+Mlaw Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I'd like some help fighting coraline algae. I'm in there pretty regularly scraping it off but there are some places I can't reach and I just can't keep up. Anyone have thoughts on a critter that will eat it? I have a pencil nettle that doesn't seem to be doing much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Long spine urchin. It won't take long for it to eat every drop of algae you have. It will get big and really hurts if it pokes you. But it will eat all your coralline algae. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Monnat Jr Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Here are some quotes from RC: Urchins will eat it, but you're not going to get your tank walls clean without a razorblade. There is nothing in this world that eats it as fast as it grows. And for the record I have never seen a cerite snail eating coralline. Again, the urchins eat it, but you will never ever notice any missing. They don't eat it down to the glass, they just take off a layer. Even if you have a hundred, you're still going to need a razor blade. Coralline isn't something you can solve with a criter to eat it. We have a pin cushion urchin that does not eat it but the Halloween urchin my wife just had to have has striped it off a rock completely. It grows back fast so no big but cleaned it all off the rock in short order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I'm guessing those people are not speaking from experience. I have had 3 long spine urchins over the years and I have 0 coralline. And my urchins ate it off glass. Not only did they eat it, they would eat it to the point of extinction. How big is your tank? Mixed reef? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KimP Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 The big chitons from reef cleaners definitely eat it. I've only seen them stay on rock though. In the case of glass, I think a razor blade is your best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've got two tanks. First is a 29 gallon biocube with zoas and a few softies. The 130 gallons is basically fish only. I've got some GSP and other stuff that I'm tossing in to see how it does but in the end if it gets eaten I won't care. Any thoughts on Halloween Urchins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've heard of three urchins that will eat it; the long spined mentioned, chocolate chip and crown of thorns. I've never had them because I've also read that they like to move rocks, topple your aquascape and have jaws so strong they can scratch your glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I've never used a Halloween urchin but it looks similar to a pin cushion. I don't like the pin cushions cause they pick up stuff. I had a long spine urchin in my bio cube 29 and the urchin ate ALL algae in weeks. I buy them small at Aquadome. About the size of the tip of you thumb. In a matter of a couple months they grow to the size of a softball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I may have not mentions that because of a "poke" from a long spine urchin, I had to have surgery and six months of physical therapy. It randomly got me in my knuckle sheath. Finger eventually stopped moving and had it surgically removed. Spine not finger. I'm not a very good salesman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 My asterinas make short work of my coraline algae. I would be happy to donate a million of them. You do have to scrape here and then but they definitely keep the amount you have to scrape down to a minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 I haven't noticed asterinas doing anything to coraline but maybe mine are defective. I'll start with a million of yours and see what happens. You start counting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjames Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 my asterina havnt let any grow in my tanks, and if it pops up, it is gone fast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I'll just get a bucketful and you can just return to me any over 1 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jknight1 Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I agree on the asterina's. I have quite a few in my 10 gallon and I hardly ever have to scrape the coraline algae. Not very big but once they multiply, they can handle quite a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 I have a type of tuxedo urchin, not the "normal" colors, got it from AquaDome. It eat coraline algae, it it probably 3 times larger now than it was when I added to my tank mid January. However I still have a good bit or coraline algae on the glass and the rock. I have to scrape it off the viewing panel of glass. Maybe if I had two, or three... or... yeah I'll just scrape it. My nick name for it is dozer, cuz he knocks over or around EVERYTHING. And if it is not attached he decides to wear it, camouflage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Monnat Jr Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 And if it is not attached he decides to wear it, camouflage. But that's why my wife and I loved them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SChrisEV Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Oh it's fun to watch, but if it decides to pick up a frag of something then drop it out of sight/reach that's less fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Chitons from reef cleaners are perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mlaw Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Any one have any experience with the flipper magnet cleaners? I've got one spot I can't reach that a magnet cleaner would be perfect for if it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Capt'n Obvious is a big fan of the flipper cleaner. You should hit him up. -Ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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