Stocking...

[Yurei]

I'm having lots and lots of trouble figuring out what I want to stock for my new 20 gallon tank.

 

At first I wanted a dwarf cuttlefish but I figured I won't get one yet because I will not have enough money to feed him as I am a jobless high school student.

 

Then I saw some clown fish and they looked really cool but wondered if I would ever get bored with them.

 

I already have a light for this tank which is 65w so I'm planning on low light corals such as candy cane, aussies, zoas, gsp, and mushrooms.

 

I really want a sea cucumber for this tank and was wondering if there are any recommendations on species. Don't know much about them.

 

Also what kind of shrimp or crabs could/should I get?

 

 

 

Anyway my 3 choices are

some kind of cool fish

mantis shrimp

some kind of cool fish + cool inverts that won't get eaten by fish or eat the fish

 

Any ideas? Thanks in advance! I really want this tank to be really fun to watch!

[Gerber77]

Check out some of these fish. They give descriptions and you can keep inverts with those too.

 

 

Nano Fish

 

Marine Inverts

[Yurei]

Ok here's my plan.

 

3 Green Chromis

1 Royal Gramma

1 Fire fish

2 Peppermint shrimp

5 right legged hermits

5 astrea snails

one of these guys (i emailed them asking what species they exactly were and how big they get to be so it depends right now) http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/pr...oot_parent_id=4

 

Is that too much for stocking? What do you think?

 

Any other fish you may want to recommend?

 

And where do you think I could get some pre-cut acrylic for covering the tank. It's a standard sized 20 gallon tank

[Gerber77]

Ok here's my plan.

 

3 Green Chromis

1 Royal Gramma

1 Fire fish

2 Peppermint shrimp

5 right legged hermits

5 astrea snails

one of these guys (i emailed them asking what species they exactly were and how big they get to be so it depends right now) http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/pr...oot_parent_id=4

 

Is that too much for stocking? What

Any other fish you may want to recommend?

 

And where do you think I could get some pre-cut acrylic for covering the tank. It's a standard sized 20 gallon tank

 

1. I think it a good list but remember to stalk slowly. Also I would rethink the royal gramma because they tend to be aggressive. if you do decide on it then add it last.

2. If you dont get a royal gramma i would get a mated pair of neon gobies

3. try petco or petsmart

 

Heres a link 4 the gobies and cucumber

Gobies

 

cucumber

[Yurei]

Ok. I'll rethink the Royal Gramma.

 

Pair of neon gobies eh? I guess I'll do that. Breeding will be fun if possible :-D.

 

And my petcos and petsmart near me don't have saltwater sections. And I don't want to support them at all lol. I'll go to my various LFS's and also order online.

[blown 346]

When stocking a tank, you have to take into consideration fo the fishs adult full size it will grow to. You want to give a fish 3 to 5 gallons of water for territory, and swimming room. If a fish will grow to 4 inches as an adult you want to give it between 12 to 20 gallons of water. Otherwise the fish can feel cramped and disease could be a problem as well as fighting.

 

For the acrylic you can go tot your local Home Depot or Lowes, they have it and will also cut it for you. Make sure you get the thicker stuff, the thin stuff will warp after time.

[Yurei]

I think my stocking plans would be fine then. Chromis are schoolers and I wouldn't think they would need a lot of room per fish. More as a group. Then my firefish is just a bottom dweller hiding in its cave so that's not problem. Then the two neon gobies are just the tiniest of things so no problem there once again.

 

I guess I'll buy the hermits/snails/shrimp first, then the firefish and perhaps two neon gobies, then the 3 green chromis. Does that sound good?

 

And then finally the coral. I guess I'll be more than fine as these fish are very hardy (apparently). I can't wait to get started with the LR!!

[Yurei]

Is water flow important for fish? I'm planning on getting an Aquaclear 50 and I thought it'd be fine for my planned corals, but would the fish want flow?

 

Thanks again.

[Gerber77]

The fish dont need the flow its the coral. I would eventually put a small powerhead in there if I was you once you start adding coral

[Yurei]

Thanks Gerber you've been lots of help. I'll get myself a powerhead later.

[Flipper1]

My opinion may be against the grain here, but if you're planning on keeping a reef tank, I would keep a VERY light fish load; maybe one or two. Most corals, depending on what you keep, will only thrive in pristine water. A heavily stocked tank (and 4 fish in 20 gallons is VERY heavy) will lead to nutrient-rich water; not the most conducive environment for a reef. IMO you'd best decide if fish or corals are more important to to you, and stock accordingly.

[Yurei]

Hmm. 5 fish with two that barely count as being fish (the neon gobies). And my coral planning is various zoas, mushrooms/rics, GSP, xenias, candy canes, blastos (if i can afford it) and various other hardy and lower light species.

