Long Spine Urchin question

[Electric Reef]

Are Long Spine Urchin good just for keeping the live rock polished up? If not, which urchin would be best for this? I have a 225g, so how many would I need? Thanks.

 

[Aerosol]

I don't have any experience with a long spine urchin, but I have a tuxedo urchin that does a pretty good job eating algae. If I had your size tank, I might add 3-4, but you could probably have more than that.

 

[Bernie21]

I've had my long spiney urchin for about 6 years. I think it does a terrible job of grazing. It does it eat all the NorI sheets of algae I have for my fish during the night, so that may be why. Its also always in the way, and getting stung sucks! But it is a show stopper, it is cool & i've had it long enough to where I wouldn't... couldn't get rid of it! Just my experience.

 

[kw22]

I have had pencil urchins and short spine sea urchins.They didn't really eat any algae.As Aerosol has said,I have heard good things about tuxedo sea urchins

 

[AS]

I think they are great!
- They get big
- They knock stuff over
- very active
I have a 500 gal mixed reef and 1 is plenty

Awesome

 

[Noah 123]

Tuxedo urchins!!!

 

[albano]

Are Long Spine Urchin good just for keeping the live rock polished up? ...

What do you mean by 'polished up'? Some urchins will eat the coralline off the rock, which is not really a good thing.