Preventive Stocking / Rethinking your LS

[Curtis1]

Ok, I have several fish, that are not working out for my tank. I am going to restock the tank. Main goals are to stock it with residents that will help with controlling pest and unwanted algae. I'm thinking,

1. Something to eat Bubble Algae
2. Something to eat Aiptasia / not corals
3. Something that will control AEFW's, should I get them ,,,

These are my stocking priorities, I don't care what it looks like, I am more interested in the corals. I don't care if it's an invert or a fish. If I need the invert, then I want fish that won't eat it. If it happens to be a fish, I don't want it to eat corals. I have a 75 gal. I like to overstock with more smaller fish. I have a 35 gal sump w/Cheato, nice pod population. Here's a list of what I have now :

1. Yellow Tang
2. Blk & Wht Chromis
3. Flame Hawkfish
4. Pyle's Wrasse
5. McCosker's Wrasse
6. Lubbock's Wrasse
7. Percula Clownfish
8. Pajama Cardinal
9. Kaudern's Cardinal
10. Green Mandarin
11. Scissortail
12. Royal Gramma
13. Matted Filefish
14. Yellow Watchman Goby (SUMP)

Here's a list of what I want to take out to replace with better candidates :

1. Blk & Wht Chromis, totally disrupted the tank. Before he was put in, all fish were out and about. Don't ever buy one unless you want to feed it to a Lionfish or Trigger
2. Matted Filefish, bought to eat Aiptasia, thinks that my corals are a buffet. I still have Aiptasia !
3. Pyle's Wrasse, has badgered my Lubbocks Wrasse into hiding, chases my McCosker's into jumping all the time now !!!
4. Yellow Tang, bullys new fish, killed two CBB's doesn't eat algae, hides all the time. Doesn't act like any YT that I have ever had in the past ??? This one is mean, doesn't flit around the rock pickin' algae. Always runs and hides. I did not pay $50 for a fish to hide all the time !!! I have had him for 6 mos or longer. I can see him acting weird at first, but the new stage should be over by now !!! Enough is enough, really !!!

Once I get these out, let things calm down for awhile. I then am going to go one of two routes :

1. Try CBB's till I get a good one that controls feather dusters and aipatsia, not eat corals.
2. Try another One-Spot Foxface or a Blue Scribbled Rabbitfish to control bubble algae
3. Remove Hawkfish to stock about 10 Peppermint Shrimp and 10 Emerald Crabs
4. My two remaining Wrasse should control AEFW, possibly add one more ?

Any thoughts, suggestions ??? LMK I just want a nice, peaceful tank that is free of bubble algae and aiptasia thru natural control !!!

 

[Jersh]

From what I've read, you will have a hard time finding fish or inverts that will only eat aiptasia and leave your corals alone.

I was planning on stocking peppermint shrimp, until I read all of the reports of people who have had them turn on their LPS after a time.

 

[triggreef]

I had a peppermint eat a mushroom to very near death. A not cheap one. Took about 4 months for it to come back. Hated the pepp's all they do is Rob the corals of food. & then sometimes try to eat the coral. Lol

Halichoerus wrasses are your best pest patrol option although they are hit or miss. Melanurus are good, xmas as well, & I believe my work horse is a green "coris". Just understand the green coris could go postal on shrimp crabs snails etc when it gets bigger. Mine is approaching 4" & well behaved but also well fed.

The wrasses you have mentioned aren't really hunters, more water column type fish eating what comes by.

I love yellow eyed koles for algae control but again hit or miss but we'll also do ok in your size tank.

I find it funny all the fish you currently have don't really contribute toward your goal of natural control. Lol

For aptasia I'd suggest that you should manually kill them. For bubble algae manually remove it then stop it from growing back by limiting its needs. I've had it in my system but it never takes a hold. I have a good amount of macros in my sump, & limit the light in my display to 6hrs at the maximum lighting & it ramps up& down dramatically before& after.

 

[HPark]

For aptasia I'd suggest that you should manually kill them. For bubble algae manually remove it then stop it from growing back by limiting its needs. I've had it in my system but it never takes a hold. I have a good amount of macros in my sump, & limit the light in my display to 6hrs at the maximum lighting & it ramps up& down dramatically before& after.

+1....I don't think relying on natural controls is the best method of dealing with some of these issues. Mostly, it's hit or miss. Whether or not a particular specimen eats the pest you want it to (without also eating coral) is just luck of the draw. The fish don't read the posts we write about them..

 

[Curtis1]

I had a peppermint eat a mushroom to very near death. A not cheap one. Took about 4 months for it to come back. Hated the pepp's all they do is Rob the corals of food. & then sometimes try to eat the coral. Lol

Halichoerus wrasses are your best pest patrol option although they are hit or miss. Melanurus are good, xmas as well, & I believe my work horse is a green "coris". Just understand the green coris could go postal on shrimp crabs snails etc when it gets bigger. Mine is approaching 4" & well behaved but also well fed.

The wrasses you have mentioned aren't really hunters, more water column type fish eating what comes by.

I love yellow eyed koles for algae control but again hit or miss but we'll also do ok in your size tank.

I find it funny all the fish you currently have don't really contribute toward your goal of natural control. Lol

For aptasia I'd suggest that you should manually kill them. For bubble algae manually remove it then stop it from growing back by limiting its needs. I've had it in my system but it never takes a hold. I have a good amount of macros in my sump, & limit the light in my display to 6hrs at the maximum lighting & it ramps up& down dramatically before& after.

You are absolutely correct. The more I think about it, after I remove the unwanted fish that are disrupting the peaceful atmosphere, really dig in hard on manual removal, till I get the problems solved. They are not out of control yet, I am just looking for natural help along the way. The Pyle's Wrasse does hunt, I have watched it, but messes with my other two peaceful Wrasse. The McCoskers will come right up to my finger and bump it !

 

[Marshall O]

I would also recommend going with a Halichoeres or two as long as you have a sandbed. You can't go wrong with an H. chrysus, although H. cosmetus are also very good at picking off AEFW. H. iridis are excellent for monti-eating NB.