Sand Star a Problem for Sand Corals?

[blackie lawless]

I currently have a hammer coral in the sand, and plan on getting a maxima clam and fungia coral, which will both be situated in the sand.

I also would like to add a Sand Star to help keep the sand clean and oxygenated. Will this be a problem for my Corals in the sand though? Could the Sand Star irritate the corals?

Thanks

[AquaReeferMan]

It shouldnt but I would stay away from sand sifting stars. I think they do more harm than good on your sand bed. If youre looking at keeping your sand clean and oxygenated look into some Nassarius and Cerith snails.

[AZDesertRat]

No but it will eat all your pods and worms and leave you with a dead sand bed.

[alan214]

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
No but it will eat all your pods and worms and leave you with a dead sand bed.

Your experiences are clearly different but my sand-sifting star has done no harm to my sand bed. He's been there over 2 years and I still have a quite an assortment of critters that live in the sand bed which can be seen more easily at night when the lights go out.

I know the star is eating stuff in the sand but I think that overall, he does way more good than harm.

[AZDesertRat]

double post

[AZDesertRat]

I think you are the exception and not the norm. They can be devastating I know it was to mine and it was thriving beforehand. I ignored what others told me here and thought it would be OK since my sandbed was 330 lbs of well established southdown. I will say publicly that was the stupidist mistake I have made to date with this 3+ year old reef. There isn't enough room or time to name all the others I made with previous systems but I have really tried to do things rigt with my current setup, and now listen up and pay attention when someone tells me what a dummy I am!

[blackie lawless]

Thanks for the replys. I'll stay without the Sand Star and look into other alternatives.