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View Full Version : Urchins and Macroalgae

Genera
06/16/2015, 10:49 PM
I have a tank full of macroalgae. I'm interested in Variegated Pincushion Urchins (Lytechinus Variegatus) and West Indian Sea Eggs (Tripneustes Ventricosus). I've heard many urchins scrape rocks clean of any algae, even coralline. Will they eat macroalgae faster than it can grow? Or would I be better off putting it in my other tank with gorgonians, ricordeas, anemones, etc. I thought it would be cool to see a little spike ball in between fields of macros.
skiwez
06/17/2015, 06:23 AM
I have limited experience with.urchins but the two.that I have clean the live rick to almost blinding white perfection. Hopefully they continue and clear up my bubble algae. They seem really to eat anything green so even macro I believe would not stand a chance
Genera
06/17/2015, 09:35 AM
I didn't think so. Darn. Just checking to make sure.
driftin
06/17/2015, 11:01 AM
I think it will depend on the type of urchin and how much live rock you have in the system. Our tuxedo urchin didn't strip the rock bare in a 70 gallon. I don't have experience with the two you listed though.
aredhead
06/18/2015, 03:18 AM
I have two tuxedos. My blue has grown to plng ball size and the white is the size of a powerhead. Both of them are the best algae cleaner ever. The white will stay on something till its stripped. They do carry "tokens" for camouflage. Because of this they do push stuff around. Especially frags on shelves. They have not messed with my live rock. I love them.

Stay away from pencil ( sputnik) urchins. Mine ate the tips of my hard corals off ! He was orbited across my yard to a back field. Beep...beep.
aredhead
06/18/2015, 07:35 AM
I have two tuxedos. My blue has grown to plng ball size and the white is the size of a powerhead. Both of them are the best algae cleaner ever. The white will stay on something till its stripped. They do carry "tokens" for camouflage. Because of this they do push stuff around. Especially frags on shelves. They have not messed with my live rock. I love them.

Stay away from pencil ( sputnik) urchins. Mine ate the tips of my hard corals off ! He was orbited across my yard to a back field. Beep...beep.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/18/711f044109d5c060b822da32d6f0a2f2.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/18/d863a5738f4dd88b5a2317d03042a3ea.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/18/10e2ae95e279252fce29c900a1856b24.jpg