Top 3 Fish Choices for Frag Tank
- Thread starter KingBlingTX
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MikeyAl
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Notorious yes. I am not sure the notoriety is justified. Mine is a dream. And we are talking a tank with 3 fish, right? I wouldn't add another wrasse, but others mentioned like lawnmower blenny or tang - no problem.
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KingBlingTX
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I would plan on a smaller tang that could spend some time in the frag tank. Once it gets too large, I would move to a larger tank.
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KingBlingTX
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LOL. Does anyone ever actually plan on that?
The Kole tang is definitely on my short list for consideration.
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Nice topic!
Bbqguy
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Melinaris, Green coris wrasse, blue eyed Kobe tang and scooter blenny are what I keep in most of my bare bottom frag tanks. 45-80gal. I keep a small plastic container of sand in the back corner for Melinaris.
Given to understand that _target_ mandarins enjoy the taste of flatworms almost as much as a melanurus wrasse. LFS gent told me he keeps three fish in every frag tank or coral display: target mandarin, six-line wrasse, and a tang. I'd imagine that once you get a tang and a six-line in there, adding _new_ fish could be an issue . . .
~Bruce
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Stigigemla
Well-Known Member
A Genus that is good in eating algae is Salarias. But I think its only the ramosus that generally is eating other foods. Atrosalarias fuscus usually eats good but the popular Salarias fasciatus can be hard to get used to other foods then film algae. It often refuses nori algae too.
Another genus that generally is good at eating algae is Ecsenius with the ecseption of midas which is more interested in free floating food. Ecsenius lineatus is one of the best.
The best fish of eating red bugs i beleive is Synchiropus ocellatus. The other mandarins are more finicky about foods. If they are alone they might learn to eat mysis or artemia rolling on the bottom. The splendidus is the most difficult species.
For pyramid snails and other parasites I would recommend Halichoeres genus. I think all of them are very good at controlling pyramid snails and similar.
And they generally dont need a whole sand bed. Just put in a tray of 2 inches thick fine sand of maybe 2 or 3 square decimeters and they will sleep happily there.
Another genus that generally is good at eating algae is Ecsenius with the ecseption of midas which is more interested in free floating food. Ecsenius lineatus is one of the best.
The best fish of eating red bugs i beleive is Synchiropus ocellatus. The other mandarins are more finicky about foods. If they are alone they might learn to eat mysis or artemia rolling on the bottom. The splendidus is the most difficult species.
For pyramid snails and other parasites I would recommend Halichoeres genus. I think all of them are very good at controlling pyramid snails and similar.
And they generally dont need a whole sand bed. Just put in a tray of 2 inches thick fine sand of maybe 2 or 3 square decimeters and they will sleep happily there.
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KingBlingTX
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Thanks again for everyone's input. It's given me some additional ideas to investigate. So based on the various recommendations, here's what I'm leaning towards now:
1) Tang- one of the Bristlemouth Tangs (Ctenochaetus genus) such as Kole, Tomini, or White-Tail
2) Six-Line Wrasse (based on not needing a sand bed)
3) Damsel (Chrysiptera genus)- probably Springeri
1) Tang- one of the Bristlemouth Tangs (Ctenochaetus genus) such as Kole, Tomini, or White-Tail
2) Six-Line Wrasse (based on not needing a sand bed)
3) Damsel (Chrysiptera genus)- probably Springeri
rossco
.
I keep a melanurus wrasse for pest control. My frag tank is mostly bare bottom with an 6 inch by 6 inch by an inch or so deep sand area in one corner that it sleeps in. I was getting ready to buy a kole/bristletooth type tang as the melanurus is starting to eat all my crabs and snails that used to keep the algae under control.
Eric Straus
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My vote, tomini tang or a small yellow tang and if you can get the LFS to swap it when it gets bigger, lemon/yellow damsel is good for controlling flatworms. I'd also suggest staying away from blennies if you're going to have SPS in there, most will eventually nip at Acropora in my experience.
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KingBlingTX
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Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions. I felt I should let everyone know which way I ended up going.
The winners were (drum-roll....)
1) Tomini Tang <unceremoniously named Tom>
2) Six Line Wrasse <Hawkeye>
3) Springerei Damsel <Mystique>
and a last minute #4 addition...
4) Lawnmower blenny <Budha-because his belly if very Budha-like>
I have 2 turbo-snails in the tank now as well to help with algae control. I may add a few trochus and/or nerites as well.
The winners were (drum-roll....)
1) Tomini Tang <unceremoniously named Tom>
2) Six Line Wrasse <Hawkeye>
3) Springerei Damsel <Mystique>
and a last minute #4 addition...
4) Lawnmower blenny <Budha-because his belly if very Budha-like>
I have 2 turbo-snails in the tank now as well to help with algae control. I may add a few trochus and/or nerites as well.
