How to Add a Starfish to a Saltwater Tank

Many saltwater aquarium creatures are sensitive to transfers from one tank to another, such as a transfer from the store to your home aquarium. Starfish are even more sensitive than other creatures, such as saltwater fish. Starfish can become sick, lose limbs, and even die if they are not properly acclimated to their new tank. They must be allowed to slowly adjust to any temperature, salinity, and pH differences. The best starfish acclimation method is known as drip acclimation.

Things You'll Need

  • Small bucket or container
  • One piece of airline tubing
  • Large bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a small bucket or container next to your main aquarium. This acclimation container should be new and clean. It should never have been filled with soap or chemicals of any kind. Residue left by soap or chemicals can poison and kill your starfish.

    • 2

      Empty your starfish from its transport container, along with all the water in the container, into the acclimation container. Transport containers are most often clear plastic bags, which make it easy to see what you are doing. As you transfer the starfish and its water from the transport bag to the new container, make sure you always keep the starfish in the water. Starfish should never be exposed to the air. The water from the bag should be deep enough in the new container that it completely covers the starfish. If it doesn't cover the starfish, find a clean container with a smaller base area.

    • 3

      Start a siphon, using a piece of aquarium airline tubing, from your main tank into the starfish acclimation bucket. Your acclimation container will have to be below the level of the water in your main aquarium for the siphon to work. You can start the siphon by placing one end of the tubing in your main aquarium. Then, you can suck on the other end, creating pull. You can also immerse the second end into the main aquarium, allowing the tube to fill with water, before moving the second end to your acclimation bucket. Priming balls and control valves can also be used to start a siphon, but require extra equipment you may not have.

    • 4

      Adjust the dripping, either by tying a knot in the drip tubing or by using a control valve. There should only be about one or two drips entering the acclimation container per second.

    • 5

      Allow the drip acclimation to continue for about two hours, slowly acclimating the starfish. The water in the acclimation container should double in that time.

    • 6

      Stop the drip line after two hours. Lift the acclimation container over a larger bucket. Using water from your main aquarium, gently flush the acclimation container, removing the acclimation water, including the water the starfish was transported in, and replacing it with aquarium water. Pour the aquarium water over the acclimation container to do this. This ensures that, if the transport water had any bacteria or germs in it, they will not enter your main aquarium.

    • 7

      Submerge the starfish in its acclimation container into the aquarium. Tilt the container once it's underwater, releasing the starfish into the aquarium.