20 gallon nano reef

[fishboy10]

i just got my first coral a green star polyp and its already opened up i got a 20 gallon tank with 25ish lbs of liverock a neon goby a firefish peppermint shrimp various hermits and snails and these white little starfish that have behaved so far i plan on adding a bangai cardinal fish and a clownfish fish wise but wat other corals are beginner corals like green star polyps and how easy are they to tell if they are open like my green star polyp is open when the geeen polyps poke out of the purple matt they grow on but how do if like mushroom corals or zooanthids are open or closed

 

[Tahoe61]

Kenya Tree, Colt coral, any of the Sinularia.

Live Aquaria has a nice section for easy hardy corals. I would avoid any of the stony corals for now. It's a nice site to get ID's and ideas, see link below.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=597+2856

 

[fishboy10]

would a bangai cardinal or a yellow watchman goby be a better choice as i have to get a clownfish no matter what for my little brother though would percula or occelaris work best clownfish is going to be last fish added

 

[Tahoe61]

Occelaris is pretty common and affordable, very hardy and can have a milder temperament, that would be my first choice. A Bangai and the YWG/yellow watchman, will both go fine with the clown.

 

[fishboy10]

i already have a firefish and a neon goby i dont want both a bangai and a yellow watchman goby if i get a clown would i be ok adding 2 fish to have a total of 4 in the 20

 

[Ahruk]

Sounds like you're off to a great start Zoas are also a relatively easy coral. When they're closed up they look nothing like they do when they're open just goggle image search "closed up zoa" then goggle say "eagle eye zoa" (a fairly common, cheap, hardy and fast growing strain) and you can't miss the difference.


Sounds like you're gonna have a lot of fish that swim around a lot, personally I would get the goby because they behave so differently but in the end it's gotta come down to what you want to see in the tank.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would get the watchman goby as well. Those 4 smaller fish should be fine in a 20 for a long while. Remember to not over feed and do routine water changes monthly.

 

[fishboy10]

i waterchange weekly or every two weeks and so adding a watchman goby and a clownfish to tank that has an established firefish and a neon goby be fine with easy care for corals

 

[Ahruk]

Yep that should be perfect for zoas

 

[Flameback Pair]

I like to see new hobbyists approach everything so cautiously. With respect for life and attention to detail these hobbyists should go far.

 

[Nnavarro1982]

I have a 20 gallon reef, along with my clean up crew I have 1 purple fire fish, 1 six line wrasse, 1 engineer goby (that will move to my 76 gallon once he grows up), 1 lawnmower blenny, and 1 clown fish. Along with about 15 types of zoas, mushrooms, torches, frogspawn, hammers. And more, also u will see 2 carpet anemones. So with time an patients you can get a lot in these 2 gallons !!

 

[fishboy10]

hows the six line behave?

 

[Nnavarro1982]

My six line behaves fine. Never had a problem with him. He was my 2nd fish added to my tank and whenever I added new fish I just always add someone who is a bit bigger so he doesn't bully. But my clown keeps him in check. It's a pecking order. It's cool to watch actually.

 

[seth999]

That's about how my tank is having different clown species. They have their own territories and will chase each other if one crosses over. A Kenya tree would be a good choice, personally I would try some zoas. Closed they don't show their colors, open they do kind of like the green star.