Better Overall Fish

[MattTheFish]

Hi,
I was wondering in a 15g tank what would be the better fish, a Rainfords Goby, or a Lawn Mower Blennie. I like the Rainfords goby because of its coloring and that it stays small, and eats algea. I like the Lawn Mower Blennie because it eats alot of algea and dosent sift sand. The most important factor is that the Rainfords goby is a sand sifter and i dont care for sandstorms in my tank and my last sandsifter (Two spotted Goby) died in two weeks, and that the lawnmower blennie gets a little big. I really need one that does a good job at eating algea and will also eat regular food and not starve. Does the LMB sift sand? Also are there any other better choices that i didnt mention.
Thanks

[Matt.D]

I voted for other, I say a clown goby and two snails lol

[icereefer]

a couple of clown gobys would be nice, firefish will fair well, another cool little goby is the Blackray shrimp goby.
I really wouldn't have a LMB in that small of a tank. they need a good supply of algea.

[Doctor_Reef]

Ditto's with the above!!!

[ebais]

+1 here to what they all said above :)

[MattTheFish]

Thanks. I have a Ton of algea so thats why i wanted to get one that does a good job, but might also eat some flake food. Do the clown gobys, or the Blackray Shrimp Goby eat any algea, or sift sand? Which ones add the least to the bioload? I have some snails but they dont help much.

[FishinInTheDark]

Honestly, you will be much more successful if you get to the bottom of your algae problem. The two clowns that are in the tank, being fed flake food (which is high in phosphate and sometimes nitrate) are probably causing more than enough waste to produce algae. Up your water changes, keep clean filter media, reduce the photoperiod, add a skimmer if you can, use high quality food sparingly, and the algae should subside.

[MattTheFish]

Yeah, I have a skimmer already, but what is some "High Quality" Food. I feed them flake food every other day and Mysis shrimp about once a week, but besides that what other food is good? I mean i know my load would be a little high but i am trying to find like the smallest goby or fish possible for my tank and it would just be a added benifet if he helped my cleanup crew.
Thanks

[FishinInTheDark]

I really like Ocean Nutrition frozen Formula One and Formula Two. These are highly nutritious, and resemble actual meat and algae.

When you feed mysis, do you drain the water that they're packed in when they thaw? That water is also algae fuel.

[MattTheFish]

I let it sit in a small cup of of water for a little bit to soften up the cube.

[FishinInTheDark]

That's good, to start. Here are some hints:

Don't ever feed an entire cube to your fish. Shave off about 1/4 cube while it's still frozen, and put the rest back in the freezer. After you thaw the piece in water, drain it before putting it into the tank. If the pieces are too small to decant the water well, try pouring it through a coffee filter. You could even rinse it again in the filter to get it really clean. This is a little more work, but this process once a week isn't that bad.

[MattTheFish]

OK, Thanks

[Telco Guy]

Also, consider using RO water for your water changes (if you aren't already).

And, have you considered getting some cerith snails and mexican redleg hermits to help clean up the algae?

[MattTheFish]

I use distiled water. I have some snails, they might be ceriths and i have some hermits but im not sure what kind.

[blennyluv]

should you drain the water off brine shrimp too?????

[FishinInTheDark]

Yes.