long spiny urchins...will they eat if you feed them?

reefchiquita · 05/24/2007, 10:51 AM

I had a SERIOUS hair algae problem which massively invaded my 180g tank. To make a long story short, I now have 2 long spiny urchins in the tank, no hair algae left and a nonfunctioning refugium (HA in the fuge causing more HA to grow in display tank, blah blah blah, had to shut it down).

The urchins are eating minimal algae growth on the back of the tank lately. I plan on starting up my fuge back again with some chaeto. I'm thinking this will probably get rid of any other residual algae in the tank. Will my urchins then starve to death?

They have pretty much been my sole clean up crew. Forget astrea snails, my sally light foots flip those guys upside down and eat 'em, and the crabs themselves hardly make a dent in any problematic algae.

Should I give away the urchins? Keep them and feed them? If so, would they even eat nori? How do I even know if they are sick or dying from starvation?

Sk8r · 05/24/2007, 11:00 AM

Never met an urchin that wouldn't go for a nori clip. I'd give one away.

reefchiquita · 05/24/2007, 11:12 AM

I feed my tangs with nori clips now, and doesn't seem like the urchins have a fighting chance to get some before it's all gone. I'll give it a try and see if they'll eat it if i place it right next to them.

LobsterOfJustice · 05/24/2007, 11:28 AM

Put it in a night when the tangs are sleeping.

RichConley · 05/24/2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefchiquita
I had a SERIOUS hair algae problem which massively invaded my 180g tank. To make a long story short, I now have 2 long spiny urchins in the tank, no hair algae left and a nonfunctioning refugium (HA in the fuge causing more HA to grow in display tank, blah blah blah, had to shut it down).

The urchins are eating minimal algae growth on the back of the tank lately. I plan on starting up my fuge back again with some chaeto. I'm thinking this will probably get rid of any other residual algae in the tank. Will my urchins then starve to death?

They have pretty much been my sole clean up crew. Forget astrea snails, my sally light foots flip those guys upside down and eat 'em, and the crabs themselves hardly make a dent in any problematic algae.

Should I give away the urchins? Keep them and feed them? If so, would they even eat nori? How do I even know if they are sick or dying from starvation?

Hair algae in the fuge wont make hair algae grow in the tank.

You have a nutrient problem. You got something to eat the algae, but didnt deal with the actual problem.

Urchins will eat nori, but I'd look into getting a bigger skimmer, or doing more water changes.

05/24/2007, 10:51 AM	#1
reefchiquita Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 114	long spiny urchins...will they eat if you feed them? I had a SERIOUS hair algae problem which massively invaded my 180g tank. To make a long story short, I now have 2 long spiny urchins in the tank, no hair algae left and a nonfunctioning refugium (HA in the fuge causing more HA to grow in display tank, blah blah blah, had to shut it down). The urchins are eating minimal algae growth on the back of the tank lately. I plan on starting up my fuge back again with some chaeto. I'm thinking this will probably get rid of any other residual algae in the tank. Will my urchins then starve to death? They have pretty much been my sole clean up crew. Forget astrea snails, my sally light foots flip those guys upside down and eat 'em, and the crabs themselves hardly make a dent in any problematic algae. Should I give away the urchins? Keep them and feed them? If so, would they even eat nori? How do I even know if they are sick or dying from starvation?

05/24/2007, 11:00 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Never met an urchin that wouldn't go for a nori clip. I'd give one away. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/24/2007, 11:28 AM	#4
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Put it in a night when the tangs are sleeping. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

05/24/2007, 11:12 AM	#3
reefchiquita Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 114	I feed my tangs with nori clips now, and doesn't seem like the urchins have a fighting chance to get some before it's all gone. I'll give it a try and see if they'll eat it if i place it right next to them.