 

I think I'll be fine! I'll have a AC filter fuge too with weekly water changes.

 

I hope I'll be fine lol.

 

 

Anyway another question. Does you think one of these guys will be fine to add to the collection? http://sealifeinc.net/catalog/product_info...ducts_id=198,46

[Gerber77]

Your best bet is to email ken at sealifeinc and he will give you an honest answer. see how well they do in his reef tanks and then make your decision.

[Greenstar]

Horrible stocking plan. Scrap the green chormis, 3 of them will grow to 2-3inch each in a 20g and make a HUGE bioload.

[Yurei]

2-3 inch each in a 20g and it'd make a HUGE bioload? with 3? Sorry I don't understand and many guides tell me what I am doing is fine. I may be pushing it I know but I'm thinking with hardy fish and hardy corals I'll be fine. Also I've seen many people keep a pair of clowns in a 10 gallon with successfull results. They grow to be about 3 inches. So if you have 20 gallons 3 2-3 inch fish would be bad? Makes no sense to me.

 

What would you suggest?

 

I think I'll only get one neon goby. Perhaps even toss the firefish.

[Gerber77]

The chromis do get large but if you buy them when they are small you can have them for a while and you may decide to upgrade or you can sell them after a few years.

[kydsexy]

Hmm. 5 fish with two that barely count as being fish (the neon gobies). And my coral planning is various zoas, mushrooms/rics, GSP, xenias, candy canes, blastos (if i can afford it) and various other hardy and lower light species.I think I'll be fine! I'll have a AC filter fuge too with weekly water changes.http://sealifeinc.net/catalog/product_info...ducts_id=198,46

did the noob just give attitude?? those are some good choices but just because theyre hardy doesn't mean they should be exposed to high nutrient levels, caused by fish waste and excess feeding. it seems like that list is working towards a reef, stay away from a high bioload. why aren't neon gobies considered "fish?" active fish can be the largest waste producers along with the messy eaters in SW. Swimming=Energy=Food=Digestion=Waste :.Alot of Swimming=Alot of Energy=Alot of Food=Alot of Digestion=Alot of Wasteyou plan on adding 5 active fish, need me to do more math? lol. be careful when stocking small tanks, and listen to the advice, usually if you have to ask, you're not sure about what you're asking. listen

The chromis do get large but if you buy them when they are small you can have them for a while and you may decide to upgrade or you can sell them after a few years.

catching active fish in established tanks can be destructive

[Yurei]

OK lol I might toss the Chromis. Greenstar you were right. I didn't do enough reading.

 

This guide doesn't seem to be the best to follow http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74703

 

!!!

 

Confused I am. I'll start from scratch.

[Yurei]

did the noob just give attitude?? those are some good choices but just because theyre hardy doesn't mean they should be exposed to high nutrient levels, caused by fish waste and excess feeding. it seems like that list is working towards a reef, stay away from a high bioload. why aren't neon gobies considered "fish?" active fish can be the largest waste producers along with the messy eaters in SW. Swimming=Energy=Food=Digestion=Waste :.Alot of Swimming=Alot of Energy=Alot of Food=Alot of Digestion=Alot of Wasteyou plan on adding 5 active fish, need me to do more math? lol. be careful when stocking small tanks, and listen to the advice, usually if you have to ask, you're not sure about what you're asking. listen :Pcatching active fish in established tanks can be destructive

 

I just thought neon gobies were really tiny and would not put out so much of a bioload. My mistake of course.

 

And yes the noob did give out some attitude because he told me it was horrible, but didn't suggest anything else besides scrapping the chromis.

 

 

 

 

New questions. How about one goby (say an engineer goby or something) and one that's swimming in the open water. What fish would you recommend for that one fish if that is possible for a reef tank?

 

Thank you

[Gerber77]

engineers can reach over a foot and I think I read they are poisonous.

[Yurei]

Why did I think engineer goby's stayed small?!?!?!?! wtf?

 

OK!!! I meant to say something like a shrimp goby.

[Gerber77]

Shrimp body pair is great but what about a Purple Firefish as your centerpiece for fish and then building your following livestock list around that. Pick a fish you really like and then make a list around that. Firefish are great imo because they are active, very striking colors and they have personality. As for a shrimp goby pair you may not see them alot because they stay mainly on the bottom of the tank. A firefish will generally stay in the center or swin around.

[Yurei]

Oh I thought that firefish were shy? Then I would one of those.

 

So one firefish. What else could I get with one normal firefish, the will not frighten the firefish into hiding all day?

[Gerber77]

Look around and see if there is anything you like. Ive kept b/g chromis, clowns, gobies and other firefish no problems with the firefish that Ive had.

[Yurei]

How does this sound to everyone?

 

one false percula clownfish with one firefish. Could a pair of clownfish even be possible?