Sea Urchin that Eats Coralline Algae on Walls?

[Guest Bemmer]

Hey I just read that a bunch of you have a sea urchin that eats the purple/pink coralline algae on the walls of the tank. I would love to have my tank walls clean again. I can't reach the sides because it is an in-wall tank. The algae has been growing for 9 months now. Would a sea urchin be able to "break" through? Does it also eat the algae on the rocks?

 

R-

[jason the filter freak]

Hey I just read that a bunch of you have a sea urchin that eats the purple/pink coralline algae on the walls of the tank. I would love to have my tank walls clean again. I can't reach the sides because it is an in-wall tank. The algae has been growing for 9 months now. Would a sea urchin be able to "break" through? Does it also eat the algae on the rocks?

 

R-

 

My B&W Long Spine now that the clown fish isn't molesting it is doing a fair job of mowing down anything in it's path. For a while I had a pin cushion that was eating all the coraline and green algae on my walls... gave that one away. It was doing too good a job

[mogurnda]

Mine is a rock-boring urchin I got in trade for a mantis. They hitchhike pretty often with live rock.

[smarsh97]

I have had several of the urchins in my tanks and while they do eat the coraline on the wall they also clean the rocks!!

 

Sandy

[Guest Bemmer]

My B&W Long Spine now that the clown fish isn't molesting it is doing a fair job of mowing down anything in it's path. For a while I had a pin cushion that was eating all the coraline and green algae on my walls... gave that one away. It was doing too good a job

 

 

When you say it was doing too good a job, was it eating the coralline algae off the Live Rock as well? If it stayed only on the walls, that would be exactly what I am looking for.

[jason the filter freak]

The long spine tends to strip my rocks, the pin cushion that I had before tended to stay mostly to the walls. Thay may have been unique to my Urchin or my system. I think they're "oppertunistic hunters" though. I use the term hunter very very loosely mind you.

[steveoutlaw]

I've never heard of one that sticks to the walls only. My purple urchin seems to go after the walls and the rock. Just get some more big snails.

[mogurnda]

The coralline on the rocks comes back fast after it's grazed by the urchin.

[jazziestephens]

I was actually wondering if coral line would grow back faster if my urchin grazes at it? I would like more growth on the rocks.

 

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[sethsolomon]

a tuxedo urchin should help keep the coraline algae down in the hard to reach places.  These are reef safe.

 

 

When you say it was doing too good a job, was it eating the coralline algae off the Live Rock as well? If it stayed only on the walls, that would be exactly what I am looking for.

 

 

no urchin will stay only on the walls.

[gmerek2]

My tuxedo was on walls 90% of time. When it was off walls it was a holy tank terror. Since my frags aren't secured. The 2 urchins helped but couldn't even come close to keeping up with the coraline problem on back and side walls in my 125. They will help with rock algae if they like the taste of the algae

[sethsolomon]

My tuxedo was on walls 90% of time. When it was off walls it was a holy tank terror. Since my frags aren't secured. The 2 urchins helped but couldn't even come close to keeping up with the coraline problem on back and side walls in my 125. They will help with rock algae if they like the taste of the algae

Harbor freight gel super glue works wonders for gluing corals down. And its super cheap, $4 for a 10 pack.

[gmerek2]

I invite you to try that in my tank! Doesn't even come close to sticking on slimy aged rockwork. The putty sometimes works for a little bit if it's a glue sand which but I have an upgrade coming no point in it. Plus the urchins get in the frag racks, on the bottom of tank, you name it. Thanks for that info tired of spending $5 a tube at BRS.

[sethsolomon]

I invite you to try that in my tank! Doesn't even come close to sticking on slimy aged rockwork. The putty sometimes works for a little bit if it's a glue sand which but I have an upgrade coming no point in it. Plus the urchins get in the frag racks, on the bottom of tank, you name it. Thanks for that info tired of spending $5 a tube at BRS.

yah the putty has never worked for me.  I have given up on trying to use it.  But definitely give the harbor freight gel a shot.  It is thicker IMO than the BRS stuff.

[YHSublime]

Man, this thread is dusty.

 

If you want to get coraline off your glass, use a razor. Can't reach? Put a razor on a stick.

[Reefer_Madness]

Somebody dug this up from the depths....

[smallreef]

I was actually wondering if coral line would grow back faster if my urchin grazes at it? I would like more growth on the rocks.

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Umm... Not really, since the urchins usually eat it faster than it grows or spreads... You're better off just scraping some off randomly and hoping it helps seed where you want it to grow... It will eventually make it there

[MBVette]

Also if you have an acrylic tank there is a chance that the urchin can eat into the acrylic.

[mogurnda]

I currently have two, a variegated and a rock-boring urchin, in my 90.  They are great at keeping nuisance algae down.  For better or worse, there is plenty of coralline, both on the rocks and on the glass. My weapon of choice is the razor blade attachment to the mag float.

 

Eight years later, that is what I have to say.

[jazziestephens]

I have glass not acrylic. He hasn't been eating a lot actually. I was just curious. I hope he clears some of this algae.

 

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