20 Gallon Tank Inverts

[SinkyShippy]

I have a 20 gallon tank. What type of inverts should I put in the tank? Also, when should these be introduced? With the first fish, after all the fish have been introduced, etc? Just a side note, I'd like to get a shrimp or two if possible.

 

[Kristophf]

Im pretty new to this forum also, but welcome. Your gonna have to provide alot more detail on your setup, (equipment, lighting, water parameters etc). Also you should look into what there is out there and do some homework and decide what you want to keep and what you can work with in a 20g tank. There are plenty of existing forums and videos on youtube with information i suggest you start there.

Are you new too reef keeping?

 

[SinkyShippy]

Im pretty new to this forum also, but welcome. Your gonna have to provide alot more detail on your setup, (equipment, lighting, water parameters etc). Also you should look into what there is out there and do some homework and decide what you want to keep and what you can work with in a 20g tank. There are plenty of existing forums and videos on youtube with information i suggest you start there.

Are you new too reef keeping?

Thanks, bud! Yeah, I'm quite new.

Here's what I have:
*165W viparspectra light
*Live rock and sand so ammonia and nitrites will be zero
*Aquatop Pf25-UV Filter
*Aqualife 115 mini internal protein skimmer
*Marineline Bio-Wheel penguin aquarium power filter, 30-gal
*240gph circulation pump

Any other information needed?

 

[Kristophf]

Have you cycled your tank? Just because you have live rock and sand doesnt mean you will have zero ammonia and nitrate. But once your tank is cycled (ammonia nitrite and nitrate have settled down to zero) and beneficial bacteria has been established in your filter media, rock and sand your tank will be ready to support livestock. How long has your tank been running?

Good begginer corals like zoanthids, hammers and mushrooms are pretty hardy and look great. I would suggest waiting till your tank is more mature until adding shrimp, as for fish your tank is quite small so id only recommend smaller fish like a coral goby or a blenny. Or other gobies.

 

[Kristophf]

Have you cycled your tank? Just because you have live rock and sand doesnt mean you will have zero ammonia and nitrate. But once your tank is cycled (ammonia nitrite and nitrate have settled down to zero) and beneficial bacteria has been established in your filter media, rock and sand your tank will be ready to support livestock. How long has your tank been running?

Good begginer corals like zoanthids, hammers and mushrooms are pretty hardy and look great. I would suggest waiting till your tank is more mature until adding shrimp, as for fish your tank is quite small so id only recommend smaller fish like a coral goby or a blenny. Or other gobies.

 

[SinkyShippy]

Have you cycled your tank? Just because you have live rock and sand doesnt mean you will have zero ammonia and nitrate. But once your tank is cycled (ammonia nitrite and nitrate have settled down to zero) and beneficial bacteria has been established in your filter media, rock and sand your tank will be ready to support livestock. How long has your tank been running?

Good begginer corals like zoanthids, hammers and mushrooms are pretty hardy and look great. I would suggest waiting till your tank is more mature until adding shrimp, as for fish your tank is quite small so id only recommend smaller fish like a coral goby or a blenny. Or other gobies.

I'm working on cycling right now. Got the rock in a bucket with a filter and a heater. It'll probably be done this weekend (doing a 100% water change tonight to check) but I think I'll keep it going for a bit longer just to be safe.

The fish I plan on getting are two clownfish, a tailspot blenny, and a firefish. I originally wanted to get a Gramma but a previous forum convinced me to stick with those three fish.

 

[Kristophf]

Those sound like a good choice for your tank. Dont add fish until your rock is in and youve tested params and come back all good. Then maybe start with one fish and see how your tank water responds to it. If thats all well you can start to add more but just keep watching your parameters and do 10- 20% water changes at least every week or two or more if they start to rise to much. Once your tank has matured you could even try pair up the clowns with an anemone

 

[SinkyShippy]

Those sound like a good choice for your tank. Dont add fish until your rock is in and youve tested params and come back all good. Then maybe start with one fish and see how your tank water responds to it. If thats all well you can start to add more but just keep watching your parameters and do 10- 20% water changes at least every week or two or more if they start to rise to much. Once your tank has matured you could even try pair up the clowns with an anemone

Do you have an idea of what inverts I should introduce eventually?

