reefer and I merely stare at the pretty fish and read your FAQs, but I am trying to do an informed Christmas present. (Hope he isn't reading the FAQs today!) I want to get him a nano tank for a shrimp/goby combo. Due to the instability in this volume, I was hoping he could just plumb it in line with his main tank
<good idea>
since he already has lines going everywhere under the floor because the sump and fuge are in a different room from the main tank. Plus, he loves such DIY projects. Is this reasonable?
<I don't see why not. In fact, I frequently recommend this to people who want to keep a nano tank and already have a more "regular sized" system.>
If so, would one of the 24 gallon Nano Cubes be an option, or is it impossible to modify their set up?
<I've never had a nano-cube, but from what I hear, I don't think they're so easy to set up this way (because of the hood mostly I think). How would you get the plumbing in/under the hood?>
Surely you can at least add a sump and/or fuge to the setup???
<Of course you can.>
Is there a different brand you would recommend over the Nano Cube?
<Again, I'm sorry I've never personally had one of these. But if it were me, I'd simply go buy a small glass tank and proceed as if it were just another remote sump or refugium (as you put it). However, I'd do a little more of your own research on the Cube. It might work just as well, I honestly couldn't tell you for sure. I'd only wonder about how you'd get around the top of it.>
Thanks for any information and I apologize if I missed answers in the archives. Your time is always appreciated!
Michele
<De nada,
Sara M.>