Ideas to Make Starfish Tank More Natural

[livinlifeinBKK]

So here's how the tank currently looks. I'm using it for an observational study of multiple starfish species of the Fromia genus and want it to be as natural as possible so was wondering if anyone had any creative ideas. I was thinking about some macroalgae in a corner covering part of the sandbed as well as some rubble substrate on the bottom in one spot instead of only a sandbed. There are currently 3 stars in there but there will soon be 2 or 3 more. Any other ideas? Btw, if you want to see some of the starfish just lmk and I can link my other thread following the study.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So here's how the tank currently looks. I'm using it for an observational study of multiple starfish species of the Fromia genus and want it to be as natural as possible so was wondering if anyone had any creative ideas. I was thinking about some macroalgae in a corner covering part of the sandbed as well as some rubble substrate on the bottom in one spot instead of only a sandbed. There are currently 3 stars in there but there will soon be 2 or 3 more. Any other ideas? Btw, if you want to see some of the starfish just lmk and I can link my other thread following the study.

Hard to recommend a natural setting for a star as in the wild, they are constantly on the move

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Hard to recommend a natural setting for a star as in the wild, they are constantly on the move

Yeah, I know it's a challenge but for the observations I want it to be as natural as possible so their behavior is as close to natural as I could hope for.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Was thinking about adding some of this macroalgae to a corner of the tank and was told @WheatToast might be able to tell me if it would likely survive/thrive or die off...

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Was thinking about adding some of this macroalgae to a corner of the tank and was told @WheatToast might be able to tell me if it would likely survive/thrive or die off...

That macro is a tpye of caulerpa. It should do fine, as long as some no3 and po4 available or you could dose ammonia to feed it (you do not need much ammonia and not talking qty that would hurt the critters). Issue with it is it has a chance to go sexual and foul a tank. You can prevent this by regularly trimming and watching for the tips going white, if it goes even the slightest bit white, trim it below where it is white.

 

[ReeferHD]

I would add a variety of sponges too.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I would add a variety of sponges too.

I'd love to add sponges! I just have concerns regarding their husbandry and long term maintenance.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Been adding more live rock...starfish are eating well and seem healthy but I'd still like to add more flora/fauna to the tank...how do non photosynthetic gorgonians usually fare??

 

[ReeferHD]

how's the tank?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

how's the tank?

It's good...i added a Porites coral with Christmas Tree Worms to add to the biodiversity along with a supplemental light for the coral and it seems to be doing well!