When to move Urchin, Brittles and Emerald Crab?

[DracoKat]

I am getting eager to break down my 28g as it's getting unsightly.. partly due to the fact I am picking it apart and breaking rocks for my fuge, and partly I am somewhat neglecting it too and focusing on my 75 gal.

All my corals are out. got a small 2.5 gal tank to QT my zoas to get rid of the nudibranches. Only things left in the tank is my rock boring urchin , some tiny brittle stars and emerald crab- along with a few snails and hermits (I've been pulling them out each day to move to my 75g as I find them).

My 75g tank is about 3-4 weeks since fully cycled and has a pair of clowns and 2 wrasses in it now. Diatoms are fading away. Really no algae in there, but I figured I can supplement with algae strips or something.

Is it too soon to move my urchin, emerald and tiny brittles over? Should I try to stay patient longer? or it's OK to add them and add food for them?

 

[DracoKat]

anyone? I'd like to move them today while it's too hot to do anything outside.

 

[MCFish23]

I would say you are safe to move them! As long as levels all check out. Urchins can be sensitive as I'm sure you already know.

 

[wkscott]

By all means move them today. They won't put much bioload in the new tank and will help with the new tank. Most of us put the CUC in the new tank BEFORE we put the fish in, or in the case of a tank transfer, at the same time.
About 3 years ago I transferred my JBJ Nano into a 90g and everyone went together.

Since your rock is new and without algae, you may want to take a small amount of Nori and attach with a rubber band to a piece of live rock. Do this in 3 locations so that the CUC can find the food.

 

[DracoKat]

thank you :)

my urchin and emerald is 2 years old, had them for that long. I'd hate to lose them if I moved them too fast. Salinity and temp is the same, so I can just pop them in after a short acclimation

 

[wkscott]

Absolutely no problem with the emerald. I moved 3 over in a snap. You may however want to take a couple of hours to drip acclimate the urchin, just to be safe.