running carbon?

I just got some LR today, im still waiting for my live sand. Im running a HOB filter right now and i dont know if i should be running the carbon filter... since i dont want the carbon to kill all the good bacteria in there. Am i ok running the filter with carbon???

Also, on my LR there was a starfish... looks like a chocolate chip but it isnt gray with black "tips" but it has orange on it and black tips on the top and at the end of its legs... ill try to get a pic. I know they arnt reef safe, but can it stay in there untill i get coral? Also, will my tank cycle if the LR and the water all came from the same tank at the LFS? I bought the water to make sure i didnt mess it up.

Plz help. I dont wanna kill my starfish but i dont know what its gonna eat... i put fish food in there to start the cycle... will the starfish eat that? What could i do?

Thanks in advance

Pic of the starfish

If it does cycle that star is a goner.

+1 Ryan
Stars just cant handle ammonia.

By "if it cycles" i take it that it could not cycle... which is good.

Also though, can i run carbon?

Carbon doesn't kill bacteria,acually just another place for it to colonize,run it during the cycle.Live rock can smell like poop and the carbon will help.After the cycle,you can cut back on running carbon a few days to a week once a month.

The carbon will be fine.

If the starfish does survive and you could buy Whole UNCOOKED shrimp, it will gladly eat it. Fish Flesh will do to, or IF you can buy LIVE shelled clams or musles, (saltwater not fresh) it will eat these to. You'll have to skew them on a stick and then place them right on him or next to him. Just don't skew the star.

But if your tank goes through a cycle, as Ryan stated it will not make it.

my buddy had a lot of fish from when he worked in Alaska this summer, im sure i could have a couple of pieces, would that work? He has salmon hallibat(sp?) and a couple other kids.

Do i have to hold it right next to it or can i just put a piece by it? Thanks

Anyone know what those things on my LR are? Should i take em off?

All I can see is a red X in a white square box.