Urchins?

[littlehermit0]

I got this random motivation to buy random things, how about urchins? My tank is 2 months old, kept with live rock and inverts, Are urchins hard to take care of? Should I get one? Or do you guys have any other ideas of invertebrates? My tank is kind of young yeah, the parameters change often..

 

[kevgib67]

I got this random motivation to buy random things, how about urchins? My tank is 2 months old, kept with live rock and inverts, Are urchins hard to take care of? Should I get one? Or do you guys have any other ideas of invertebrates? My tank is kind of young yeah, the parameters change often..

My biggest concern is that your tank won’t have enough algae to support it yet, better to wait until it can sustain itself. You could always supplement with nori rubber banded to a rock. But if it were me I’d wait 2-3 months and there will be plenty. I love my tuxedo urchin, a real work horse!

 

[Pistondog]

Urchins are good workers. As @kevgib67 said, they feed on algae, including coralline. They alzo move things around.

 

[littlehermit0]

My biggest concern is that your tank won’t have enough algae to support it yet, better to wait until it can sustain itself. You could always supplement with nori rubber banded to a rock. But if it were me I’d wait 2-3 months and there will be plenty. I love my tuxedo urchin, a real work horse!

I actually have a LOT of algae that I can't get rid of, brown, clear, green

 

[littlehermit0]

Urchins are good workers. As @kevgib67 said, they feed on algae, including coralline. They alzo move things around.

I have a lot of algae but... Coralline it's so beautiful, my question is, are they hardy?

 

[Garf]

I have a lot of algae but... Coralline it's so beautiful, my question is, are they hardy?

No more delicate than anything else in the tank. Great workers. Will more stuff around if not nailed down.

 

[littlehermit0]

No more delicate than anything else in the tank. Great workers. Will more stuff around if not nailed down.

I don't really care about moving stuff but 3kg rocks too?

 

[Garf]

I don't really care about moving stuff but 3kg rocks too?

They should be ok, lol

 

[Calmwaters]

They will also pick up random things and put it on themselves. I love mine because it does a great job with algea and don't mind having to rescue the occasional hermit crab or snail off of it.

 

[littlehermit0]

They should be ok, lol

But what would happen if algae would finish in my tank? Someone said they eat bristle worms and asterinas

 

[Calmwaters]

But what would happen if algae would finish in my tank? Someone said they eat bristle worms and asterinas

You can supplement with Nori placed on a rock secured with a rubber band

 

[Garf]

But what would happen if algae would finish in my tank? Someone said they eat bristle worms and asterinas

How big is the tank?

 

[littlehermit0]

How big is the tank?

6 gallons, in a few months I'll change to 15

 

[Calmwaters]

6 gallons, in a few months I'll change to 15

That would be too small for an urchin in my opinion as they do get big.

 

[littlehermit0]

That would be too small for an urchin in my opinion as they do get big.

Right... That's why I'm searching for a small one so maybe he'll grow in time, when I'll buy different tanks

 

[Garf]

I actually have a LOT of algae that I can't get rid of, brown, clear, green

You got a close up pic of this brown algae you mention?

 

[littlehermit0]

Not at my house

You got a close up pic of this brown algae you mention?

I'll show it when I'm gonna be home

 

[The_Paradox]

That would be too small for an urchin in my opinion as they do get big.

In a tank that size I’d never sleep if there are any power cords in it. They will eat power cords like groceries if there is any algae on them.

 

[littlehermit0]

In a tank that size I’d never sleep if there are any power cords in it. They will eat power cords like groceries if there is any algae on them.

Oh my....

 

[fluked]

I've had a short spine urchin for about 2 years now, he's awesome
Cool to look at, eats a crazy amount of Algae. Can't complain.