Someone talk me out of this (choco. chip star vs. mushrooms)

[Delphinus]

Ok, I've been tempted to try this for soooo long. Set up a 10gal or something simple, little aquaclear for filtration and a heater. Home for a chocolate chip star. Anytime I've had it up to the whazoo with a mushroom infested rock, I put the rock into my "cleaning tank" and let the star do its thing.

My only question is, what do I do with the star during the "slack" periods I don't have a rock to clean. Sounds like they'll eat pretty much anything they can get ahold of? So maybe just a few pieces of mysis or krill every now and again?

What's the pitfall here? Should I not do it?

It's just an idea. I know it sounds harsh but after 4 or 5 years and starting off with .. one .. single .. purple mushroom that thing has spawned thousands upon thousands of descendents. They kill any SPS they touch, so it's not like they're perfectly innocent. I don't mind them in small numbers it's just when I have wall-to-wall mushrooms and they kill off neighbouring corals that I spent money or traded to acquire (oh yeah .. they'll take out zoos too, BTW), that I start to dream of some way of keeping these buggers under control.

[mr_alberta]

How about sending any unwanted shrooms my way?

[Pisces]

I have a choc. chip star, and he loves to eat krill and squid! But, I think they will eat pretty much anything.

Because I want to get into corals he'll have to make the move to the fuge, or maybe I'll set up my 25gal for him and my Bali Star. We'll see.

[christyf5]

Maybe you could provide a service to those with a similar problem. I've never been all that great at growing mushrooms. Now, algae on the other hand......

Christy

[impreza]

You can send any "pest" mushrooms my way too! Mine don't seem to be expanding very much!

[Delphinus]

I'm happy to trade away mushrooms, but "caveat emptor" .. be aware that they can potentially grow into plaque proportions. Some people have had them under control for the most part, for some reason they multiply and spread like fungus for me though. This is only one particular type, I have about 4 or 5 different types of mushrooms and only this one type has ever proved to be a headache.

But anyhow. Consider it a standing offer that anyone who wants mushrooms need do no more than come over and harvest some, or trade me an equivalent rock, or whatever. Basically I don't want to suffer a net loss on the rock, i.e., if a rock leaves the tank I'd like to replace it with a similar sized one.

But my post was mostly me just fantasizing about a way to justify keeping a certain starfish notorious for not being very reef friendly, and seeing if there was still a reason to not try one even in this specialized scenario. Any thoughts on that one?

[Quinn]

Tony, I say go for it. Maybe Leeanne still has hers and can ship it via Greyhound to you.

[mr_alberta]

PM Leanne (Bulletsworld) as she was trying to get rid of one and still had it when we talked on Saturday.

[bulletsworld]

Yeah my chocolate star is still up for grabs! All yours if you want. He's a munching machine. I even travel to Calgary every now and then.

[TANGOMAN]

I've got a C.C. Star livin' in a sump Tony. You're welcome to rent him... . He can come live with you for a while or you can put your rock in my sump. Sump water depth is about 7".