Worker fish for new project

[yanton]

I am in the UK and in the process of maturing a large FOWLR tank, ready for it's first stocking.
Its a big un' at 9ft with wier which is to be used as a refugium.
Low tech, low stocking, low maintenance, using my Rollermat and the refugium.
But ... I want the central point to be macro algae (so no Tangs).
No interest in soft or hard corals. Just fish, inverts and macro algae's.
Ready now for the first livestock.
I have been in freshwater fish keeping for years, and slightly out of touch with marine fishkeeping.

So here is the question, what WORKER fish can I get in place first, for the long term health of the setup to avoid potential problems such as flatworms, hair algae, etc.

 

[fishywishy]

Here are some good options, but don’t expect the fish to do all the work for you.

Cleaner wrasse
sixline wrasse
sapphire damsel
Blennys(lawnmowers are especially good for cleaning algae)
Foxface
Copperband if you get aptasia
DWG
Melanurus wrasse
Chalk bass
Filefish

 

[naterealbig]

Blueleg hermits.

 

[yanton]

Here are some good options, but don’t expect the fish to do all the work for you.

Cleaner wrasse
sixline wrasse
sapphire damsel
Blennys(lawnmowers are especially good for cleaning algae)
Foxface
Copperband if you get aptasia
DWG
Melanurus wrasse
Chalk bass
Filefish

Thanks for this, but could you let me know why I need each one, the pest they control. Thanks.

 

[Devaji]

a 9ft macro tank? now that is going to look great.

at 9' you have a ton of options both large and smaller fish.

for smaller fish look in to wrasses flashers, fairy's etc. lots of amazing wrasse and most dont get macro as far as i know.
there is a wrasse compatibility chart around, not all wrasses play well together.

for larger fish maybe puffer & angels not sure they will get macros or not some might be on the menu?

curious to see this come together...
keep us posted plz

 

[fishywishy]

Thanks for this, but could you let me know why I need each one, the pest they control. Thanks.

Some eat flat worms, some clean algae, some eat things like bristle worms, and some clean parasites.

I don’t have time to list the details for each fish right now, but you can easily look them up to find out what they do.