Stocking reccomendations for a 20 Long

[SV650Squid]

I just recently got ahold of a 20 Long that I plan on turning into a minireef. This will be my first marine tank, and I was wondering what everyone would reccomend for 2 or 3 fish that I'd like to put in once I get my live rock and it's cycled(I'll prolly cycle it with the live rock).

So far I have a penguin 170, and I'm planning on adding a Remora skimmer.
I have a little power head that was laying around moving some water as well, but I'll be getting a couple permanent powerheads for a total of 400 gph or so.
For lighting I'm going to start out with a regualar output 2 bulb flourescent fixture so that will be 40 watts total between the 2 bulbs(I won't be adding corals until later so that ought to be fine right?).
The live rock I'll be using will prolly be from gulf view, and I'll also most likely get some live sand from them as well.

I've been looking at gobies, clowns, flasher wrasses, and dottybacks. I really wish I could get a mandarin dragonette, but my tank is no where near big enough to house enough live rock for it... I'd like any suggestions for fairly easy to take care of fish that'll get along. Information of feeding requirements, etc would be nice too.

Also, when I get my live rock and sand should I add it in the tank together, and watch the cycle start? Or should I do it separately?

I've been lurking around here for awhile, but this is my first post. I've already absorbed a bit of info, but I'd like to make sure everything seems on the up and up by running it by some more experienced people.

[ChilDawg]

I like frogfish for that sized tank but others will probably shoot that idea down right away...

[always learning]

Well first off since it's your first SW tank and I'm asuming you're completely new to SW I'll tell you a few things. Firstly about the waterflow, when I read penguin 170 I said to myself WOW thats tiny for a SW reef but then again all you really need a filter for is mechanical filtration and waterflow so that'll be good as long as you have at least an additional 300 gph in powerheads so you'll be set there. However I can't believe you're willing to pay for livesand, just buy playsand it's worth it. I would cycle with LR, just throw in LR w/ sand and water and you're ready to cycle. I have 45 lbs. (www.DrsFosterSmith.com) of LR but I wouldn't suggest it in a reef (not enogh space), 30 lbs. is enough. For light you should be allset but I would get two 10 or 20 thousand k coralife bulbs, but also seriously consider an actinic or blue moon bulb for the corals (at night). Don't forget to supplement (calcium and stuff like that). One thing I would suggest is after you cycle wait at least for not only the tank to balance but to gain xp. ... for at least half a year (patience is a virtue;) ) just keep it "reef-ready".

Now finally to the point, I would think a few clowns are nice (depends on your taste) with a nice anemone home and maybe even a family. Don't be afraid to get a manderine, just wait a year for all the stuff on the LR to grow for you. A jawfish or goby of some-sort would be nice and if you really wanna see something cool than get a goby and pistol shrimp, the srimp makes a home in the sand and the goby is the security guard. I've heard that cardinalfish swim very elagently and methodically so you might want to get some of those. A green damsel (forgot their name) will be a good addition and reef-safe and peacful too. If I were you I'd get the clown/s the manderine and the goby/s and of course a bunch of shrimp and snails (clean-up crew) and some plants (mangroves prefiberally) and an anemone for the clowns.

well, I hope the best of luck to you or else I'll smack you for makin' me write this much (sorry if there were type-o's I'm really sleepy) haha :D jk'n (just kiddin') if this thread will still be around than post a picture, I wanna see if I helped you, haha.

[SV650Squid]

I was thinking about an ocellaris or 2, plus maybe some type of gobie(or jawfish), and I wasn't sure if I'd add a 3rd fish(or what it would be if i did maybe a blennie). I haven't done enough research on whether or not any of those would compete for copepods w/ a mandarin dragonette so I don't know. I'm really not cool with the idea of possibly starving a fish to death.
I may eventually do some type of soft corals after it was stable for quite a few months to a year, and I from what i've read I'm really not comfortable with the responsibility of keeping an anenome in such a small tank right now.
I was planning on an extensive cleanup crew(I think hermits are pretty cool looking).

I'll pull out the digi cam when I start adding live rock. right now I have a tank with water in it, with an inch or so of sand, and the penguin hanging on the back running...

Ohh and though I don't have any marine experience, I did work in a pet store for awhile, and I've been keeping a breeding pair of convicts for about 2 years now. My fiance has quite a bit of marine experience(she worked at various pets stores from 16-20 and we're 21 now), but this is *my* tank so I'm making all the decisions. :D

[ChilDawg]

Then don't get the mandarin for such a small tank...unless you'd be culturing copepods in a large tank and be able to ID and remove them to give them to the mandarin.

[mogurnda]

I like your idea of using gulf view rock. The Aquacultured rock from them and Tampa Bay Saltwater is jam-packed with interesting things. Get some live sand from them while you're at it. I got piles of worms, stars and things in TBS live sand that are still going strong after 18 months.
I am extremely biased, but like having a pair of small clowns in a tank that size. Pinks, skunks, ocellaris, and percula are good. If you get a couple of juveniles, you will end up with a pair eventually. The downside is that the tank will become "theirs" and you won't be able to have other fish.
If you're not adding corals immediately, 40 watts is plenty. You will probably get some hitchhiking macroalgae and corals, so you will want some light if you want them to be happy, but 40W will probably be fine.
I like your plan of taking it slowly. Get the rock and sand in, wait for things to stabilize, add a cleaning crew, wait some more, then add fish. Success seems to be strongly correlated with patience. I might also suggest adding a detritivore crew, with worms, snails, amphipods and the like, from Inland Aquatics (http://www.inlandaquatics.com) or Indo Pacific Sea Farms (http://www.ipsf.com) after the tank has cycled, but before adding the hermits. Be careful stocking with hermits, they can wreak havoc on snails and worms, but I think they are also extremely useful scavengers and grazers.

[BrianH]

Your set up sounds pretty good. As for when to add the LR & sand, ask Dale what he thinks when you make your order. He's a friendly guy who will give you a lot of advice.

Bran

[g. mcclean]

I agree with several of the replies. We desperately want a mandarin and have a 46 and 75 gallon but would not attempt them due to the feeding constraints. Can't see looking for heartbreak (yours and his). I love the idea of a pair of clowns. We are finding more and more tank raised clowns and just picked up a pair for our 75. Hopefully the "tank-raised" will be hardier. They are interesting little fish and rather reef safe from our research. Good luck and enjoy!!!