"need" a starfish

[MPS]

I've got a 110 gal, mixed reef tank. I've got LPS, softies and just beginning to add some SPS corals. I've also got some typical reef friendly fishies. I can't seem to get past this idea that my tank "needs" a star fish. I've got one brittle star as part of my cleaner crew but I'm looking for something that will actually show itself in the daylight. I'm looking for recommendations and thoughts regarding these points. Is a sea star a good idea in a reef tank? Which stars are really good in this environment? Are the "pretty" ones useful or just nice to look at?

 

[James M]

I've got a 110 gal, mixed reef tank. I've got LPS, softies and just beginning to add some SPS corals. I've also got some typical reef friendly fishies. I can't seem to get past this idea that my tank "needs" a star fish. I've got one brittle star as part of my cleaner crew but I'm looking for something that will actually show itself in the daylight. I'm looking for recommendations and thoughts regarding these points. Is a sea star a good idea in a reef tank? Which stars are really good in this environment? Are the "pretty" ones useful or just nice to look at?

They really have no benefit but they are nice to look at . Go with a Red Sea star

 

[Gareth elliott]

No tank ever needs a star fish, but some ideas.

Best bet would be a brittlestar, they will consume detritus around your tank and have the best survival rates.

Fromia or linkia(might have misspelled its early here lol)
Would be the next group. These should be drip acclimated for 1.5-3 hours. In a heated acclimation system. And added only to mature systems. They will slowly starve in new systems.

Stay away from sand sifting, few tanks have enough sand to keep fed.

Stars with large knobs tend to eat corals, ie chocolate chip star.

 

[ThunderGoose]

I got a "common" starfish from KP Aquatics. She's been doing fine for a year know but she's also small and plain colored. No problems so far.

 

[ca1ore]

The problem with most of the non brittle/serpent stars that are reef safe is that they have a dismal survival rate in a captive tank. I'd suggest you resist the urge. Or go with asterinas.