 

[Mikedawg]

Looks like you are off to a good start and doing your research early. Lots of good choices I think. In general terms, many reefers use inverts to control specific problems like GHA, so that might be a consideration when and if your tank develops any.
If you like shrimp you might consider a fire shrimp (2" max size) for its decorative color, realizing it will "steal" food from your corals. I like inverts that have a function in the tank as well and so would recommend you consider a tiger conch (not a fighting conch), a great detritovore and sand stirrer, with interesting behaviors. Ninja stars are small and have an unusual shape and are good algae eaters as are Trochus (1" max size). I would stay away from crabs in a small tank, and snails and urchins that are big enough to knock corals over or take your frags for a ride.
In terms of when to add, I think you will want to wait until their food supply is available, e.g., you have some algae for your snails.

 

[Kristophf]

Invertebre is a pretty wide term... basically any animal without a backbone. Like i said you going to need to do some research yourself. I just recommended some beginner corals. You need to look into the types of invertebre there are including corals, snails, starfish urchins, crabs, anemones etc. If you are going to keep a successful nano tank your going to have to familiarize yourself with some knowledge on the animals you will be keeping and how these animals survive in the conditions you need to provide for them

 

[SinkyShippy]

Invertebre is a pretty wide term... basically any animal without a backbone. Like i said you going to need to do some research yourself. I just recommended some beginner corals. You need to look into the types of invertebre there are including corals, snails, starfish urchins, crabs, anemones etc. If you are going to keep a successful nano tank your going to have to familiarize yourself with some knowledge on the animals you will be keeping and how these animals survive in the conditions you need to provide for them

My apologies. I was referring to shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, etc.

 

[SinkyShippy]

Looks like you are off to a good start and doing your research early. Lots of good choices I think. In general terms, many reefers use inverts to control specific problems like GHA, so that might be a consideration when and if your tank develops any.
If you like shrimp you might consider a fire shrimp (2" max size) for its decorative color, realizing it will "steal" food from your corals. I like inverts that have a function in the tank as well and so would recommend you consider a tiger conch (not a fighting conch), a great detritovore and sand stirrer, with interesting behaviors. Ninja stars are small and have an unusual shape and are good algae eaters as are Trochus (1" max size). I would stay away from crabs in a small tank, and snails and urchins that are big enough to knock corals over or take your frags for a ride.
In terms of when to add, I think you will want to wait until their food supply is available, e.g., you have some algae for your snails.

Two people have recommended that tiger conch to me. I'll look into all the ones you provided. Thanks a ton!

 

[Mikedawg]

Two people have recommended that tiger conch to me. I'll look into all the ones you provided. Thanks a ton!

Glad to offer some recommendations; that's what this forum is about - leveraging the experience and practical knowledge of members. Good luck

 

[Kristophf]

My apologies. I was referring to shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, etc.

No need to apologize! Theres alot to learn and you never really stop learning. I guess most of what most people know is from their own experience or the experience from others

 

[Kristophf]

Also if your set on keeping inverts make sure your using RO/DI water

 

[SinkyShippy]

Also if your set on keeping inverts make sure your using RO/DI water

I bought a system [emoji846]

 

[Kristophf]

Good stuff [emoji41]

 

[ScottR]

My apologies. I was referring to shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, etc.

Are you planning your CUC (clean up crew)? Inverts in saltwater that help to clean up detritus, algae, uneaten food, etc? If so, you’ll want to think about what you plan in putting in your tank later on down the road. For example, if you want to keep corals in your tank, you won’t want a camelback shrimp as they are known to eat corals.

 

[Idaho Mojo]

I have a 20 gallon tank. What type of inverts should I put in the tank? Also, when should these be introduced? With the first fish, after all the fish have been introduced, etc? Just a side note, I'd like to get a shrimp or two if possible.

Welcome to the forums, and most importantly, welcome to the hobby!

Here is a pretty basic chart for compatibility between species, although this will not determine the compatibility for the size of tank you have, it's good to reference when considering new additions [emoji4]

 

[actik]

I have 2 Mexican turbo snails in my 20g and they are eating machines, only other thing I plan to put in now is 2 Nass snails to keep my sand bed stirred, a cleaner shrimp to keep my fish clean and maybe 1-2 red hermit crabs....unsure about them, only reason I'm considering them is because the turbos poop ALOT. I assume it's because they eat so much and the hermits eat it I'm told...if that helps you any