Pincushion vs Tuxedo Urchin

[Thanos]

Really considering getting one of these to help keep my hair algae under control, and almost everyone recommends these 2. I know pincushions usually grow slightly larger but aside from that, what are the differences in how they behave in a reef tank? Which one is a better algae eater for GHA in particular, and which one is more destructive in picking up coral frags and bulldozing rocks? It would be going in a 65 gallon mixed reef if that matters.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Really considering getting one of these to help keep my hair algae under control, and almost everyone recommends these 2. I know pincushions usually grow slightly larger but aside from that, what are the differences in how they behave in a reef tank? Which one is a better algae eater for GHA in particular, and which one is more destructive in picking up coral frags and bulldozing rocks? It would be going in a 65 gallon mixed reef if that matters.

Both will eat hair algae with the the pin cushion being more of an aggressive algae eater but will also drag sand , pebbles inverts and frags around the tank

 

[Thanos]

Both will eat hair algae with the the pin cushion being more of an aggressive algae eater but will also drag sand , pebbles inverts and frags around the tank

For both of them, will simply gluing the frag plugs down prevent them from getting flung around the tank?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Generally yes. The pencil and the rock boring urchins can actually pull up frags that are not super fastened. My pin (varigated) and tuxedos will drag stuff around, but if a frag is glued well enough, not drag them around.
Both are great, but tuxedos do a better job on turf algae.

 

[EricR]

I only have one urchin so take this with a grain of salt -- "pink" urchin, supposedly. It looks like a pincushion.
Mine loves to carve the coralline off my rocks but won't touch hair algae for some reason.
If I were in your spot knowing only what I know now, I'd go for the tuxedo.

EDIT -- and on the frags point, mine always carried my zoa frags around but never caused them any grief.
Super Glue'd the frags down and that is now no longer an issue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

For both of them, will simply gluing the frag plugs down prevent them from getting flung around the tank?

That covers frag but do expect other debris spread around. My pencil moves nothing

 

[Dburr1014]

Really considering getting one of these to help keep my hair algae under control, and almost everyone recommends these 2. I know pincushions usually grow slightly larger but aside from that, what are the differences in how they behave in a reef tank? Which one is a better algae eater for GHA in particular, and which one is more destructive in picking up coral frags and bulldozing rocks? It would be going in a 65 gallon mixed reef if that matters.

I bought both 2 months ago. Both were small.
The tuxedo is 90‰ of the time in the hair and the pincushion eats coraline.

 

[Miami Reef]

I bought both 2 months ago. Both were small.
The tuxedo is 90‰ of the time in the hair and the pincushion eats coraline.

This^
Tuxedos are much better. Pincushions are coralline eaters and don’t really touch algae IME.

 

[Waters]

I have had good luck with both keeping rock clean, with the pincushions seeming to be easier to keep healthy (I have lost the occasional tuxedo over the years but have never had a pincushion die on me).

 

[LeftyReefer]

Agree with the others. My tuxedo urchin does a great job on algae. Would not be without one.

My vote is for the tuxedo urchin. I've got a blue one, planning on getting a red one too.

 

[RedoubtReef]

big fan of the tuxedo.