Starfish mass spawning. Tank cloudy as heck

[Tom Toro]

What the heck? I did my first 10% water change with my RC and I see the tank all cloudy with a milky white. I think I did something wrong and the RC caused a snowstorm cause it's high in alk and my tank is only around 7.3.

I look and there's literally hundreds of good size (at least 2" from arm to arm) starfish in my tank in packs all balled up, shooting something nasty in my tank.

As I'm writing this, they seem to be done (if you know what I mean), but they're hanging out all over the corals. The corals don't seem too bothered by the substance, in fact the lps are feeding.

Now I'm not new to those tiny brittle stars coming out when I mess with the tank, but these are the largest ones I've seen in my systems and they've definitely never done this. I understand biology goes on whether I want it to or not, and I've seen the famous Tang breeding on the documentary, but in a closed system, can it do harm?


Q: 1.Is this stuff going to pollute my tank and should I do another water change?

Q.2.Should I put carbon in a high flow area to clear this up or should I just leave things alone?

[slapshot]

Wow, water change for sure. It could be the higher calcium coming out of solution but maybe a mass spawning. Ill have a guy I know take a look at the thread he is good with this spawning stuff.

[Bongo Shrimp]

Originally Posted by slapshot

Wow, water change for sure. It could be the higher calcium coming out of solution but maybe a mass spawning. Ill have a guy I know take a look at the thread he is good with this spawning stuff.

This happens to me all the time when I do a wc on my 29g biocube reef. You don't have to worry about it. I guess I technically run carbon 24/7 cause it's in the biocube filter cartridges but you really don't need to do anything about it. I never do and it just goes away. Probably filtered out by corals and filter feeders and also by the filter. I've never had a problem and never done anything about it. I have to say though it's a great opportunity to collect some food for Bongo Shrimp.

[slapshot]

Originally Posted by Bongo Shrimp

This happens to me all the time when I do a wc on my 29g biocube reef. You don't have to worry about it. I guess I technically run carbon 24/7 cause it's in the biocube filter cartridges but you really don't need to do anything about it. I never do and it just goes away. Probably filtered out by corals and filter feeders and also by the filter. I've never had a problem and never done anything about it. I have to say though it's a great opportunity to collect some food for Bongo Shrimp.

Thanks Gordon!!! Well Tom, your a daddy I guess.

[larryandlaura]

Sid you happen to get any pictures?

[Tom Toro]

LOL! Thanks G and D. I guess I should start collecting these things. They're big enough to grab individually or as a group. I think I remember seeing a smaller version of these things bagged for sale at a swap.

Next water change I'll take a picture with a ruler to show how big they are. Or if I see one in the sump, but today it's like they don't exist. Amazing.

Originally Posted by slapshot

Thanks Gordon!!! Well Tom, your a daddy I guess.