Suggestion for useful fish for Nano aquarium

Lyngsaa · Jun 18, 2020

Hi,
I am in the process of planning my fish list for my Red Sea Nano (20 GAL tank) and was wondering if someone could suggest me some useful fish for this size aquarium. I will for sure add 2 clown fish, but would like to add 1 or 2 fish that could either:

1) help with pests
2) graze on Algeas

Since I'm still a beginner in Reefing I am completely lost (or in Information overload). Interesting personality and beauty is of course a huge plus, but I'm mostly interested in utility fish to fit a small nano aquarium

Big G · Jun 18, 2020

Pigmy, Possum or Pink Streak Wrasse . . .

schneidergarrettt60 · Jun 18, 2020

I had a matte file fish in a 24 gallon nano this is when I had a aptasia outbreak he gobbled them all up great personality.
Not sure if that size tank is suitable for them though. Just a thought

Lyngsaa · Jun 18, 2020

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. Think a wrasse could be a good choice.

Is there any nano size fish that will graze on algae?

Pbh-reef · Jun 18, 2020

Tailspot blenny (some Small risk it will pick at fleshy lps)
Hector or. Rainford goby (rainford is captive bred) - need sand too and can be tricky to get eating

schneidergarrettt60 · Jun 18, 2020

Oh I second the rainford goby those are neat fish. I had one years ago. This is a good thread.
I will be setting up a 5 gallon soon hopefully at work this helps me get ideas as well. I was thinking a goby pistol shrimp pair. I will not highjack your thread though these are all good fish I think so far

Lyngsaa · Jun 19, 2020

thanks a lot for the suggestions. After a bit of research I think I will go for one

Pink Streak Wrasse

Think it will fit the bill in my case perfectly. Was considering a six striped Wrasse as well, but think the

Pink Streak Wrasse is a better choice in the end.

Katrina71 · Jun 19, 2020

I've never had a Tailspot nip at coral, but they are super cute!

Huenemedoe · Jul 13, 2020

Third on the Rainford's Goby and second on the Tail Spot! I have a little Rainford's in my 7.5 nano and he keeps my algae trimmed and loves pods. Also, he sifts sand so win-win. Here is a little care video I made for these guys.

Huenemedoe · Jul 13, 2020

schneidergarrettt60 said:
I had a matte file fish in a 24 gallon nano this is when I had a aptasia outbreak he gobbled them all up great personality.
Not sure if that size tank is suitable for them though. Just a thought

Did you have anything else in the tank with the filefish? I have a pretty bad outbreak in my 20, praying that my berghia are alive, this might be the next step.

minus9 · Jul 13, 2020

I would use snails to deal with algae in a nano. Most algae eating fish get too large for nano tanks or require a special diet. I love neon/sharknose gobies as cleaners (for any size tank). Captive bred rainford gobies would be the only ones I would consider in a nano, they're actually specialized eaters and must have a constant source of filamentous algae in order to survive long term. There are so many nano sized gobies and blennies that are very cool to keep in smaller tanks. Barnacle blennies, trimma gobies, etc.... Even smaller shrimp gobies would work.