Stocking 20 long - Macro Edition

[Fisker]

Hello! I just set up a 20 long and moved my macro algae tank into it. It's home to a Valentini Puffer, a False Percula Clown, and a Black Molly.

Now, if this were a reef, I'd probably call it stocked or maybe add a small goby or something. Since I'm doing a macro-oriented tank and am trying to keep the tank a tad more dirty than most would, I think I can stock a bit heavier, and wanted to get your opinions on what to stock it with. I'm not rushing into buying anything, but would like to get a good idea of what to get in the future.

I'm open to most ideas, but new additions cannot be aggressive (any more aggressive than the clown), and they cannot get large enough to eat relatively small fish, as the clown is around 2 1/2" and the molly is barely 1 1/2" at the moment.

Current ideas:
A molly trio (add two female mollies to go along with my male - probably different colors. Great algae control, since I can't have snails!)
A pygmy angel
A second clown
A pair of yellow clown gobies
Royal Gramma (too much attitude for the molly, maybe?)
Sixline Wrasse (might attack molly?)
Ruby Red Dragonet (I repeatedly see these fish online and in stores and want one. However, dragonets and nano tanks are usually not a great idea - anyone got any advice on this one? I'd probably do a single male)

Those are all current ideas, but I think a lot of them will be ruled out pretty quickly as I finish scaping this tank and getting a feel for it. I'd love to get your feedback on what will and won't work (as well as what might become a known issue with nipping/aggression), and any suggestions you guys have as well.

 

[VO6]

The sixline wrasse wouldn't be a wise decision since (from what I've read) they become terribly aggressive over time, so maybe skip out on that one

 

[Fisker]

Thanks! I've heard the same things, but didn't know if it was super common or not. I'll mark it off the list!

 

[nereefpat]

It would take tremendous planning to keep a dragonette in a 20 gallon. They eat a ton of pods.
I wouldn't recommend any angel for a 20 gallon either.

Another clown, the gramma, or clown goby would all be fine.

Sounds like you have more experience with mollies than many of us, so I can't comment there. Won't they eat your macros?

 

[Fisker]

Gotcha.

Thanks for the heads up on the dragonet - I've seen some kept in 20 longs, but they're usually by pretty experienced reefers. One day, with a larger tank! Same with the angel.

Nope - mollies don't really touch any super tough algae. I've found them to be really good with some hair algae (if it's softer), diatoms, and I've seen them do a lot of damage to the epiphytes that can grow on your macros and choke them out. They ignore tougher hair algae, bubble algae, cyano, and macros. Ulva and other super soft macros might be in danger, but I don't commonly see those as ornamental species.

 

[Pbh-reef]

Consider a pink streaked or possum wrasse - wonderful personality

 

[Fisker]

I'd love to have a Possum Wrasse! I don't think I can stomach the price for one, though - that's two months of my aquarium budget, at the moment. One day!

Now, the pink streaked wrasse is something I've considered multiple times. The only problem is that my sandbed is relatively shallow (just enough to allow for a couple of macros with rhizomes to grow) and will be replaced with crushed coral at some point. I know wrasses like to hide in the sand, so I'm not sure a pink streaked wrasse would be a great idea. Thoughts?

 

[Pbh-reef]

Neither the pink streaked nor possum bury in the sand to sleep so you’re fine! They sleep in the rock work.

There are 3 species of possum wrasse, the yellow banded is usually the least expensive. While live aquaria sells them for $60-80, at my LFS they are usually $30-50

 

[Fisker]

Awesome!

I'm definitely adding them onto the list of candidates, near the top. I'm not sold that they're exactly what I'm looking for (I've heard that wrasses can both of these species can be kind of cryptic, and I'm definitely looking for fish that are going to be in plain sight 99% of the time, even if they aren't actively swimming), but man... the colors on both of them are killers. I'll check to see what my LFS can get them in at.

I think I'm going to be adding a second clown for sure - I haven't had a pair in a long while, and I miss seeing the interaction. The molly died this morning, sadly. Didn't acclimate to salt as well as I hoped, and I think it's because I decided not to go with the sailfin variety. They acclimate quicker and with less stress, and I knew that going in - just didn't want my puffer nipping the big ole top fin.