Sea Urchans as part of a clean up crew???? yes or no? opinions?

[tirtza]

While I wait for my tank to complete it's cycle, I'm trying to come up with some ideas for a clean up crew. I want to make sure I add the correct creatures. It's a 29 gallon Biocube, and it will eventually be a FOWLR once the cycle is complete. Due to my limited experience I don't intend on having coral (with the exception of the 'button polyp' zoa that hitch hiked on my live rock). I really love how sea urchins look and my LFS has some pink tipped sea urchins. I've found some information on them, but not a whole lot. Before I add one to my wish list, I'd love to know what you all think....
Will a sea urchin make a good part of my clean up crew?
Would it harm a bubble tip anemone?
Would it harm my button polyp - zoa ( the zoa has a strong toxin)?
Does it have any special food, temperature, or lighting requirements?
I've read that they will eat up all of the coralline algae (which of course I don't want!), is this accurate?
Have you had any positive or negative experiences with sea urchins?

 

[flower]

1. Coraline algae is the pretty purple and blue on the rocks of SW tanks. So most people DO want it.
2. Urchins are little bull dozers and knock coral off the rocks that are not glued down tight.
3. Urchins need tons of algae to stay alive and a new tank simply does not have enough algae to sustain them.
4. Some urchins are reef safe and some are not...a pencil urchin will eat your coral
5. I HATE the pincushion urchins, I love the black long spined (Diadema) urchin...but it dosn't take long before the food runs out for them. and they begin to lose spikes.
I don't recommend you get one....at least for a year to let your tank mature.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387566/sea-urchans-as-part-of-a-clean-up-crew-yes-or-no-opinions#post_3411098
1. Coraline algae is the pretty purple and blue on the rocks of SW tanks. So most people DO want it.
2. Urchins are little bull dozers and knock coral off the rocks that are not glued down tight.
3. Urchins need tons of algae to stay alive and a new tank simply does not have enough algae to sustain them.
4. Some urchins are reef safe and some are not...a pencil urchin will eat your coral
5. I HATE the pincushion urchins, I love the black long spined (Diadema) urchin...but it dosn't take long before the food runs out for them. and they begin to lose spikes.
I don't recommend you get one....at least for a year to let your tank mature.
Great info!

 

[tirtza]

I definitely want Coraline algae! I'd just like to know if sea urchins can eat it. I read that they have really tough mouths and can chew through anything.
I'm not to worried about an urchin knocking any coral off of rock, especially since I don't intend on having coral for at least a year. I'm so new to salt water, I need much more experience before I'm ready for coral.
I'm more worried about how an urchin would affect a bubble tip anemone. It won't try to eat the anemone will it? I don't have either yet...but if I had to choose it'd definitely be the anemone!
I'm also interested in adding a few blue legged hermit crabs to my clean up crew wish list. I've read lots of discussion threads that talk about how they make great addition to clean up crews. The only problem I see, is that they need to be fed algae sheets....which is fine, but isn't their purpose to eat the algae in the aquarium??? Would putting algae sheets in my aquarium make it a mess?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tirtza http:///t/387566/sea-urchans-as-part-of-a-clean-up-crew-yes-or-no-opinions#post_3411148
I definitely want Coraline algae! I'd just like to know if sea urchins can eat it. I read that they have really tough mouths and can chew through anything.
I'm not to worried about an urchin knocking any coral off of rock, especially since I don't intend on having coral for at least a year. I'm so new to salt water, I need much more experience before I'm ready for coral.
I'm more worried about how an urchin would affect a bubble tip anemone. It won't try to eat the anemone will it? I don't have either yet...but if I had to choose it'd definitely be the anemone!
I'm also interested in adding a few blue legged hermit crabs to my clean up crew wish list. I've read lots of discussion threads that talk about how they make great addition to clean up crews. The only problem I see, is that they need to be fed algae sheets....which is fine, but isn't their purpose to eat the algae in the aquarium??? Would putting algae sheets in my aquarium make it a mess?
Tirtza, , it is the new coraline growth the urchins scrape off and eat the old thick stuff remains...in a new tank it's all new growth.
To give you an idea of the amount of algae they eat...mt 90g tank has been up and going for over 6 years, I added an urchin....my urchin (black long spikes) starved to death after 6 months....I had a ton of coraline and other algae that gets on the rocks over time. You have a new tank...if you get an urchin it will starve. The anemone is the least of your problems. I started with fish and within one week I had corals.....so beginner is no reason to say no coral.
Anemones are another not for a new tank critter. They need the strongest light, and you can't add one for at least 6 months. They are very pretty but one of the most aggravating critters I've ever had. They move where they want...most times in some spot you don't want it to be, like behind the rocks where you can't see it. They are opportunistic eaters, that means any fish (except clownfish) that gets too close is stung and eaten. You have to cover all of your power heads, they follow the water current and get sucked up into them and get chopped up.
Covering the power heads restricts the flow so they don't work as strong as wide open, the mesh to cover them gets full of stuff and clogs....it's a pain in the butt. You need to choose some different live stock for now. By the way, corals are easier to keep than an anemone.

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387566/sea-urchans-as-part-of-a-clean-up-crew-yes-or-no-opinions#post_3411159
Tirtza, , it is the new coraline growth the urchins scrape off and eat the old thick stuff remains...in a new tank it's all new growth.
To give you an idea of the amount of algae they eat...mt 90g tank has been up and going for over 6 years, I added an urchin....my urchin (black long spikes) starved to death after 6 months....I had a ton of coraline and other algae that gets on the rocks over time. You have a new tank...if you get an urchin it will starve. The anemone is the least of your problems. I started with fish and within one week I had corals.....so beginner is no reason to say no coral.
Anemones are another not for a new tank critter. They need the strongest light, and you can't add one for at least 6 months. They are very pretty but one of the most aggravating critters I've ever had. They move where they want...most times in some spot you don't want it to be, like behind the rocks where you can't see it. They are opportunistic eaters, that means any fish (except clownfish) that gets too close is stung and eaten. You have to cover all of your power heads, they follow the water current and get sucked up into them and get chopped up.
Covering the power heads restricts the flow so they don't work as strong as wide open, the mesh to cover them gets full of stuff and clogs....it's a pain in the butt. You need to choose some different live stock for now. By the way, corals are easier to keep than an anemone.
+1 Your going to find out that there will be several things your not going to be able to have in your tank just yet. Even tho you may have some live rock from another set up the tank is still very young. even getting an anemone should be out of the question at this time. I do hate to tell you this stuff, as I too hated reading it, but would you want to kill the critters in your tank?
Unfortunately, there is alot to absorb in this hobby. Personally, if I were you, I would go out and buy some books on Marine fish, and Marine Inverts. Scan through the books and look to see what you may want. For the most part the books are accurate and you can always post questions and concerns to clarify. Your enthusiasm and persistence is admirable, just don't jump to quickly.

 

[wartooth1]

I have a tuxuito urchin in my 40 gallon and he seems to be doing great. Although my tank is still considered "new" (under 6 months old) the urchin is always very active and cover's itself with pebbles and shells (which I've heard is an indicator of good health/happieness). Just incase though, I have some dried seaweed which I feed to it once every few days.

 

[tirtza]

I definitely won't be getting an urchin, I don't believe I have enough algae to keep it alive, nor do I want to risk any coral if I choose to get some later on in the future. It sounds like the anemone will definitely have to wait a while, which is probably for the best. I want to make sure I have a very stable, well established environment, and be very well informed before I add something as fragile and expensive as an anemone! Thanks for all of your advice guys!