Pencil urchin in reef tank..safe or not safe

[joe-ejs]

Hello. I am considering getting a Pencil Urchin for my reef tank to help with some algae problems. In doing research here, there seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether they eat corals…so, are they reef safe?

 

[Reefing102]

Mine was not once grown. When it was small, no issue, but as it grew, killed off a platygyra, a couple montipora, some zoas. Now that it’s been sumped, nothing is dying off so I can only assume that was the problem

 

[davidcalgary29]

There are pencil urchins that are corallivores, but most of those species don't enter the aquarium industry. I'd post a pic of the specimen you'd like to get.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I've only ever seen 2 or 3 different pencil urchins and all I can say is that they will mow down paths and clean the rock white and will eat anything that goes under them usually.
I still recommend them and top crown snails for gha.
D

 

[joe-ejs]

So it sounds like the consensus is that they are Reef Safe and that they do not eat corals...but may craze over them as they search and destroy algae?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Mine started reef safe, then began eating mushrooms, hammers, frogspawn, and acropora. Quickly got removed once I realized what was happening. Now he lives in my refugium, with all the Caulerpa he could ever dream of.

 

[Ghost25]

I had one that hitchhiked on gulf rock. It ate coral when it got big.

 

[resortez]

In my personal experience, yes & would only recommend them in a FOWLR, no predatory fish. I would stick to pin cushion urchins like a tuxedo or Halloween urchin, anything with short stubby spins.

 

[Reefer Matt]

They eat coral. Live Aquaria also states they are not reef safe.

 

[Mschmidt]

Mine is now eating my leathers, and therefore going back to the store this weekend.

 

[joe-ejs]

So with all the recent feedback with experience that they eat corals, do we think that is a result of no algae left in the tank and now I am going to eat the next best thing available?

I am fine with returning it to the store or sump once all the algae is gone. I can accept the tradeoff. I believe I have addressed the nutrient import, but need to deal with the remaining algae on the rock that I cannot remove by hand. A $30-$40 for the urchin is well worth it if it will get rid of the algae and hand him back to the LFS when it has done its job, or the sump..assuming it starts to harm my coral.

 

[Mschmidt]

and a toothbrush doesn't take care of the algae?

 

[joe-ejs]

I have tried the toothbrush but there are still some minor spots I can't scrub and also some areas in the back that are difficult to get to without knocking corals loose or breaking parts of them loose

 

[whybenormal]

I've had mine for quite a while, and still had plenty of algae in my tank. I got my first corals last Saturday. Today "Boomer" the pencil urchin, mowed down, and we just discovered, actually ate, one of my new clove corals. He is going to go to the store and get traded in.... Sorry Boomer... I don't know if I want him to eat all the stuff in the refugium yet...

 

[Mschmidt]

Mine just got back to the store today. They were surprised to hear it and the emerald crabs in the tanks ere happy to eat the algae it was wearing.