Setting up a 20 Gallon Nano Reef - Invert Advice

[Aclman88]

Hey all!

I am currently in the process of converting my 20 gallon planted tank into a reef (still in the planning stages), and I wanted to use the tank as an opportunity to have some oddball invertebrates. Specifically I was looking into urchins, conches, and cowries. I have read that some of the cowries may not be reef safe, so I am toying with the idea of keeping it a FOWLR to start and possible adding an anemone once the tank matures (since I am planning on a pair of clownfish).

Any thoughts on having cowries in a tank with nems? Any other oddball inverts that I should look into?

Thanks!

 

[andrewey]

Are you sure you want to have these species in a 20 gallon? Many will outgrow that tank rather quickly and have nutrition needs that are difficult to maintain in such a small volume. There are a ton of nano-sized inverts you might want to check out that you can have long term success with.

 

[Aclman88]

Are you sure you want to have these species in a 20 gallon? Many will outgrow that tank rather quickly and have nutrition needs that are difficult to maintain in such a small volume. There are a ton of nano-sized inverts you might want to check out that you can have long term success with.

Thanks... worth looking into. I know that money cowries tend to stay small (around 1in) and that tuxedo urchins are on the smaller side. I was under the assumption a conch didn't grow to large? Thanks for the advice. What are some of the nano sized inverts you might recommend?

 

[Gernader]

I don’t have much experience on the inverts you are talking about. You should check out a skunk cleaner shrimp or a fire shrimp.

 

[Aclman88]

I don’t have much experience on the inverts you are talking about. You should check out a skunk cleaner shrimp or a fire shrimp.

I like skunk cleaner a lot so worth thinking about. Probably will have one of those in the tank as well. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[andrewey]

It's less the actual size of the organism and more the needs of their feeding. For example, a small hippo tang might only be 1.5" long, but certainly can't live for long in a 20 gallon tank.

For example a 20 gallon, even with mature rocks is unlikely to sustain most urchins for long before they die in a 20 gallon. This is a thousand times more important in new tanks like the one you are suggesting. I would take a look at their minimum tank sizes- you'll find many have ratings much much higher than 20 gallons and this is based on the assumption of a healthy microfauna population with mature live rocks. I would also warn you to find trustworthy sources. I'm not trying to demean many of the larger online vendors, but you should not assume their information is accurate- use sources from marine scientists or sites dedicated to animal care/husbandry and not from sources trying to sell you the animal . Many times, you'll notice a pretty consistent trend.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Take a look at pompom crabs, porcelain crabs, sexy shrimp, periclimenes shrimp, yellow line shrimp, and Pedersons cleaner shrimp. They are all very interesting inverts that you may like.

 

[Aclman88]

It's less the actual size of the organism and more the needs of their feeding. For example, a small hippo tang might only be 1.5" long, but certainly can't live for long in a 20 gallon tank.

For example a 20 gallon, even with mature rocks is unlikely to sustain most urchins for long before they die in a 20 gallon. This is a thousand times more important in new tanks like the one you are suggesting. I would take a look at their minimum tank sizes- you'll find many have ratings much much higher than 20 gallons and this is based on the assumption of a healthy microfauna population with mature live rocks. I would also warn you to find trustworthy sources. I'm not trying to demean many of the larger online vendors, but you should not assume their information is accurate- use sources from marine scientists or sites dedicated to animal care/husbandry and not from sources trying to sell you the animal . Many times, you'll notice a pretty consistent trend.

Thank you for the thorough explanation. I figured with the urchin at least, I would end up doing supplemental feeding, but I will reevaluate the invert choices to make sure what I choose matches the tank and what it can support. Thanks again for taking the time to write the thoughtful response.

 

[Aclman88]

Take a look at pompom crabs, porcelain crabs, sexy shrimp, periclimenes shrimp, yellow line shrimp, and Pedersons cleaner shrimp. They are all very interesting inverts that you may like.

Thanks! This is what I was hoping for; some specific recommendations. I have heard of only a couple on your list so I will check out the others.

 

[andrewey]

I would go with the list @TheShrimpNibbler suggested. Those are more appropriate for a 20 gallon and you can have long term success with! Plus, most are more visually striking and have more relatable personalities compared with many you listed.

 

[Aclman88]

I would go with the list @TheShrimpNibbler suggested. Those are more appropriate for a 20 gallon and you can have long term success with! Plus, most are more visually striking and have more relatable personalities compared with many you listed.

