Asterina absolution

birdsnest

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I want to wash my reef tank of these pesky crustaceans. I've tried the harlequin shrimp and manual removal but they are too numerous. Any suggestions on a wrasse that would find these guys tasty? I would appreciate any advice or previous experience. Thanks.
 
Get a laser and burn them as u see them. I totally obliterated mine. Issuer kills them from outside the tank in seconds. There were nights I would kill a hundred in 30 mins or so.
 
Harlequin is the best way...if one doesnt cut it try two.
 
Get a laser and burn them as u see them. I totally obliterated mine. Issuer kills them from outside the tank in seconds. There were nights I would kill a hundred in 30 mins or so.

What laser are you using?
 
I put a Harlequin in my tank 2 weeks ago and he's nearly demolished the Asternia population. Just need to be patient.

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Once he takes care of the asterinas, do you feed him legs off a chocolate chip star fish? Will the chocolate chip starfish survive in my sump with some pieces of liverock?
 
My plan is to remove him but yes you can feed Chocolate Chips one leg at a time. I know some people that keep two and alternate allowing one to heal and regrow a leg.

SDMAS B.O.D. Member
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I will try the harlequin route again. This time i might try three at once where two proved not to be enough the last time. Is the laser option able to penetrate thru an inch of acrylic without melting a hole in my tank?
 
I've not heard of the laser before, but I'd use a harlequin. I have a 75 g, and it was loaded with asterina. I put in my harlequin, and he destroyed them. It took some time, as he'll probably only eat one or two a day, but he absolutely wiped them out. As for the chocolate chip star, I have 5 four legged ones in my sump, and actually, one's down to three legs. They can't grow them fast enough for me to cut them off. I probably am going to get two more, as I feel like I'm farming them... I know you said that all he did was hide, but mine is funny. Once I started feeding him the chocolate chip star legs, he's actually pretty active, and I can tell when he's hungry. He'll be in a cave, and I'll toss in a leg. It's like he can smell it. Within minutes, he's all over the place looking for it, and always has it within a few minutes. When ever he's out and about in the front of the tank and not hiding, I know he's hungry. He just grabs the leg and hauls it back into a cave with him and munches on it til it's gone. Have patience on the shrimp, he'll deliver for you.
 
I've been feeding him big ones on forceps and he grabs them from me. I have not seen him outside of his cave. I did not even know if he was alive for the first week, thought he didnt make it, then I saw him hanging out in the cave. I have not fed him chocolate chip starfish legs yet because he is eating the asterinas and there are still a lot left. I've got a few tanks with asterinas so I will move him once hes done.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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