Will Sea Urchins eat hair algae??

[rickh]

I have hair algae or Bryopsis growing around some of my coral. The water parameters look good. My LFS suggested I try an urchin. The last time I had an urchin I said "never again". Well I bought the urchin and he is busy eating my algae--all the Coraline off my rock. Maybe when thats gone he will move on to the hair. Has anyone had success with an urchin eating hair algae or Bryopsis ?? Thanks

[Anemone]

Yes, I've had Blue Tuxedo urchins eat hair algae...

Kevin

[rickh]

My little guy loves the Purple.

[Buster4900]

My urchin does not touch the hair algae, just the coraline algae. Very cool thing to have.

[rickh]

Help!

[gh0st]

Depends on the Urchin. The dark almost black/purple ones that you get with Live Rock sometimes are pretty bad about eating Coraline, while others like Orange Eyes, Tuxedos, and Shortspines etc seem a little better about going after hair algea and the green stuff first.