Cleaner crews in aggressive tank

[GoinSalt]

I'm planning to start an aggressive tank with a lionfish, eel, some type of grouper or trigger, etc. I've read that a lot of these fish like to eat snails and crabs. What do I use to keep algae at detrius at bay?

Nate

[leebca]

Hi Nate.

It depends upon the species of the fishes you want to keep. For instance, most species of Lionfishes will leave snails alone. Almost all will attack any available shrimp. Then there will be issues with worms in the substrate being able to do their jobs.

You generally don't want crabs anyway, so this leaves concerns of snail and worm well being. If the fish you want are not going to leave the snails and worms alone, then a cleanup crew will need to be other compatible fishes.

As a last resort, you're back to the way things were in the 70's -- a sterile tank (no live rock) and the aquarist is the 'clean-up crew.'