20 Gallon High Ideas?

[Shigshwa]

I currently have a 20 high that is a FW planted tank, but I've grown bored of FW, and am considering rebooting it into a SW tank.

I'll likely have a tiny sump for equipment, fuges, etc. Assuming that there is no nutrient load or cal/alk demand that I can't handle (I own a fish/SPS/clam heavy 40 gallon), what would be a unique and interesting setup that I could do in a 20 gallon high tank?

 

[PatW]

You might think of a specialized set up.

A seahorse or pipefish or mandarin tank.

You could do a Caribbean sand and rubble field with pearly jawfish, a small goby and a chalk bass.

An anemone tank.

A turtle grass biome.

 

[Katrina71]

Softies and sponges. Maybe some cool inverts and nano fish.

 

[Shigshwa]

You might think of a specialized set up.

A seahorse or pipefish or mandarin tank.

You could do a Caribbean sand and rubble field with pearly jawfish, a small goby and a chalk bass.

An anemone tank.

A turtle grass biome.

I am thinking of a specialized tank. Coming into mind is either a clownfish harem (somehow) or an aggressive only tank, but I wanted to hear what others may have in mind that I never knew of.

 

[Katrina71]

What about a harem of barnacle blennies? Grouping your barnacles at different elevations?

 

[Shigshwa]

What about a harem of barnacle blennies? Grouping your barnacles at different elevations?

Fascinating, where do I even get a barnacle?

 

[Katrina71]

Fascinating, where do I even get a barnacle?

I have some pretty ones. I don't mind sharing.

 

[Katrina71]

I'd have enough to do your tank most likely.

 

[Katrina71]

Blennies have tons of personality. They also redily eat frozen...

 

[mcarroll]

Blennies have tons of personality. They also redily eat frozen...

+1

Other than the smaller blennies, there aren't too many other fish that will fit well in such a small tank either. A few Gobies. Uh....what else? I'd have questions about most of the other suggestions.

Also: barnacle for sale

$47.95 from Carolina Biological
Barnacle Cluster

$16.95 from Etsy - RichardsSeashells
Barnacle Cluster Coral (Real) (Large) (EA)

$3.95 from Etsy - RichardsSeashells
Barnacle Cluster Coral (Real) (Small) (EA)

$6.89 from The Seashell Company
Natural Barnacle Cluster 5-7"

$3.95 from Etsy - MermaidCoveGiftShop
Purple Barnacle Cluster-3-5"-Air Plant Planter-Craft Supplies ...

$255.00 from Etsy - AstroGallery
Purple Barnacle Coral (6 Inches)

$5.20 from Etsy - seashellmart
Purple Barnacle Cluster (3-5")

$15.97 from Amazon.com - Seller
Nautical Crush Trading Real Purple Barnacle Cluster | 5"-7 ...

$170.00 from Etsy - AstroGallery
Purple Barnacle Coral

Note that barnacles aren't needed to keep the blennies. I'm not even sure it's an ideal medium since it seems like they'd be detritus traps. I'd just use live rock, IMO.

@Katrina71 might have some specific deployment ideas to make em better though!

 

[mcarroll]

I used to have three B. Blennies in my 50 gallon, BTW.


Some of the best fish out there, IMO, even at their tiny size.

Their behavior is like a tiny, camoflaged Midas Blenny, if you happen to be familiar with them.

 

[Katrina71]

My blennies clean them out with their tail.

 

[Shigshwa]

That's neat. I don't know though, I'm leaning towards the extreme side of things though. I had in mind an aggressive/venonous/dangerous tank.

Some of those rainbow urchins, perhaps a dwarf lion, perhaps throw a nem in there with a maroon clown? Wish Foxface were smaller.

 

[Katrina71]

@mcarroll is too kind. I'm a newbie, but I don't think you can go wrong with a Blenny. BTW, my barnacles are not for sale...I'll just share.

 

[Shigshwa]

Alright, I might just try a blenny harem if I'm not up to the task of owning a crazy experimental tank then.

 

[mcarroll]

An experiment has to have a goal. A good experiment has a well-defined goal.

What is the goal you have for a crazy experimental tank like the ones you've been imaging?