What are the best cleaner fish for a Nano?

[GregJames]

I just started a 29gal nano. Once the tank is cycled, I'd like to add some good cleaner fish to the tank. What are your recommendations?
I have a CUC of 8 snails, 8 hermit crabs, and 3 emerald crabs.
I'd like something that will feed on algae when produced, but will also feed on flakes. I don't want anything that absolutely has to have algae or it'll starve.

 

[ThRoewer]

If you think about a cleaner fish to remove parasites from other fish your best bet are neon gobies.

Though from your post I rather gather that you look for an algae cleaner fish. For that I would recommend an algae eating blenny. I personally would go with an Ecsenius species as they are colorful and not exclusive algae eaters.

Though IMO right now your tank looks way to sterile to put any fish in there., especially not one needing at least some algae to his diet. I would suggest to add corals first, maybe also some additional rocks with coralline on them to get those going.

 

[miranda1960]

like as said above cleaner goby (neon goby) i have two on a 79 gallon

 

[Mark9]

I'd skip trying to find a fish to eat algae, it's iffy.
A couple of trochus snails and 1 fighting conch would keep your tank clean.
But, like said earlier, your tank looks like there's no algae.

 

[jraker]

a reactor is better than any CUC at controlling algae. as long as you keep you nutrients low, you shouldnt need to worry about any major algae blooms

 

[ThRoewer]

a reactor is better than any CUC at controlling algae. as long as you keep you nutrients low, you shouldnt need to worry about any major algae blooms

That is a common misconception. Algae are not necessarily promoted or controlled by nutrient levels but rather by competition (corals, coralline or macro algae) and animals (snails, hermit crabs, urchins and blennies) that eat them.

I have currently quite elevated nutrient levels in my SPS tank but no algae problems, and absolutely no green hairy algae in any tank with a clean up crew.

I also just found that my bicolor blenny is highly effective in keeping my QT free of cyanobacteria (red slime). Before the tank was covered in it but now all the places he can reach are free of them. Only the inside of a breeder box where I keep a pipefish isolated is covered with the cyano pest.
Though he isn't very effective on eliminating green hairy algae, all he does is keeping them from growing longer.

I also found that diadema urchins are perfect for reconditioning live rock for coralline settlement. They only scrape off the green algae infused rock layer but don't touch the coralline. The coralline on the other hand can't settle on the green rock but rather needs a clean surface.