Fish with a job?

Mandrew · Dec 10, 2015

I'm starting up a 20g long "nano" reef tank. I'm trying to keep fish to a minimum but at the same time I feel the need for some fish. So I'm wondering what are my best options for a small tank that will have corals, mainly lps and softies, MAYBE a maxima clam someday.. I'm looking for fish that serve a purpose in a reef tank wether it's cleaning sand, or eating algae or other helpful tasks. I like the idea of a shrimp goby pair that's really my only idea.

Harse Designs · Dec 10, 2015

Clown fish, would be a great starter but if they your only fish get some nice designer ones. Theirs really hardy, factor inn your small water volume

Spit.fire · Dec 10, 2015

molly miller, the best utility fish ever

Mandrew · Dec 10, 2015

What does the Molly do?

Mandrew · Dec 10, 2015

I thought about the designer clowns but they're kinda pointless and just for looks. I'm not running a skimmer on this tank since it's not drilled so I'm trying to keep a very small bio load.

eatbreakfast · Dec 11, 2015

Rainsford and hectori gobies are small sand sifters that also eat hair algae. Stigmatura blennies eat algae.

Mandrew · Dec 11, 2015

Thanks for the tips! Anyone else have opinions?

RMS18 · Dec 11, 2015

Mandrew said:
I thought about the designer clowns but they're kinda pointless and just for looks. I'm not running a skimmer on this tank since it's not drilled so I'm trying to keep a very small bio load.

Get a internal skimmer I have the tunze 9001 small profile. Mine is in my fuge but will not take up much space in a 20 long.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 12, 2015

A hang on back aquaclea is fine too. Hob refugium is a good idea I had a $10 breeder box from Amazon I put Chato in. Grew pods well.
Clowns are a@@@@@@@es
Look at the goby family. Twin spots are sand shifters but not deep. Red Dragonetts are useful pickers but you need a good pod pop till you find a frozen they'll eat. Scooter Benny's are great pickers and cleaners.
You instinct is very good. So think about this. Your designing a habitat. Look around at the fish that do well in smaller tanks and find one you love. Design a habitat for that fish. Fill in the rest of the jobs that need to be done in that habitat. Cleaner goby. Pom Pom crab. Porcelain crab scooter. Conchs. Emerald crab.
That's husbandry.

WindeyD · Dec 12, 2015

Tailspot Blenny

Mandrew · Dec 12, 2015

Saltyfilm, how did you make a fuge out of a breeder box?? And bmwm thanks for the advice, I'll look into that skimmer.

eatbreakfast · Dec 12, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
A hang on back aquaclea is fine too. Hob refugium is a good idea I had a $10 breeder box from Amazon I put Chato in. Grew pods well.
Clowns are a@@@@@@@es
Look at the goby family. Twin spots are sand shifters but not deep. Red Dragonetts are useful pickers but you need a good pod pop till you find a frozen they'll eat. Scooter Benny's are great pickers and cleaners.
You instinct is very good. So think about this. Your designing a habitat. Look around at the fish that do well in smaller tanks and find one you love. Design a habitat for that fish. Fill in the rest of the jobs that need to be done in that habitat. Cleaner goby. Pom Pom crab. Porcelain crab scooter. Conchs. Emerald crab.
That's husbandry.

Even with a fuge a 20g will be a challenge to provide properly for some of these species. Twin spot gobies are one of the most difficult sifters to keep. Dragonets and scooter blennies can quickly deplete a pod population and are not very useful for picking, they have a pretty specific diet and need to eat almost constantly.

Mandrew · Dec 12, 2015

Yeah I don't plan on getting any fish that require pods to feed. But I still like the idea of a HOB fuge.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 12, 2015

Eat lets agree to dis agree on picking. Depends on what is being picked I suppose.
Man drew it was on Amazon runs on air pump. Pulls water up and in and out. I put Chato and rock rubble.
https://www.pricefalls.com/product/...e=&network=g&gclid=CKCIktLX1skCFYGCaQod7YkPvQ
I had my mandarin and pipefish in the 20 & 30 for 3 years
Both my current mandarins 2red 1 psyco 1 moyers 1 red scooter all eat frozen too.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 12, 2015

Oh and everybody loves pods. It's clean up crew and lunch.
I should mention I suppose my tanks were mandarin specific so I chose other fish and animals rock work to create the correct habitat for them.

Mandrew · Dec 12, 2015

I actually would like to have a mandarin in this tank at some point... A mandarin and corals was my main goal for this set up to tide me over until I plan and save for my 120g+ tank I wanna build.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 12, 2015

Ah ha! Found your fish?

Research the fish. Where it comes from how people blow it. An established tank is best for them. I forced the maturation so to speak. Read Ron Shimek website in particular sandbeds and ecosystem article. Also visit reef cleaners. And if you have the option go 30 gal. Long.

My 20 lasted 10 months. Yes the mandarin came with.
I'm in a 55 and have almost all the dragonets.

eatbreakfast · Dec 12, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
Eat lets agree to dis agree on picking. Depends on what is being picked I suppose.
Man drew it was on Amazon runs on air pump. Pulls water up and in and out. I put Chato and rock rubble.
https://www.pricefalls.com/product/marina-hang-on-holding-breeding-box-large/52007730?source=GoogleShopping&medium=cpc&term=PLA-SC&content=88934316031product_type_l1pet+supplies&custom0p1025&campaign=BigAlsPets&adpos=1o7&creative=65095105711&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CKCIktLX1skCFYGCaQod7YkPvQ
I had my mandarin and pipefish in the 20 & 30 for 3 years
Both my current mandarins 2red 1 psyco 1 moyers 1 red scooter all eat frozen too.

I'm just curious on the term 'useful pickers', useful picking is generally reserved for fish that will pick at coral pests, such as flatworms and red bugs, both of which dragonets don't eat. While some will eat frozen, pods make up the vast majority of their nutritional needs. And while it is possible to keep them in a 20g, the entire system needs to be geared for their specific needs.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 12, 2015

Yes you are correct. A I don't believe we can prove they don't. All I can say is my brown flat worms went away. And my male comes running a dinner time.
My original point was to build a habitat for the animal for it to succeed not throw a fish in a tank
I think that's husbandry.

eatbreakfast · Dec 12, 2015

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yes you are correct. A I don't believe we can prove they don't. All I can say is my brown flat worms went away. And my male comes running a dinner time.
My original point was to build a habitat for the animal for it to succeed not throw a fish in a tank
I think that's husbandry.

Pipefish are known 'useful pickers', as they eat flatworms and other pests. You mentioned you had one, so I would look at him as the reason for flatworms disappearing.

The contents of dragonets stomach have been studied and 'we' have a good idea of their diet.

Some mandarins will accept prepared foods, but their digestive tract is so short they need to eat almost constantly, so even ones that eat prepared foods get the vast majority of their nutritional needs from pods rather than prepared foods.