Fish recommendations for frag tank

[Mattt]

I've got an IM 25 lagoon setup as a frag tank and I need something to help keep a little bit of hair algae in check. Any ideas?

 

[fishguy242]

hi lawn mower blenny

 

[Mattt]

I've never had one. Would that be good to get any hair algae off frag plugs? Also does the tanl being bare bottom make a difference?

 

[fishguy242]

maybe some snails may be better option

 

[Mattt]

I've got a few various snails and an emerald crab but they seem pretty lazy. I was reading that mollies will graze on some hair algae. The 25 gallon size kind of limits my options.

 

[nereefpat]

The molly might actually be a good option here.

 

[Parent_usmc]

My lfs has a bunch of damsels and wrasses in his frag tank.. idk if thats normal

 

[Mattt]

The molly might actually be a good option here.

If I go with Mollies how many would I need to control hair algae? I would like to add at least a clown to the tank as well.

My lfs has a bunch of damsels and wrasses in his frag tank.. idk if thats normal

Is that mostly for pests?

 

[BourbonLegend]

Halichoeres chrysus for pest control, urchins / snails for algae.

 

[Mattt]

Halichoeres chrysus for pest control, urchins / snails for algae.

Do you think 25 gallons is sufficient for a Canary Wrasse?

 

[nereefpat]

Halichoeres chrysus for pest control, urchins / snails for algae.

As long as there is sand, yes, until it outgrows the 25

 

[Mattt]

So its bare bottom but I have heard of people putting a dish of sand in for them. Does that actually help?

 

[BourbonLegend]

they will sleep in a dish of sand yes, if it outgrows the frag tank add it to your main, great inhabitants imo

 

[BourbonLegend]

Lid would be needed also, jumpers

 

[Mattt]

Thats a good idea, the only issue is my main tank is only a 20 gallon cube so my frag tank is bigger. Any experience with Mollies eating gha? I only have it on a few plugs and I did try to scrub it off so I don't really have a problem but I eould like to keep it in check.

 

[BourbonLegend]

The wrasse probably wont work out then, didnt intend to mislead. It is a lot to expect fish to keep all algae at bay, many will pick at it but it will always be there if you have nutrients.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

@Parent_usmc, makes sense to have those in a tank for pest control. I have a Pink Streaked Wrasse that knocked out a flatworm population I have.

@Mattt, if you want flatworm/pest removal in a small tank look at the smaller wrasses, Pink Streaked or Possum. The best thing I have in my tank for algae is a blue tuxedo urchin, but it also likes to take my frags where ever it pleases. Mollies are probably a good inexpensive option though.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I've got black mollies in a small little pico and they constantly pick at and eat the algae and sand. They're voracious eaters. In my display, the single urchin will do the most work and keeps the coralline at bay.

 

[Isaac Alves]

For wrasses, I would suggest a six-line. And keep it bare bottom. Just give him a little area in a pyrex dish with sand -- maybe it can double for shrooms.

 

[Mattt]

Awesome! Thanks for all the advice.