New Tank - What should I put in it?

[SaltyBuddha]

What fish would you put in here?

 

20 gallon tank (16.5 of water)

Macros/mixed reef

Mangroves

HOB filter with carbon and filter floss, Purigen and phosguard if needed

 

I want a sand sifter but I'm not sure how the rooted macros will handle that. A "schooling" fish would be nice as well. I also would prefer fish that I can get captive bred, but that isn't set in stone.

 

Current Stock:

1 Maroon Clown

2 Green Banded Gobies

 

New Stock?

Sand sifter - 1 Bluefin Watchman or diamond goby

Schooling -2 banggai cardinal fish, or  3 to 5 Chromis or Pajama cardinal fish

 

 

[Clown79]

Are you getting rid of the current fish?

 

 

3-5 chromis in a 20g is too much and they will kill each other in such a small tank.

 

Sand sifters are hard in small tanks too. The size of the tank doesn't provide the micro organisms that sand sifters generally require. The diamond goby gets very big, 2 spot goby dies in captivity. And they may pose an issue with uprooting the mangroves.

 

What about a pistol goby pair?

 

 

 

[Pinner Reef]

Diamond gobys always die

 

Listen to Clown79

 

Plz

[Clown79]

I accidentally got a 2 spot. I had a brain fart the day of purchase.

 

It was a sifter, made a mess of my tank whioe sitting and then died 2 weeks later. 

 

Bangaii would be nice in the tank. A cool goby/pistol would be good too.

 

[SaltyBuddha]

Good to know on the sifter. I'll stay away from them.

 

I can move the green banded gobies to my 10 gallon but the clown stays for now.

 

I was hoping 3 schooling fish (like chromis or pajamas) might work in this macro tank, but yeah that might be too much. 2 banggai would look great.

 

I'm not sure about a pistol goby pair yet. I actually have a pistol in my 10g that I could move over. Always wanted a yellow watchman goby 

 

[Clown79]

Ywg are cool. I love their "grumpy" faces.

 

The maroon is a more aggressive fish, that has to be taken into consideration.

[SaltyBuddha]

Very true. My initial thought was that the clown would keep the schooling fish together.

 

Do you think a pair of banggai and a YWG could hold their own? The clownfish is about 1.5 inches right now

[Clown79]

Well the maroon clown grows to 6" and has established its territory in the tank.

 

I don't know if I would advise that many fish in a 20g.

[SaltyBuddha]

13 minutes ago, Clown79 said:

Well the maroon clown grows to 6" and has established its territory in the tank.

 

I don't know if I would advise that many fish in a 20g.

For some reason I was thinking a 4" max. 6" is a monster.

 

Maybe I'll just pair the clown and call it a day. 

[Clown79]

49 minutes ago, SaltyBuddha said:

For some reason I was thinking a 4" max. 6" is a monster.

 

Maybe I'll just pair the clown and call it a day. 

You could do that.

 

Maroons are pretty but often due to their aggression cause issues with other tank mates.

I'm sure in larger tanks it's less an issue.

[CoralStorm]

On 12/11/2018 at 3:44 PM, Pinner Reef said:

Diamond gobys always die

 

Listen to Clown79

 

Plz

i agree my diamond goby was a pain he was causing hell on earth when he bullied my other fish and thew around my crushed coral substrate along with my hermits i would recommend some smaller species of snail perhaps some that can flip themselves back over? to be honest it i all your choice but be careful thats all i have to say

[mcarroll]

@SaltyBuddhaI agree with the guidance here overall.   There really are no schooling fish in saltwater....not like in freshwater.

 

An article you might like which relates:

Why are there so few fish in the sea?

[Daniel91]

If you would be willing to give up your current livestock, you could get some a skunk clown school.