Black Long Spine Sea Urchin Question

[Corndork2]

I am currently looking into getting a Black long Spine Sea Urchin for my tank. All descriptions I see of the animal state that they do not tolerate high nitrate levels. My nitrate is at 5ppm normally and sometime can get to 10ppm but no higher than that. Is that too high of a nitrate concentration?
Does anyone else own one of these interesting looking creatures? What kind of luck have you had with them? Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[JStorey]

Have had one in my FOWLR for a couple of months now. I had some higher nitrate in the 60-80ppm range until I added a sulfur denitrator and it didn't seem to bother it. I have mine in an aggressive set up and no one bothers him.

 

[Corndork2]

Thanks for the input man. Mine would be goin in my Lionfish tank. Theyre generally peaceful...and this urchin is a big ball of spines..so i think they'll be ok together too

 

[labragg1]

Corndork2--you should be fine. I have found that the key to urchins--especially the black long spined ones--is a very long acclimation time.

They are actually pretty tough animals, but I've seen a ton of casualties from people not acclimating them long enough.

Definitely drip these guys for at least an hour or so.

Once they have adapted to the tank they are extremely resilient and cool to watch.

Oh--and be warned that they grow extremely fast. One of my clients has two of them in a 210 gal tank--they have doubled in size in about 2-3 months.
HTH

 

[MCsaxmaster]

I wouldn't be concerned about that level of nitrate. They are wonderful animals, but be very, very careful with the spines. The slightest contact with a spine is usually enough to give you a nasty (painful) puncture wound.

cj

 

[marxxx]

I agree with the above. my urchins are very hardy as well. Nitrates don't seem to be a major stress to them.

 

[Corndork2]

I got mine 4 days ago and its doing great ill post pics on this thread soon! Thanks for the input!

 

[scarter]

how do they fair in a reef tank? I have on in my sump for about a year, and was thinking of throwing him in the display... will they bother corals?

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Typically they cause no problems in reef tanks, and actually they're excellent herbivores. Occasionally they may take the tinniest of nips from a coral, but this usually appears accidental as much as anything. I'm sure I've accidently killed a lot more coral tissue by bumping off corallites and things than my Diadema ever have

cj

 

[billsreef]

The only problems I've ever had keeping diadema's in a reef tank is bumping into them

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Yes, know exactly where the Diadema is before even thinking of putting your hands in there :eek1:

 

[billsreef]

Don't take your eyes off them either, they can move very fast