Personality is definitely important, especially since a smaller tank will limit the number of inverts and fish I keep. Thanks again. I appreciate forums like this where I can get some honest advice. I agree that online vendors might not be the best and I think I got caught up too much on size of the organism vs needs. I have a solid understanding of proper limits for fish more so than inverts; I was discounting the importance of taking their needs into account since they are CUC which, I realize, is setting myself up for failure.

 

[andrewey]

At think at this point, you're going to have a thriving nano reef! Also, I know you didn't ask about fish, but take a look at clown gobies if you want a fish with a ton of personality!

 

[Aclman88]

At think at this point, you're going to have a thriving nano reef! Also, I know you didn't ask about fish, but take a look at clown gobies if you want a fish with a ton of personality!

Thanks. For fish I am thinking a pari (or single) clownfish, hi-fin goby w/ pistol shrimp, and another open swimmer... I like the look of Bangaii Cardinals alot and have also toyed around with royal grammas, but I have read they can be hit or miss in aggression.

I actually have a green clown goby in my pico reef that has been doing well. I love his grumpy face haha.

 

[El_Guapo13]

I have a Fighting Conch. Have had him for over a year and a half. Started in a 16 buocube as my only sand sifter, now he is in a 29 gallon and has a few nassarius snail buddies. Never had any issues other than finding he somehow randomly climbed up parts of my rockwork that are too high and vertical for it to make any sense for how he managed to climb it to begin with. Also he occasionally sends one of my snails or hermits flying when he gets annoyed with them crawling on him. Usually it's my Turbo Snail that is on the receiving end of the Conch's wrath. Always funny to see something the size of a golf ball get sent flying across the length of a 29 gallon tank after getting basically roundhouse kicked in the face. And that is why the conch is named Jean-Conch Van Damme.

 

[Aclman88]

I have a Fighting Conch. Have had him for over a year and a half. Started in a 16 buocube as my only sand sifter, now he is in a 29 gallon and has a few nassarius snail buddies. Never had any issues other than finding he somehow randomly climbed up parts of my rockwork that are too high and vertical for it to make any sense for how he managed to climb it to begin with. Also he occasionally sends one of my snails or hermits flying when he gets annoyed with them crawling on him. Usually it's my Turbo Snail that is on the receiving end of the Conch's wrath. Always funny to see something the size of a golf ball get sent flying across the length of a 29 gallon tank after getting basically roundhouse kicked in the face. And that is why the conch is named Jean-Conch Van Damme.

Love the name. I actually have seen my Trochus snail wind up and unwind to expel hermit crabs off its shell. It is very amusing to watch.

 

[andrewey]

@El_Guapo13 Jean-Conch Van Damme is easily the best conch name I've ever seen. I'm absolutely stealing this.

 

[Aclman88]

@El_Guapo13 Jean-Conch Van Damme is easily the best conch name I've ever seen. I'm absolutely stealing this.

Agreed. I just imagine your conch doing a split between two piece of live rock.

 

[El_Guapo13]

Agreed. I just imagine your conch doing a split between two piece of live rock.

If I could find the picture of it, I will post it. But with all the climbing he has done on my rockwork, there have been times he was dangling in between two different part not really centered on either. Like I said. He is a crazy one. Helps that his googly conch eyes make him look silly.

But here is a pic of Jean-Conch on that rock that he somehow climbed on top of from the rear vertical face, which also has an overhang. Hence why it was so confusing that he climbed up from that direction. Btw this was back when the 16 gallon biocube was still up and running before it sprung an irreparable leak

Oh. And he has climbed on those three Aussie Lords. Alot.

 

[Aclman88]

If I could find the picture of it, I will post it. But with all the climbing he has done on my rockwork, there have been times he was dangling in between two different part not really centered on either. Like I said. He is a crazy one. Helps that his googly conch eyes make him look silly.

But here is a pic of Jean-Conch on that rock that he somehow climbed on top of from the rear vertical face, which also has an overhang. Hence why it was so confusing that he climbed up from that direction. Btw this was back when the 16 gallon biocube was still up and running before it sprung an irreparable leak

Oh. And he has climbed on those three Aussie Lords. Alot.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing the pic. Love the different colors of your coral as well.

 

[El_Guapo13]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing the pic. Love the different colors of your coral as well.

Thanks... unfortunately that hammer up front is no more. It had a polyp bailout like a month ago, and the polyps did not reattach anywhere and died. Guess it didn't like the move to the 29 gallon.

The bicolor and the frogspawn are doing great though. And it looks like my frogspawn is going through the process of forming a new head. Finally. After having it for over a year....

Also this is what the tank looks like now as the 29 gallon.