Exactly what is this???

TX Twin Mommy · May 26, 2013

Hey. Found this little thing in my tank today only 4 days after purchasing 2 turbo snails. Is this a baby sea star of some kind or something that I shouldn't keep in the tank? I already have 1 black bristle star and a sand star. Did the sand star breed on it's own (like the cleaner shrimp) or did one of the snails have a hitch hiker attached to it? There were Chocolate chip stars in the tank where the turbos were in the LPS so I'm not sure. Please let me know...Thanks. I've attached a picture of the little cutie...hope it's clear enough.
Oh, I'm also having a problem with green algae in the tank (on the walls mostly) and slime algae (in the sand). It seems like the day after I clean it up it's nasty again...I can't keep up with it....What can I do? All my tests come back in normal range, I make weekly 20% water changes and have been using the salt with the calcium in it to try and get the red/purple algae to grow. I have a 2 bulb T5 lighting system that I turn on about 8pm and off at about 6am. I'm a night owl! During the day the sun NEVER hits the tank. Thanks for your input!!

Izro · May 26, 2013

Looks like a asterina starfish

RollinReefer · May 27, 2013

^correct

TX Twin Mommy · May 27, 2013

OK. So, if that's what it is, I've read they may eat coral and that they also eat algae, which I've been having problems with. I have Pulsing Xenia, Finger Leather Coral and Button Polyps. Are these in danger? How did this thing get in my tank? Could it have hitched a ride on one of the snails? My tank has only been up and running since early March. Sorry for all the questions, just trying to make sure everything I paid for isn't going to be eaten by something that's free! LOL.:squigglemouth:

Izro · May 27, 2013

I had some in my tank that came in my live rock I just left them in there and after a while didn't see them no more in the past few months I've seen one on my glass and haven't seen it since

NanaReefer · May 27, 2013

Agree with Asterina Star. Personally I'd remove it if possible. Why? Can become invasive and love love to eat coralline algae. Speaking from experience here

FYI-Sand sifting star fish need very large mature tanks to survive.

Sent from my iPhone 4s using Tapatalk

afamousjohnson · May 27, 2013

Ya I had 1 astrea and now when the lights come on there's a good 20-30 on the glass. Multiply fast. Heard they bug zoas also?? Haven't noticed though. If your worried about the algea I would up the cuc and not worry about that lil guy cleaning up anything for you. Also take a look at your water levels and where it (the water is coming from-tap-lfs etc) and it might give you the answer on where the algea problem is starting from.

TX Twin Mommy · May 27, 2013

Sorry...new to hobby affiliated abbreviations...what is cuc? The water I use is always RO water from the same source (the LPS where I get my supplies uses the same one) and I always test it for impurities before using it...just in case. I've been testing the water levels every other day for Ph, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, salinity levels, etc. and everything comes up within normal ranges. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. LPS saltwater employee tells me it's just a "new" system and has to go through its "phases".