Urchins

[saltwater]

Are there any urchins that are reef safe and stay small? Im looking at Mespilia globulus since at full size they are only 3 inches, I dont think they can move LR and corals.

 

[Opcn]

You are aware that Tuxedo Urchins rely on coraline algea for 90% of there food intake right. Lytechinus vaniegatus is a much better option, mine doesnot knock many things over but it does pick up my GSP's and ware them.

 

[saltwater]

Oh, I didnt realize they ate the good coraline algae.

 

[steelhealr]

..if you can classify coralline algae as 'good'. SH

 

[saltwater]

i thought it was "good" algae. (im a newb so expect dumb things) The Lytechinus vaniegatus looks really good! Do you have any pics of your own? The only problem is from what Ive read is that they can prey on small inverts, have any of your cleaners been eaten? or even worse, your corals? And would one live comfortably in a 30 gallon aquarium?

 

[steelhealr]

I have a black longspine. Easy to care for. Will clean the coralline clean off your LR. Knocks all your corals down.

Coralline algae is beautiful to look at, but, it's a royal PITA to clean off the glass. Theory states that it can diminish your biological filtration as it covers over your LR (not sure if this is true). SH

 

[Opcn]

Good is a relativ eterm, when its covering powerheads, Liverockand snail shells Coraline Algea is great stuf, when its blocking flow into filters, and blocking your view of your tank its horrible. All Herbivorous urchins eat coraline, my Urchin sscrubs the rock positvely clean, but he targets other types of algea aswell. I have not lost any clean up crew, this species is more closely assosciated with eating small sesile inverts, mainly tubeworms, tunicates, and sponges. I'm quite sure that it will not eat any coral.

It should be able to live in a 30 for quite a while, I've got my 3 inch diameter one in my 18 gallon display volume aquapod24. I would think that the issue would be more of a food issue, when you run out of algea for it its time to trade it out for a smaller one, I would bet that your LFS would trade ou straight for one.

 

[saltwater]

Or maybe I could reduce the number of algae eater clen up crew members and add the Mespilia globulus. I really like the Lytechinus vaniegatus but I as a rule of thumb I never buy a fish that I dont have large enough tank for. According to liveaquaria.com, the Lytechinus vaniegatus grows up to 8 inches, do they really reach that length or do they grow slightly smaller?

And is that an eye in the middle of the longspine black urchin? It looks sweet but it has a habit of knocking over corals so i dont think ill want that