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  • #1

    Urchin and Acrylic?

    Hey guys fighting a loosing battle with Dictyota algae.

    have searched and searched and found that maybe just maybe Diadema(long spine) urchins will eat the stuff.

    BUT now the question becomes is it safe to add an urchin to an acrylic tank? i have heard so bad stories about urchins making a "mark" on an acrylic tank.

    what do you guys think? i am thinking of getting between 2-4 of these guys to kill this stuff....



    is it worth it?

    thanks

    Nick
    275 Gallon Envision Acrylics Tank, 70 gallon sump, BK 300 internal, Zeovit, 5 sequence darts (1 on a oceansmotions 4-way), medusa dual controller, 2 ebo jaer 250w heaters, 1/2 hp JBJ comercial chiller, 4 RO IIIs w/14k hamilitons, 4 VHOs super actinic, deltec pf500 Ca Rx, 3 reef ceramic pillar, and 1 reef ceramic mini-reef, 5 ceramic closed loop intake screen covers, with 50ish pounds of LR
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  • #2
    I have heard the same thing about them marring up the acrylic when they go on it to eat. I never had an acrylic tank with one in it, But i see my urchin on the glass alot.
    180 mixed reef, extreme 40gal frag tank, 33 gal sump,30 gal fuge, profilux plus II controller,profilux doser, GEO 618 CA/RX tunze 6100's, BK 250 internal, 2 400watt halides, 4 blue plus t-5's on icecap ballast, I run GFO, and dose vodka,sugar, and vinigar with ammino acids, and use somewhat of the balling method.

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    • #3
      I am really tempted to try it because from the research i have done about this stupid macroalgae it looks like this may be the "best" choice i have for something to eat/control it.

      just scared because i dont want to mess up my nice acrylic tank!

      Nick
      275 Gallon Envision Acrylics Tank, 70 gallon sump, BK 300 internal, Zeovit, 5 sequence darts (1 on a oceansmotions 4-way), medusa dual controller, 2 ebo jaer 250w heaters, 1/2 hp JBJ comercial chiller, 4 RO IIIs w/14k hamilitons, 4 VHOs super actinic, deltec pf500 Ca Rx, 3 reef ceramic pillar, and 1 reef ceramic mini-reef, 5 ceramic closed loop intake screen covers, with 50ish pounds of LR

      Comment

      • #4
        Really? I've never heard of that before. I have 3 LSU and two other ones in my 300 acrylic and have had no probelms with them. My LSU never go on the acrylic, but I see my other two short spined ones on there every once in awhile.

        I keep the urchins in my tank for algae control and they do a great job at it.

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        • #5
          Thanks Wayne,

          you have 3 LSU in that 300 of yours? i am thinking of starting out with 3-4 them removing them over time if they eat the stuff.

          maybe leave 1 in the end, maybe none.

          thanks

          Nick

          P.S. hows that gem tang doing?
          275 Gallon Envision Acrylics Tank, 70 gallon sump, BK 300 internal, Zeovit, 5 sequence darts (1 on a oceansmotions 4-way), medusa dual controller, 2 ebo jaer 250w heaters, 1/2 hp JBJ comercial chiller, 4 RO IIIs w/14k hamilitons, 4 VHOs super actinic, deltec pf500 Ca Rx, 3 reef ceramic pillar, and 1 reef ceramic mini-reef, 5 ceramic closed loop intake screen covers, with 50ish pounds of LR

          Comment

          • #6
            Nick, I have 3 shgort spined urchins in my 60 acrylic and I never have seen them on my panes they have been in their in 4 mo.
            Sean

            Tank Specs:60g Cube SPS/Clam tank, ASM G1x Skimmer, DIY ZEOvit Reactor, 1x400w EVC 14k, Marine Life Aquatics CR-250 CaRx (RIP)

            Not sure yet.....Build Thread to come!

            Comment

            • #7
              I have read mixed reviews.

              not sure i want to risk it, but this may be the only true organism that will eat it.

              Nick
              275 Gallon Envision Acrylics Tank, 70 gallon sump, BK 300 internal, Zeovit, 5 sequence darts (1 on a oceansmotions 4-way), medusa dual controller, 2 ebo jaer 250w heaters, 1/2 hp JBJ comercial chiller, 4 RO IIIs w/14k hamilitons, 4 VHOs super actinic, deltec pf500 Ca Rx, 3 reef ceramic pillar, and 1 reef ceramic mini-reef, 5 ceramic closed loop intake screen covers, with 50ish pounds of LR

              Comment

              • #8
                Nick, I would think that as much as you probably look at your tank, if you saw one on your viewing panes you could remove them.
                Sean

                Tank Specs:60g Cube SPS/Clam tank, ASM G1x Skimmer, DIY ZEOvit Reactor, 1x400w EVC 14k, Marine Life Aquatics CR-250 CaRx (RIP)

                Not sure yet.....Build Thread to come!

                Comment

                • #9
                  That is true the only thing is at night when they are probably most active.

                  anyone else have any comments before i try this?

                  Nick
                  275 Gallon Envision Acrylics Tank, 70 gallon sump, BK 300 internal, Zeovit, 5 sequence darts (1 on a oceansmotions 4-way), medusa dual controller, 2 ebo jaer 250w heaters, 1/2 hp JBJ comercial chiller, 4 RO IIIs w/14k hamilitons, 4 VHOs super actinic, deltec pf500 Ca Rx, 3 reef ceramic pillar, and 1 reef ceramic mini-reef, 5 ceramic closed loop intake screen covers, with 50ish pounds of LR

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Nick, nothing eats it not even urchins--it needs continual manual extraction on a daily basis & nutrient-poor waters for a sustained period of time, JME, Bob
                    "There might be something to this ZEOvit"

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                    • #11
                      Dang,

                      well i am doing the dails manual removal making sure none gets loose and floats around.

                      also increased the zeo dosing per your recomendation, so we will see.

                      there are some spots i cant get to with these reef ceramic rocks though. It makes it real hard to get to the rocks and the bottom of the tank and i am 6'3".......

                      Nick
                      275 Gallon Envision Acrylics Tank, 70 gallon sump, BK 300 internal, Zeovit, 5 sequence darts (1 on a oceansmotions 4-way), medusa dual controller, 2 ebo jaer 250w heaters, 1/2 hp JBJ comercial chiller, 4 RO IIIs w/14k hamilitons, 4 VHOs super actinic, deltec pf500 Ca Rx, 3 reef ceramic pillar, and 1 reef ceramic mini-reef, 5 ceramic closed loop intake screen covers, with 50ish pounds of LR

                      Comment

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