Wrasse in bare-bottom tank

[ryboy707]

I’m setting up an sps dominant bare bottom tank, and I would really like to utilize wrasse for pest control, is there a certain species of wrasse that will do the job and be ok without sand? I’m going to have a lot of flow so sand isn’t an option

 

[Cment]

size of the tank? At first thought a sixline comes to mind, only problem is they tend to become aggressive as they age.

 

[ryboy707]

Red Sea reefer 170

 

[BestMomEver]

Six line is perfect. They are web builders, not sand sleepers.

 

[ryboy707]

Is there any other wrasse besides six line? I’ve never been a fan of them

 

[nereefpat]

Is there any other wrasse besides six line? I’ve never been a fan of them

Pink streaked or either of the two possum (wetmorella) wrasses.

Or the sixline has close cousins like 4-line, mystery. They will not tolerate other wrasses, especially in a 170 litre.

 

[Tyler Bullock]

I've asked the same question on here and that is basically (from what I have been told) the only wrasse that will hunt pests for bare bottom users. There are other wrasses (fairy/flasher) that will do fine in bare bottom tanks, but they do not hunt like the 6 line.

 

[evolved]

If you're not willing to entertain a "sandbox" in the tank, than the Pseudocheilinus genus is the only real option. But you can only keep a single wrasse of any species in this genus, and you will be unable to add any similarly shaped fish once the Pseudocheilinus is established.

Pseudocheilinops ataenia is a peaceful alternative without those above caveats, but also not as big of a species so therefore won't quite be the pest eater that a larger Pseudocheilinus can be.

 

[Lukas75]

If you're not willing to entertain a "sandbox" in the tank, than the Pseudocheilinus genus is the only real option. But you can only keep a single wrasse of any species in this genus, and you will be unable to add any similarly shaped fish once the Pseudocheilinus is established.

Pseudocheilinops ataenia is a peaceful alternative without those above caveats, but also not as big of a species so therefore won't quite be the pest eater that a larger Pseudocheilinus can be.

What he said. Just far more elegant than I would have said. I keep a x-mas in a barebottom, I have a glass baking dish hidden in the tank full of the softest sand I could find and I change the sand out monthly. That having been said, finding a spot with low enough flow can be a bit of a challenge and I do have to siphon out the overflow from time to time.

 

[evolved]

That having been said, finding a spot with low enough flow can be a bit of a challenge and I do have to siphon out the overflow from time to time.

Right - any sandbox in a bare bottom tank will make a bit of a mess that'll require some cleaning. It's inevitable that some sand will get tossed out of the dish onto the tank bottom.

 

[Cment]

Not a wrasse, but a springer damsel may help control flatworms as well....

 

[ryboy707]

Ok, I’m open to a small sand box, which wrasse will be best with that option? I would like to keep more than one wrasse if possible, but if I only have to keep one I would want it to be the best looking wrasse I can get

 

[Cment]

Ok, I’m open to a small sand box, which wrasse will be best with that option? I would like to keep more than one wrasse if possible, but if I only have to keep one I would want it to be the best looking wrasse I can get

Since you only have about 35g to work with keeping 2 may be a little more difficult especially as they mature. You can get a flasher wrasse like a carpenters as a second. They wont help with pest control but can be very pretty. As far as pest control goes, I like the melanurus, radiant, red-line or christmas. Keep in mind that they may get a little aggressive as they age and get bigger. If youre going to keep peaceful fish, getting a possum or pink streaked wrasse wouldnt be a bad idea. They can be cryptic at first but can help with certain pest and stay small.

 

[evolved]

Since you only have about 35g to work with

Yikes; I looked right past the size of the tank before.
With this in mind, I wouldn't put any species of Halichoeres wrasse in a tank of that size.
A pink streak (Pseudocheilinops ataenia) really is your best bet here, all considered. Most Pseudocheilinus are also too large for the tank.

 

[nereefpat]

Are possum wrasses too small to be pest eaters?

 

[ryboy707]

What about a coris wrasse?

 

[nereefpat]

What about a coris wrasse?

Any in the Coris genus will get way too big, and they need sand.

A yellow "Coris" would work for a while. It would eventually outgrow the tank though, and it would need sand.

 

[ryboy707]

Blue star leopard?

 

[lolmatt]

I agree that the pink streak wrasse or a possum (wetmorella) are your best bet. There are plenty more than two species of wetmorella, I got a w triocellata the other day from my lfs. You can keep both, and you can keep a pair of pink streak easily in that tank. Great options overall especially if you plan to keep a peaceful tank which at that size I don't see how you wouldn't.

What else is in the tank? I'd keep a springeri damsel, algae blenny of some sort, two or three of those wrasses, and whatever other small fish you prefer.

 

[ryboy707]

I’m thinking a molly miller for algae and maybe a clown