Need advice on stocking 25g

[BotEasy]

I have a nano reef tank 25g long and need some suggestions for stalking. Tank is about 2+ months old currently has:
2 Ocellaris clown fish
1 rhodactis mushroom
1 plating montipora
3 torch coral
1 cleaner skunk shrimp

I want to add fishes that have a purpose for example something that would eat flat worm,aiptasia , bristle worm and algie. I am planing on getting peppermint shrimp for aiptasia and springer damsel for the flat worm. I don't have the pests yet other then bristle worm and some diatoms, but I want to prevent it from taking over when they do appear. I do need suggestions for something that eat bristle worms soon tho hahaha

 

[blaxsun]

Well, that's a tall order for pest control. An arrowhead crab will supposedly go after worms but may end up harassing other fish and inverts. A small wrasse will probably handle some pests - the trick is finding one that will thrive in a 25-gallon size (sixline wrasses are great but need lots of swim room and rocks to explore, so aggression issues can develop if your setup is less than ideal for them).

In terms of algae, a small tuxedo urchin is probably your best bet along with an assortment of snails: nassarius for the sandbed, trochus for the glass and spiny astrea for the rocks. You may also have some success with a few bumblebee snails (just keep in mind they can go after zoanthids and palythoas).

 

[kevgib67]

Blaxum gave you great advice. My tuxedo urchin is a work horse! All his suggestions are great. Im going against the majority and say a sixline is a great addition, you’ll hear others chime in saying the opposite. Previously I had a reef tank for 16 years and always had a 6 line wrass. Never had an aggression issue. It was on my must have list when I jumped back in last year. They are so cool, always hunting along the rocks. Although from far away they don’t pop like some of my other fish, up close it is the most colorful fish in my tank.

 

[BotEasy]

Blaxum gave you great advice. My tuxedo urchin is a work horse! All his suggestions are great. Im going against the majority and say a sixline is a great addition, you’ll hear others chime in saying the opposite. Previously I had a reef tank for 16 years and always had a 6 line wrass. Never had an aggression issue. It was on my must have list when I jumped back in last year. They are so cool, always hunting along the rocks. Although from far away they don’t pop like some of my other fish, up close it is the most colorful fish in my tank.

But high key I kinda want a springer damsel (not just because of the color, I heard it's the most peaceful out of all the damsel hahaha), do you think it will fight the 6 line over territory?

 

[fishface NJ]

I would never put a Six Line in your 25g.,.tank is too small

 

[Wasabiroot]

I would be cautious adding fish to take care of a problem that doesn't exist yet. Most of the fish that do eat aiptasia either have specialized diets, won't fit in a 25g, or may pick at tissue (i.e. filefish).

If the tank is newer, go lighter on the cleanup crew at first. There isn't much for them to eat yet, and you don't want any crustaceans picking at your corals for food.
I will add my vote for a reef safe urchin as well. They can be bulldozers, so just make sure everything is properly glued down before purchase - but they'll eat just about any pest algae.

 

[kevgib67]

But high key I kinda want a springer damsel (not just because of the color, I heard it's the most peaceful out of all the damsel hahaha), do you think it will fight the 6 line over territory?

My current list: royal gramma, 6 line wrass, diamond watchman gobie, 2 ocellaris clowns and a yellow tail damsel ( also considered a relatively peaceful damsel). The damsel was added last. No problems, but remember all fish are individuals, I’ve read where people have a fish that is considered peaceful and is aggressive and people who have a fish that is known to be aggressive but is peaceful. Good luck.

 

[fishface NJ]

Here is a list of possible fish that would work in your 25g. Remember that 25g can't support too many fish. You already have 2 clowns. I would only add 1 or max 2 more fish and be done.

Hector's Goby
Firefish
Court Jester Goby
Wheeler's Shrimp Goby
Candy Basslet
Banded Possum Wrasse
Blackline Benny
Neon Blue Goby