Fish for Clean-up crew

[Soehl]

Let's make a list of "must have" fish for our mixed reef tanks. Fish that are beneficial to our tanks and serve a specific purpose. Please give the type of fish and your reason why, or even why not, they are beneficial to our tanks.

Today at my LFS I learned that a Yellow Coris Wrasse is a great fish to have with Zoa becuase they will help eat pests, like zoa eating nudis, and they also clean parasites off fish.

 

[Soehl]

How about a Lawnmower Blenny!! Helps control algae.

 

[Flipside]

I have a Starry Blenny, and it does the same thing a Lawnmower does. I also have a few tangs and a foxface rabbitfish. Great algae grazers.

 

[greg0385]

Neon goby will help keeo your fish clean and healthy

 

[Soehl]

How about a Six Line Wrasse to eat the worms(bristle and flat) in your tank.

 

[Singlefin]

I have two yellow coris wrasses. They also eat pyramid snails that eat clams and monti eating nudibranches. They have a neat personality. Need a sandbed for them to sleep.

 

[c.declivisowner]

How bout Dragonface Pipefish......They eat Red Bugs off Acros

 

[Soehl]

I have two yellow coris wrasses. They also eat pyramid snails that eat clams and monti eating nudibranches. They have a neat personality. Need a sandbed for them to sleep.

Good one! I didn't know that.

 

[smoyer]

I have two yellow coris wrasses. They also eat pyramid snails that eat clams and monti eating nudibranches. They have a neat personality. Need a sandbed for them to sleep.

They can manager without a sand bed so would say that it is preferred but not required

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Mollies. They are great at eating algae.

 

[Soehl]

^ I have seen Mollies at the LFS for that purpose. I just can't bring myself to have them. I mean, FRESHWATER, really? LOL Same with Mono. I just don't want those either.

 

[Downbeach]

With the proper sized tank/conditions, I would suggest one of the Bristletooth Tangs.

Is it a Comb or a Bristle (Surgeonfish)? The Genus Ctenochaetus by Henry C. Schultz III - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Soehl]

I am surprised that Tangs haven't been mentioned more.... What is your experience with specific types?

My Purple and Yellow don't spend much time grazing but my Caribbean Blue Tang doesn't stop grazing.

 

[Isoprene]

Keep these coming, I am looking for my final addition to my 55 bowfront and I need a smaller algae grazer. I was thinking a small Hippo tang until he gets too big then maybe take him back to the LFS. Anyone have any experiance with the regals eating algae?

 

[Fatmike92]

Nothing better than a starry blenny!