stocking help on 20

always learning

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Jun 5, 2003
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I have a 20 tall w/ 45 lb. of LR it just finished cycling this week and I'm getting a big clean-up crew next week.
I was wondering how many fish I could fit in this thing it's about half LR and only a 20. The fish I was looking at were probably some gobies, manderine, and a pair of clownfish w/ anemone. Also I have recently found out that puffers are compatible with these so I might leave space for one of these.

Also about how many fish could I fit in there? and which are compatible? which aren't? and what about feeding habbit's?
I appreciate all the help.
:D

thanx,
always learning.
 
In a 20 gallon I would limit myself to 2 small fish, with one not being a mandarin. The feeding restrictions of the mandarin require a larger well established tank. How about a pair of clowns for the anemone you mentioned? Also what type of filtration are you using besides the live rock?
 
well I have an emperor 280 but I don't really use carbon. I'm getting some power heads this weekend ,2 probably, how strong do you think they should be? and for a skimmer
I've got a Berlin air-lift 30

I don't really need a filter though do I? I mean maybe just for mechanical filtration, right?
 
Yeah, the mandarin won't make it. A pair of small clowns, like ocellaris, percula, skunks or pinks would be great, though. At least 12-15 tank volumes turnover per hour.

An anemone will work in a tank of this size if you have sufficient light, but I would wait several months for tank conditions to stabilize.

Almost any puffer species will prey on invertebrates, and most of them can be quite nippy.
 
thanks for all the help.

I wanted to put in the clowns after the anemone but then it would be fishless for 3/4 of a year so I guess I could put in the clowns now and the anemone later and it'll be all good?

I was also wondering if I could put in a goby that can be on it's lonesome with the clowns like a blue neon goby or a yellow stripe clingfish?

For light I have a 10,000k daylight bulb w/ reflector (15 watt)
and I have a blue moon bulb for night (also 15 watt)
Will this be enough for an anemone and possibly some mushroom coral (striped).

Thanx,
always learning.
 
For a marine tank, people generally run the daylight and actinic (blue) together. Because blue light tends to penetrate deeper, the blue/white mix looks more like natural light on a reef.

I'm afraid 30 watts will not be close to enough light for an anemone. You're not really into the low end of reef lighting with that much. There may be some mushroom species that will be OK, but I'm not sure.

The clowns have no need for an anemone. You can add them now, and then add an anemone after the tank has stabilized and you have upgraded your lights.
 
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