[mistermikev]

I'm not rushing out to get one but...
I do seem to have a macroalgae issue... I get feather calerpa, suction cup calerpa, and a red kelp looking calerpa. Lately they have been infringing on a few corals namely my xenia and this can be a little trouble as they do a vulcan mind meld and you end up with half xenia half calerpa. I have read somewhere that tuxedo urchens will each macroalgae. My q's are
#1 what are the pros and cons of tuxedos (do they move rock like longspines? how are they w shrimp or others?)
#2 do tuxedos actually eat macroalgae?

[mistermikev]

PS... I know I know, lower nutrient levels. I do reg water changes. My water tests low nitrate/nitrite/amonia, my ph is approx 8.3 avg, I have been stirring up the dsb lately so whatever the answer I will wait a while and see if things cool down naturally... but I've always liked the tuxedo. I have held off because I was concerned about their ability to poison me. (that's just with some species though, right?)

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by mistermikev

I have been stirring up the dsb lately...

Why would you stir a DSB?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by mistermikev

I have read somewhere that tuxedo urchens will each macroalgae.

They eat mostly coralline algae and occasionally some filamentous algae.

#1 what are the pros and cons of tuxedos (do they move rock like longspines? how are they w shrimp or others?)

Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about urchins: here.

#2 do tuxedos actually eat macroalgae?

No.

[golfish]

The only problem I've had with em is they tend to knock things over...when you have a tank full of frags it can get on your nerves a little.


yeah, why stir the sand bed?

[mistermikev]

Why stirr the dsb... "cause I like it shaken and not stirred"... J.K.
I recently moved to a bigger tank. I have had this sand for four years and it is well established. I moved it all - cup by cup - to the new tank, plus I added 40lbs of new arag alive... I likes it deep! I guess my main hang up is the urchin is venemous... whole reason I don't have a leaf fish or a lion. I get stung by a bristle worm every time I go in my tank and I hate that. I never see the damn things - but there I am removing a bristle. My hoevens wrasse is on strike apparently. Anyway, they sting and they move rock. Perhaps I will get a hang on refugium and cultivate spagetti algae in order to get rid of my unwanted macros.