Sea Urchins and Algae

kuoka · 06/14/2007, 05:15 PM

What type of algae do sea urchins eat? I hope they don't eat desirable coraline?

dragon_slayer · 06/14/2007, 05:42 PM

depends on the urchin in question, my pencils leave a nice white streak everywhere they venture across the tank.

kc

salty55 · 06/14/2007, 05:45 PM

i have a black long spined urchin. he used to much on hair algae all day. but now that it's gone he turned to my coraline. he's wiping it out pretty fast. i'm thinking of taking him back to the lfs tomorrow. maybe trading him in on a few hermits or something.

salty55 · 06/14/2007, 05:48 PM

oh, i allmost forgot. they grow super fast too. mine has allready gotten to large for my comfort in a 55 gallon tank. he was smaller than a tennis ball when i bought him 3 or 4 months ago. now he's about 8 inches across.

kuoka · 06/14/2007, 06:00 PM

Thanks. I think I'll take the critter back and get something else.

frederickk · 06/16/2007, 08:56 AM

that's wise

tkeracer619 · 06/16/2007, 09:05 AM

It depends on your tank size. A long spine in a 55, they get basketball sized, that wont work.

But a proper sized urchin eating coraline is not a problem, in fact, they spread coraline as they eat it. Any coraline my urchin eats is gone in a couple days.

Justin James · 06/16/2007, 09:30 AM

Pincushion urchins is where it's at. I have always had great success with them. I have had long spine, and tuxedo urchins in the past and they suck. The long spine bothers corals and takes up too much room and the tuxedo seems to be very delecate. I now have a baseball sized white pincushion urchin who loves all algae including coaline and a venomous fire urchin about 2" across. It too likes coraline when there is nothing else to eat. One thing to keep in mind is that if you need your coraline to spread then and urchin is good even though it is eating it. The urchin doesn't digest coraline properly so when it poops coraline gets spread around. It's a good thing unless your tank is too small for the size urchin and it starves to death. I swear by urchins.

tangyreefer05 · 06/16/2007, 10:28 AM

I have a mantis tank is it okay too add a pincushin? Also there is a condi in here.

06/14/2007, 05:15 PM	#1
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Sea Urchins and Algae What type of algae do sea urchins eat? I hope they don't eat desirable coraline? __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

06/14/2007, 05:45 PM	#3
salty55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: where the wind comes sweeping down the plains Posts: 509	i have a black long spined urchin. he used to much on hair algae all day. but now that it's gone he turned to my coraline. he's wiping it out pretty fast. i'm thinking of taking him back to the lfs tomorrow. maybe trading him in on a few hermits or something. __________________ sent from my laptop while sitting on the couch! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 20 gallon sump, 20 gallon display fuge, vertex IN100 skimmer, apex, tunze 6055x2, tlc kalkreactor/phosreactor, APEX controlled LED

06/14/2007, 05:48 PM	#4
salty55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: where the wind comes sweeping down the plains Posts: 509	oh, i allmost forgot. they grow super fast too. mine has allready gotten to large for my comfort in a 55 gallon tank. he was smaller than a tennis ball when i bought him 3 or 4 months ago. now he's about 8 inches across. __________________ sent from my laptop while sitting on the couch! Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 20 gallon sump, 20 gallon display fuge, vertex IN100 skimmer, apex, tunze 6055x2, tlc kalkreactor/phosreactor, APEX controlled LED

06/14/2007, 06:00 PM	#5
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Thanks. I think I'll take the critter back and get something else. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

06/16/2007, 09:05 AM	#7
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	It depends on your tank size. A long spine in a 55, they get basketball sized, that wont work. But a proper sized urchin eating coraline is not a problem, in fact, they spread coraline as they eat it. Any coraline my urchin eats is gone in a couple days. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

06/14/2007, 05:42 PM	#2
dragon_slayer Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Location: South East Alabama Posts: 7,853	depends on the urchin in question, my pencils leave a nice white streak everywhere they venture across the tank. kc

06/16/2007, 08:56 AM	#6
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	that's wise

06/16/2007, 09:30 AM	#8
Justin James Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NS, Canada Posts: 510	Pincushion urchins is where it's at. I have always had great success with them. I have had long spine, and tuxedo urchins in the past and they suck. The long spine bothers corals and takes up too much room and the tuxedo seems to be very delecate. I now have a baseball sized white pincushion urchin who loves all algae including coaline and a venomous fire urchin about 2" across. It too likes coraline when there is nothing else to eat. One thing to keep in mind is that if you need your coraline to spread then and urchin is good even though it is eating it. The urchin doesn't digest coraline properly so when it poops coraline gets spread around. It's a good thing unless your tank is too small for the size urchin and it starves to death. I swear by urchins.

06/16/2007, 10:28 AM	#9
tangyreefer05 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 474	I have a mantis tank is it okay too add a pincushin? Also there is a condi in here.