Starfish stuck in filtration system

clowny · Dec 1, 2019

HI so i have a biocube 16
still cycling with one fish and a starfish hitchhiked.
im 3 weeks in and the starfish is in the first chamber at the bottom. i dont think i can get him out myself. he got in so i think he can get out but what if he cant and dies! i dont want an ammonia outbreak already waited 3 weeks dont want to restart!

HELP!

Auquanut · Dec 1, 2019

Welcome to R2R! Does this starfish have long, thin, spiny legs? If so, it's probably just a brittle star. Should be fine, and will help keep that chamber slightly cleaner. What exactly does it look like? Why don't you wander over to the Meet and Great section and introduce yourself. There's lots of great folks here that would like to meet you.

Saltyreef · Dec 1, 2019

The hose that connects to the pump detaches from the fitting on the false wall. You should be able to pull the pump out and get your hand down there. I started out reefing with a 14g biocube and i have big hands....if i can get down there so can you!

clowny · Dec 1, 2019

no the other first chamber. where the water comes in

Saltyreef · Dec 1, 2019

Do you have a media basket in there? The grate at the very bottom actually comes out so you can reach to the bottom of the chamber....

clowny · Dec 1, 2019

Saltyreef said:
Do you have a media basket in there? The grate at the very bottom actually comes out so you can reach to the bottom of the chamber....

the tanks are different. my media baskets are in middle/second chamber

Saltyreef · Dec 1, 2019

clowny said:
the tanks are different. my media baskets are in middle/second chamber

Your hand should fit. Remove anything in the way and dive in! You can try foreceps too. If its a micro brittle star....leave it. If its a larger variety try to grab him

clowny · Dec 1, 2019

if i dont do anything. whats worse case scenario. he is alive right now and has been alive for 2-3 days. maybe he likes it there and goes in and out. only seen him inside it though havent seen him out yet

Auquanut · Dec 1, 2019

If it's a micro brittle star, it should be fine and if it does die, shouldn't affect the system appreciably. If you have one, you probably have more that you don't see.