Urchins for acrylic tank

[Fphipps]

So today I decided to move a tank from a glass tank to an acrylic. I have a pencil urchin in there currently. I was sitting on my sofa watching it grind away at my rocks and something just kept telling me that it can damage my acrylic. so i looked it up only to confirm my suspicion. Needless to say he will be taking a trip back to the LFS for some store credit. are pin cushins any less damaging? are there any species that may be safe? its not s reef tank so i need that oddball factor and urchins tend to get it.

 

[BossHoggin]

Tuxedo urchin comes to mind as a better choice. Not sure if it would scratch acrylic.

 

[tangov5559]

I'v seen them in acrylic tanks..was fine.

 

[alexander_ktn]

If it were my tank I wouldn't risk it. Even tuxedo urchins have teeth that have evolved to grind away coralline algae and calcareous rock so acrylic would be no match...

 

[ptreef]

nope problems with tuxedos in my acrylic tanks over the yrs. Multiple guys and tanks.....

 

[gnasher]

I've got a pincushion urchin and he's scratched the hell out of my acrylic, but ONLY where I allowed coraline to grow for him to eat. My experience has been that when I scrub away the coraline, he doesn't try to chew on it.

 

[MellowReefer]

Thinking of getting the tuxedo urchin...one of my trusted online vendors said they're not a problem with acrylic as long as you keep the walls cleaned of algae, they just stay on the rocks.

Do they bulldoze like turbo snails? I don't have my corals that secured and have had a problem with turbos knocking them over (turbos all died, so I'm looking for new cleaners).

 

[Calappidae]

IMO, I'd picture a pencil urchin doing more damage to acrylic than a long spine.. long spine and tuxedo urchins are sharp, but more flexible and bend easy rather than a pencil urchin's sturdy hard spines pressing and grinding the sides. I doubt any damage would be done either way but it's a thought.

 

[Nina51]

they just stay on the rocks.

not necessarily true. my tuxedo goes everywhere including the glass.