What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish?

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 02:27 PM

I have a Blue Linkia Star in my 75 gallon reef tank. Also in this tank is one small hermit, two emerald crabs, three yellow tail damsels, and two clown who host a torch coral and never leave it.

I woke up this morning to my star was on the substrate with one leg folded under it's self. It has always stayed on the LR. SO, I picked it up to see if it was dead... it surely looks ill (it is not as "full" as it normally is). At this point I put it on top of the rock work to see if it will move, and noticed the tip of one arm is wounded! The very tip looks like something ate at it. It is all fleshy and torn up... Just the very tip. I have noticed that he has looked a little thin and week the last few day. He was on the back of the rock work for these last few days, so I am not sure if this happend a while ago or just last night.

What happend? Did one of my damsels do this, or was it one of my crabs?
Or... Is the star sick?

Help!!!!

BigAl07 · 01-21-2009, 02:35 PM

Starfish are soooooo sensitive to water changes and "off" parameters. Usually they will look "ragged" and this will progress through-out the body. They simply "dissolve" to some degree.

Have you made any changes to the tank lately?

What are your current water parameters (like test now)?

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:08 PM

I did recently do a 25% water change.

water perameters...
Sal...1.0235
Temp...88-89
pH...8.3
Ammonia...0
Nitrite...0
Nitrate...5ppm
Calcium...600 a bit high (I do not add any trace elements or anything like that)
Phos...0.25ppm
Alk...10dKH

BigAl07 · 01-21-2009, 03:10 PM

Woa there! your temp! Is that correct?

your Calc is indeed high. How long has it been this way?

degibson84 · 01-21-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRookieReefer

I did recently do a 25% water change.

water perameters...
Sal...1.0235
Temp...88-89
pH...8.3
Ammonia...0
Nitrite...0
Nitrate...5ppm
Calcium...600 a bit high (I do not add any trace elements or anything like that)
Phos...0.25ppm
Alk...10dKH

your temp is high i keep mine around 77-79

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:31 PM

Ooooopppps!

yeah I meant 78-79.

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:32 PM

My calcium has been high ever since I got the tank about a month ago from a friend. Not sure how to reduce it. I thought that time would reduce that.

BigAl07 · 01-21-2009, 03:33 PM

tank is a month old?

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:38 PM

well it was established for years before I moved it a month ago.

I beleive you were helping me with my anemone that wasn't doing to well a couple weeks back... I took it back.

BigAl07 · 01-21-2009, 03:40 PM

Something is out of balance in your tank. The starfish may just be the "Indicator".

Have you ever tested or HAD tested your Mag?

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 03:40 PM

What Al said. Usually what looks like an injury is the starfish "disintegrating" - which will happen if the salinity/temp fluctuates considerably. They are extremely sensitive to sg/temp changes, which is why drip acclimation over several hours is recommended when first introduced to a new tank.

I'd say salinity is low (should be about 1.025). The big question is, was the water used for a WC the exact same temp and salinity as the water in the tank?

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:40 PM

no I have not

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:45 PM

the water I used for the change was about 80 degrees and was added to 77 degree water. The salinity a month ago was 1.022 and I have been Very Very slowly been moving that up to where it is at(1.0235). I am still trying to up that but i dont want to go too fast.

ReefLady · 01-21-2009, 03:48 PM

That does not sound like a drastic difference. There's got to be something else that's "off". What kind of ca test are you using? Are you using RO water? (just trying to understand why ca would be so high).

TheRookieReefer · 01-21-2009, 03:50 PM

Is it dead... Going to die? At what point should I remove it.

01-21-2009, 02:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? I have a Blue Linkia Star in my 75 gallon reef tank. Also in this tank is one small hermit, two emerald crabs, three yellow tail damsels, and two clown who host a torch coral and never leave it. I woke up this morning to my star was on the substrate with one leg folded under it's self. It has always stayed on the LR. SO, I picked it up to see if it was dead... it surely looks ill (it is not as "full" as it normally is). At this point I put it on top of the rock work to see if it will move, and noticed the tip of one arm is wounded! The very tip looks like something ate at it. It is all fleshy and torn up... Just the very tip. I have noticed that he has looked a little thin and week the last few day. He was on the back of the rock work for these last few days, so I am not sure if this happend a while ago or just last night. What happend? Did one of my damsels do this, or was it one of my crabs? Or... Is the star sick? Help!!!!

01-21-2009, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? Starfish are soooooo sensitive to water changes and "off" parameters. Usually they will look "ragged" and this will progress through-out the body. They simply "dissolve" to some degree. Have you made any changes to the tank lately? What are your current water parameters (like test now)? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

01-21-2009, 03:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? I did recently do a 25% water change. water perameters... Sal...1.0235 Temp...88-89 pH...8.3 Ammonia...0 Nitrite...0 Nitrate...5ppm Calcium...600 a bit high (I do not add any trace elements or anything like that) Phos...0.25ppm Alk...10dKH

01-21-2009, 03:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? Woa there! your temp! Is that correct? your Calc is indeed high. How long has it been this way? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

01-21-2009, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? Ooooopppps! yeah I meant 78-79.

01-21-2009, 03:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? My calcium has been high ever since I got the tank about a month ago from a friend. Not sure how to reduce it. I thought that time would reduce that.

01-21-2009, 03:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? tank is a month old? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

01-21-2009, 03:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? well it was established for years before I moved it a month ago. I beleive you were helping me with my anemone that wasn't doing to well a couple weeks back... I took it back.

01-21-2009, 03:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? Something is out of balance in your tank. The starfish may just be the "Indicator". Have you ever tested or HAD tested your Mag? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

01-21-2009, 03:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? What Al said. Usually what looks like an injury is the starfish "disintegrating" - which will happen if the salinity/temp fluctuates considerably. They are extremely sensitive to sg/temp changes, which is why drip acclimation over several hours is recommended when first introduced to a new tank. I'd say salinity is low (should be about 1.025). The big question is, was the water used for a WC the exact same temp and salinity as the water in the tank? __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-21-2009, 03:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? no I have not

01-21-2009, 03:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? the water I used for the change was about 80 degrees and was added to 77 degree water. The salinity a month ago was 1.022 and I have been Very Very slowly been moving that up to where it is at(1.0235). I am still trying to up that but i dont want to go too fast.

01-21-2009, 03:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? That does not sound like a drastic difference. There's got to be something else that's "off". What kind of ca test are you using? Are you using RO water? (just trying to understand why ca would be so high). __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-21-2009, 03:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
TheRookieReefer Tubeworm Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: What happend to my Blue Linkia starfish? Is it dead... Going to die? At what point should I remove it.

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