Need advice for a fish

D'sreef · Sep 30, 2025

I notice the other day that I have a relatively large population of pods, flatworms, and baby mini trouchus snails my aquarium. I have added pods around 3 or four times just to boost the population though I really don't have a pod predator per say in the tank. The main portion of the homemade AIO is about a 35 gallon +/- capacity. So I was thinking of adding a dragonet of some type, longnose hawk fish, or maybe someone will have a suggestion for a mini predator. My current stocking list is a lawnmower blenny, 2 false percula clown, 1 Bangai Cardinal, and a peppermint shrimp (3 inch or so). I am not set in stone for a fish either, if you have an invert suggestion that is reef safe I'll take that as well.

kevgib67 · Sep 30, 2025

Sounds like a wrasse is what you are looking for, melanurus, sixline or yellow coris.

D'sreef · Sep 30, 2025

kevgib67 said:
Sounds like a wrasse is what you are looking for, melanurus, sixline or yellow coris.

I figured with my tank, a wrasse would be too big, and would bother the other snails?

W31Olds · Sep 30, 2025

I would not get a wrasse. The Cardinal and even Clownfish will eat free swimming PODs that appear around dusk/night like candy. The Lawnmower probably gets many crawling on the rocks mixed in with the Algae. If you have a good population I would get a Mandarin. I have one and they are low maintenance very interesting fish.

Idoc · Sep 30, 2025

I'd go with a smaller, invert friendly wrasse over a Mandarin. Most people can't maintain the pod levels required for Mandarins and the poos things starve to death. A smaller wrasse also gives the advantage of having an actively swimming fish in your tank.

exnisstech · Sep 30, 2025

Wrasse should eat the flat worms and also pods but I've found pods do a good job self controlling population. Mine keep pumpkin flatworms clear. I have 3 sixlines in 3 tanks. In my SPS tank my electric blue damsel lets the sixline clean it which is interesting.