Exotic stocking for 20g reef

[Fatjim]

I know it may be a hard task due to how small the tank is but I'm looking to stock some fish in my nuvo 20 gallon, I have seen and had all the basics (prawn goby, pistol shrimp, chromas, clowns ect)
Iv seen all the YouTube videos but I'm sure there are some more exotic options out there or even personal preferences I'm open to it all.

I'm looking for either a community or single fish themed tank depending on the available options
However my current stocking is.

Prawn goby
Pistol shrimp
Coral banded shrimp
Fire shrimp
Pom pom crab
Serpent sea star
Various hermits
Various snails

Note I do have another tank to move some critters around to account for any new livestock that wouldnt play nice with each other... thanks in advance

 

[Fatjim]

The tank in need of swimmy bois

 

[PicassoClown04]

I know it may be a hard task due to how small the tank is but I'm looking to stock some fish in my nuvo 20 gallon, I have seen and had all the basics (prawn goby, pistol shrimp, chromas, clowns ect)
Iv seen all the YouTube videos but I'm sure there are some more exotic options out there or even personal preferences I'm open to it all.

I'm looking for either a community or single fish themed tank depending on the available options
However my current stocking is.

Prawn goby
Pistol shrimp
Coral banded shrimp
Fire shrimp
Pom pom crab
Serpent sea star
Various hermits
Various snails

Note I do have another tank to move some critters around to account for any new livestock that wouldnt play nice with each other... thanks in advance

fish that don’t have special feeding requirements:
If you’re okay with no decorative shrimp, longnose/geometric Hawkfish are nice fish you don’t see in every tank.

Clown gobies are great additions! Very low bioload as well.

Cherub angels are lovely, I’ve got one in my 20 peninsula, don’t see them around too much
Seaweed blennies are fun, I caught mine down in Florida, very good tank mate

Sexy shrimp are very cool, not fish but I think they’re okay with your stock list so far.

possum/pink streaked wrasse, flatworm management and very cute!! Make sure you have a lid

mollies! Great for algae control in small tanks but rarely seen in DT for some reason? Easy to convert to saltwater and may even have babies! Newly hatched fry are great for your corals to eat

fish that need special diets/feeding
Coral crouchers are similar but you have to be cool with the possibility of spot feeding it frozen.

Painted frogfish, nuff said. Awesome froggie but doesn’t really fit with the re

 

[Fatjim]

That is a great start thank you

 

[Fatjim]

I have been thinking about the hawk fish and cherub for sure... what are your thoughts on a midas blenny

 

[PicassoClown04]

Just a word of caution, really big coral bands can attack sleeping fish, probably will not be an issue but since all your fish have to be pretty small it’s definitely something to consider

 

[PicassoClown04]

I have been thinking about the hawk fish and cherub for sure... what are your thoughts on a midas blenny

Midas blenny sounds great!! Make sure you have a lid tho and it’s eating before you buy it

 

[PicassoClown04]

Personally, I keep my 20 peninsula with a pair of clowns, a cherub, a pair of sexy shrimp, and a fire shrimp. Plus regular cuc. Better to understood fish and give them lots of space than overstock and have everybody be cramped and angry. Angry fish start picking at coral

 

[terraincognita]

I have been thinking about the hawk fish and cherub for sure... what are your thoughts on a midas blenny

Go Midas or tailspot.


they add so much personality to the tank.

my Tailspot recently made friends with my clowns.

and Everyday around 3-4 they all hang out near the pump for some reason and swim together.

 

[Fatjim]

Deff have a lid and will QT for sure and omg that opossum wrasse is amazing never heard of that one before

 

[Fatjim]

Go Midas or tailspot.


they add so much personality to the tank.

my Tailspot recently made friends with my clowns.

and Everyday around 3-4 they all hang out near the pump for some reason and swim together.

That is my attraction to them and if need be I can have just him (with cuc) because I'm looking for long term stress free

 

[Alaeriel]

When stable, I'm going with a firefish goby, pederson cleaner shrimp, red tuxedo urchin, blue leg hermits and star astrea snails in my 20 gallon. Much more basic than yours, but I'm following advice to get more hands-on experience before starting up the 200 gallon behemoth XD
Please update with photos when you find your perfect stock! I'd love to see what you end up choosing!

 

[Fatjim]

Just a word of caution, really big coral bands can attack sleeping fish, probably will not be an issue but since all your fish have to be pretty small it’s definitely something to consider

I have already noticed him being an butt to others and I dont think he will last in this setup

 

[PicassoClown04]

I have already noticed him being an butt to others and I dont think he will last in this setup

Mine lasted about a week. He is safe to catch and handle with your bare hands. I’ve caught thousands of these guys while scuba diving (only for like 5 minutes to take some photos and play with them, released exactly back where I found them). They get really big, found one where the body was the length of my hand.

 

[Fatjim]

I got my padi certification about 6 years ago but have never been anywhere cool enough to experience anything out of our reef tanks (NH area)

 

[terraincognita]

That is my attraction to them and if need be I can have just him (with cuc) because I'm looking for long term stress free

Yeah. they’re one of my top 5 all time favs.

re: wrasse I was gonna do one of these for my 45

 

[PicassoClown04]

I got my padi certification about 6 years ago but have never been anywhere cool enough to experience anything out of our reef tanks (NH area)

Try the Caribbean, relatively cheap to fly down there and they’ve got a lot of the fish/invert species we keep.

 

[Fatjim]

Somthing with color is awsome but functionality on top would make the "trifecta" I'm currently going through the ugly stage due to a leaky tank before this setup that caused some imbalance

 

[Fatjim]

Try the Caribbean, relatively cheap to fly down there and they’ve got a lot of the fish/invert species we keep.

Me and my fiance are looking to tie the knot soon and were looking at Australia for a honeymoon as my passion started with reptiles... Australia seems to have a little bit of it all

 

[Fatjim]

But enough about me I want to hear from you guys and your stocking