Sea Urchin

[ajt1118]

I recently acquired a purple Sea Urchin, it moves about the tank constantly, and recently it's spikes have begun to turn grey at the roots. I have checked the chem levels - PH: 8.2
Ammonia: negligible
Nitrate: .2 pp-mg ( the instruction manual says best below .4)
Salt content: perfect
I did a quarter water change and scooped up all excess on the floor that I could.
The other inhabitants are: a pair of black and white clown fish, a fish that's half pink and half yellow (I don't know it's name, and have never seen another) and 2 snails. (I am restarting a new set up after the first one exploded)
I've been wondering if the Urchin is starving as the snails eat the algae as well, and theres not allot to go around!
any information would be appreciated.

 

[Great Lakes]

AJT, I haven't kept urchins yet. But here is a site with much info on them. Good luck.

 

[ajt1118]

Thank you for your quick reply. I had been to that site earlier and found allot of useful information ie: how to make food for your sea urchin.
It has grown to approximately 15 cm - added a quarter to its size in 2 months.
I have added "Mela-fix" to the tank and cleaned all filters and power-heads, removed the carbon etc. I am usually quite meticulous with the tank but I thought I would do the cleaning early.
hope it will be ok.

Thank you again for your reply

 

[ajt1118]

Just some information I found on Urchins. They are great algae eaters, keeping a tank spotless, they often starve in home aquariums and need extra seaweed wraps or lettuce.
Due to the high amount of waste they produce the Nitrates increased from 10ppm to 20ppm, still under the recommended 40ppm. It don't bother other fish at all.
I believe Pencil Urchins are good tank mates and they are hardy. Best to stay away from White Urchins, they are true scavengers and consume all in their path.