Urchin keeps knocking things over.

[SolarReefer]

I have a pin cushion urchin and it keeps knocking all of my frag plugs off my rocks. Should I get rid of the urchin or find a better way to secure the plugs? I only have an AIO so I don’t want to throw him in the back.

 

[KrisReef]

I always think that I would like an urchin for algae but then I think about your situation and what so many folks have experienced and I have decided to leave them for some one else. My snails and clownfish do enough damage already. I had to reglue a couple of things again today.

 

[RoseQuatics]

How do you currently secure the frag plugs to your rocks?

 

[Suneru]

Pincushions are pretty relentless and strong. Once mine got bigger than a golf ball there was nothing attached firmly enough to resist it.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Gotta love urchins to keep them. They're absolute bulldozers at adult size which they reach large size quite quickly (other than tuxedos)

 

[SolarReefer]

How do you currently secure the frag plugs to your rocks?

Brs extra thick super glue

 

[RoseQuatics]

Brs extra thick super glue

I have two pincushion urchins, and I’ve found this method to be best for me.

I clip the stem of the plug, then glue > epoxy > glue to the rock

It’s demonstrated in this video at the 3:10 mark:

 

[nothing_fancy]

Nah don't get rid of it, I second breaking the plug stem. You can use a Dremel disc if you wanna do it fast. Lots of glue like loc-tite gel control. Just a future tip in case it happens to you too: My short spine urchin is strong enough to move some rock work. IF it gets to that point for you too you can buy some carbon fiber rods on amazon, they are mainly used by RC Plane hobbyists. If yours starts knocking over rocks you can cut the rods and glue them into your rock work at the spots rocks tend to tip.

 

[SolarReefer]

Hell yeah guys thank You. I’m going to try using glue + epoxy to secure them down. Definitely didn’t wanna get rid of the urchin because I know they’re awesome algae eaters.

 

[stoney7713]

Glue and epoxy the frags down or glue and epoxy the urchin down.

You might have to reglue a few frags here and there but eventually you'll get them to stay put.

 

[RoseQuatics]

Urchins trying to team-up on my mushroom frag but to no avail lol

 

[Reeflix]

i personally like shortspines better because they arent that destructive. if you get rid of the urchin get a shortspine to replace it

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Have you had a nice long talk with him?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Sorry couldn't resist! HA! But yes what other have said!

 

[Reeflix]

that joke is too good to resist

 

[unchaotic]

Have you had a nice long talk with him?

Not gonna lie ... I do this with my Singapore Angel. When I put something new in the tank I wait for him to come up and try to nip it. Then I tap on the glass until he looks at me. We do this up to half a dozen times, he gets the hint, we all move on with our lives.

 

[Seascapes]

I have the short spines and they mow down things and carry things around the tank. And every time I put a new frag near the clowns section of the tank, its on the sandbed within 2 days. I'm going to try the glue epoxy glue trick once I find the spot I want them to be permanently located. Tired of placing the knocked down frags back on my frag rack. The battle is real.

 

[Rmckoy]

I always think that I would like an urchin for algae but then I think about your situation and what so many folks have experienced and I have decided to leave them for some one else. My snails and clownfish do enough damage already. I had to reglue a couple of things again today.

With every positive thing . There is a negative .

I added 3 urchins to clean algae in the 230
After hating them for many years .
In an old tank I have caught them plowing across my frag racks knocking everything off . Which ends in them being sentenced to solitary confinement ( sump )

Not having any frags now they do great with keeping rocks clean

 

[CoralB]

I have tuxedo urchins and although once in a blue moon I’ll have to chase down a coral here and there , I’ve found that the main reason this happens with tuxedos is to get shade . So once I put plastic hats in the tank they wear them and leave the coral alone