Anyone keep urchins with acros?

[exnisstech]

I have a few pincushion urchins in my large tank and they do an awesome Job on the rocks. I'm thinking about bringing one over to my acro tank to see if it will clean up my rocks some. I'm not to concerned if it picks up a frag now and then but want to make sure it won't eat coral. I found mixed info online and would like to hear from those with who have actual experience. I would move it back to the other tank when cleaning is done so it wouldn't turn to the coral because of starvation.

The tank I would like to clean up a bit.

Under whites

 

[SliceGolfer]

I’ve had tuxedo urchins in my acro tanks and never had an issue with them eating coral

 

[BristleWormHater]

I think pencil urchins are the only ones that may eat coral. I have a pincussion urchin and he doesn't eat my coral, never heard of tuxedos going rouge either.

 

[Miami Reef]

Pincushions are safe with acros, but they will likely bulldoze a lot of them.

The urchins prefer rocks over glass, and they seem too big to get in the nooks and crannies.

I much prefer Mexican turbo snails for the algae. They can wipe a film clean.

 

[Battlecorals Verified Sponsor]

Yeah, I do. I got a bunch and they suck in a lot of ways, but they eat algae that a few other critters will not touch so kind of unnecessary evil unfortunately

I’m constantly having to move rags back into the holes on the racks.

 

[exnisstech]

Sounds like it's a go. I'll report back with results. I'm happy with the tank I just think the coral would pop a little more if the rocks are cleaned up.
A lot of the pieces are from you Adam @Battlecorals so thanks for chiming in.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a few pincushion urchins in my large tank and they do an awesome Job on the rocks. I'm thinking about bringing one over to my acro tank to see if it will clean up my rocks some. I'm not to concerned if it picks up a frag now and then but want to make sure it won't eat coral. I found mixed info online and would like to hear from those with who have actual experience. I would move it back to the other tank when cleaning is done so it wouldn't turn to the coral because of starvation.

The tank I would like to clean up a bit.

Under whites

I have a tuxedo urchin and a pink pincushion urchin and neither has touched, as far as I know, any Coral.

HTH

 

[AmateurAlchemist]

I've kept pincushions with SPS, LPS and softies for 3-4 years now and never seen them eat any of them. Climb on and relocate- yes; but not eat.

 

[lbacha]

How did the urchin experiment turn out? I have long spines, tuxedos, rock boring and pincushion urchins in my 300g and the only one that may nibble a bit of coral is the long spines. I have seen one or two graze marks in acros in a few years of keeping longs spines (almost like they did it on accident) plating and encrusting montis can get a bit more eaten if the urchin goes right over it. The area grows back quickly so no big deal.

 

[exnisstech]

How did the urchin experiment turn out? I have long spines, tuxedos, rock boring and pincushion urchins in my 300g and the only one that may nibble a bit of coral is the long spines. I have seen one or two graze marks in acros in a few years of keeping longs spines (almost like they did it on accident) plating and encrusting montis can get a bit more eaten if the urchin goes right over it. The area grows back quickly so no big deal.

I put a decent sized pin cushion in not too long after starting this thread and I haven't noticed any damage. I've had to retrieve a couple frags but that's to be expected.

 

[carri10]

I three tuxedo, one Halloween and one pencil urchin in my tank. The tuxedos run around all the time and I’ve never caused me any problem. The Halloween loves taking live snails for trips around the tank. The pencil, however, is an absolute pain in the neck -pushing my flags over and generally knocking stuff all over the place. I lost patience in the end and summed in my refugium