anybody have a tuxedo urchant
- Thread starter reefkoi
- Start date
Chandaranga
New member
I have one. Got it about 6 months ago.
No complaints but everything sticks to it. So you might see it going arround with a frag stuch it it's back or a snail sometimes.
Eats algae including coraline. But if your tank is like mine there is enough coraline to spare.
No complaints but everything sticks to it. So you might see it going arround with a frag stuch it it's back or a snail sometimes.
Eats algae including coraline. But if your tank is like mine there is enough coraline to spare.
racrumrine
New member
They seem easy to take care of. I have had one for over a year.
Neat creatures. Mine eats coralline algae all day long.
Best of luck,
Roy
Neat creatures. Mine eats coralline algae all day long.
Best of luck,
Roy
Chandaranga
New member
i had some hair algae when I got mine. I don't anymore. Not sure it's the urchin eating all of it tough.
However, when I first got it, I could see where it had been because of the bare rocks.
However, when I first got it, I could see where it had been because of the bare rocks.
Gluestick
New member
My tank is only about 4 months old or so. Do you suggest I let the coraline grow a little more before I send in an urchin to eat it all? Will one little tux urchin really eat that much???
Do you guys have anything else in the tank that would eat the hair algae or bubble algae? Whatever it was that ate yours, I want one!
Do you guys have anything else in the tank that would eat the hair algae or bubble algae? Whatever it was that ate yours, I want one!
Chandaranga
New member
I don't know of anything that will eat bubble algae.
Manual removal is the best way to get rid of it. But don't burst the bubbles in your tank.
I found this works well:
I have a carving blade attached to the end of my syphon tube. So I scrape the bubbles off the rocks and syphon them out of the tank. I did this each time I saw them, while doing water changes. I don't have any more.
You can do the same with hair algae.
I think manual removal is the best way to go about removing those kind of algae.
As for the urchin, if your algae problem is severe, there is probably a reason for it. Your water quality? Too much feeding? Just make sure you have good water before you introduce another critter to your tank.
And about coraline, are your rocks covered with coraline? does it grow on your glass if you don't scrape it for a while? If so you probably have enough that the urchin will not eat i all.
Another thing about coraline: Once your rocks are covered with it, it prevents other less desirable algae from growing on it. (it helps anyways) So keep removing hair algae until your rocks are all purple!
Manual removal is the best way to get rid of it. But don't burst the bubbles in your tank.
I found this works well:
I have a carving blade attached to the end of my syphon tube. So I scrape the bubbles off the rocks and syphon them out of the tank. I did this each time I saw them, while doing water changes. I don't have any more.
You can do the same with hair algae.
I think manual removal is the best way to go about removing those kind of algae.
As for the urchin, if your algae problem is severe, there is probably a reason for it. Your water quality? Too much feeding? Just make sure you have good water before you introduce another critter to your tank.
And about coraline, are your rocks covered with coraline? does it grow on your glass if you don't scrape it for a while? If so you probably have enough that the urchin will not eat i all.
Another thing about coraline: Once your rocks are covered with it, it prevents other less desirable algae from growing on it. (it helps anyways) So keep removing hair algae until your rocks are all purple!
Gluestick
New member
I have noticed just a little bit of bubble algae, and a little hair algae. I don't have a severe problem, but I want critters in my tank that will keep the problem under control. I have been using a similar method for removing algae, only I use a toothbrush and hold the siphon over it. My params are good. Also, mithrax crabs are supposed to eat bubble algae, but I have one and mine never disapears from him or anything else, I have to remove it manually. Thanks for the info.
Chandaranga
New member
If you water is good, the algae should not come back after a while.
Gluestick
New member
Awesome. In the last 2 weeks, since I removed most of it, it seems to have subsided (knock on wood). We'll see how it goes. However, I still want a tux urchin! They are so cool! I have moderate coralline. Is it a good idea to wait for it to cover everything before getting a tuxedo urchin?
Chandaranga
New member
It would probably be ok. The LFS told me I could feed mine nori if I didn't have enough algae. However, I tried this a few times and the urchin just ends up wearing the nori.
I also tried to pick him up and put him on top of a piece of nori. But he probably doesn't enjoy getting handled too much.
I also tried to pick him up and put him on top of a piece of nori. But he probably doesn't enjoy getting handled too much.
Steve Atkins
New member
I have a large blue tang that eats bubble algae and many years ago I had a large yellow tang that would do so.
With the yellow tang (about 10cm) it got started after I accidentally set a bubble adrift and the tang took a sample. Obviously it liked what it tasted as it then pretty much cleared the tank (about 400USG) of bubble algae over the following couple of months.
The blue tang was given to me, at about 17cm length, when it outgrew it’s previous owners tank and shortly after that I noticed that the bubble algae I had been thinking I should remove was gone.
On this basis, I would suspect that many tangs might be able to be persuaded to eat bubble algae once they reach a size where they can get their mouths around the bubbles.
Steve
With the yellow tang (about 10cm) it got started after I accidentally set a bubble adrift and the tang took a sample. Obviously it liked what it tasted as it then pretty much cleared the tank (about 400USG) of bubble algae over the following couple of months.
The blue tang was given to me, at about 17cm length, when it outgrew it’s previous owners tank and shortly after that I noticed that the bubble algae I had been thinking I should remove was gone.
On this basis, I would suspect that many tangs might be able to be persuaded to eat bubble algae once they reach a size where they can get their mouths around the bubbles.
Steve
Steve Atkins
New member
Not my cat. Can't remember where I got it from now.
Steve
Steve
