Stocking 20g Waterbox Cube

[jramy123]

Hey all
As I wait for parts to get here so that I can start cycling I wanted to run my dream stock list by you and see what you think. I do not plan on "maxing" it out but would like a pair of clowns, CUC (need recommendations here), and a Mandarin which is my dream fishie. Is this possible? I have read a few posts about Mandarins and it would be work, but they dont talk about what the work is. I assume I would need to seeds a ton of pods after cycle and have the tank up a while before adding him. Please let me know if this stock list could work and feel free to point me to reading as I have a week or so before I even get this tank wet lol.

 

[tsouth]

So long as your mandarin has a constant and consistent supply of food, then it's fine.
Means of providing a constant and consistent supply of food range from..

1. Purchasing live pods and/or foods (gut loaded brine shrimp) and adding them often
2. Cultivating and culturing live foods and phyto, adding them often
3. Weaning the mandarin off of live foods, and onto nutritious dry and frozen foods

The reason it is not typically sustainable are due to costs, time, and replenishment. So long as you can support them through whichever means, then you'll be fine. It's not recommended, but you'll be fine. These fish do not skimp out on eating, and are constantly hunting and foraging. Keep that in mind as your prioritize your costs, time, effort etc etc

 

[SliceGolfer]

WB20 is a nice tank, I have one myself. Clowns, gobies, basslets, and small wrasses are all great selections for this size tank. As already said, a Mandarin will be tough. Maybe start with the other fish and add a mandarin when the tank is mature and can sustain a constant food source. I like banded trochus snails, astrea snails, and gold ring cowries for my clean up crew. I avoid crabs at all costs. I also have a peppermint in the tank.

 

[jramy123]

So long as your mandarin has a constant and consistent supply of food, then it's fine.
Means of providing a constant and consistent supply of food range from..

1. Purchasing live pods and/or foods (gut loaded brine shrimp) and adding them often
2. Cultivating and culturing live foods and phyto, adding them often
3. Weaning the mandarin off of live foods, and onto nutritious dry and frozen foods

The reason it is not typically sustainable are due to costs, time, and replenishment. So long as you can support them through whichever means, then you'll be fine. It's not recommended, but you'll be fine. These fish do not skimp out on eating, and are constantly hunting and foraging. Keep that in mind as your prioritize your costs, time, effort etc etc

Thanks for advice. I know it would be lots of work and not an instant add to the tank. Another question is that I remember clowns can be territorial, should I wait a few months for tank to mature and pods to populate and then add all 3? What would be a good 4th fish that would get along with clowns and mandarin to just add a bio load for tank?

 

[jramy123]

WB20 is a nice tank, I have one myself. Clowns, gobies, basslets, and small wrasses are all great selections for this size tank. As already said, a Mandarin will be tough. Maybe start with the other fish and add a mandarin when the tank is mature and can sustain a constant food source. I like banded trochus snails, astrea snails, and gold ring cowries for my clean up crew. I avoid crabs at all costs. I also have a peppermint in the tank.

Will do. I remember my 60 gal I had up for months before I even tried a mandarin and dumped monthly pod packs to help grown and keep the population up. Thanks for ideas for cuc!

 

[tsouth]

Thanks for advice. I know it would be lots of work and not an instant add to the tank. Another question is that I remember clowns can be territorial, should I wait a few months for tank to mature and pods to populate and then add all 3? What would be a good 4th fish that would get along with clowns and mandarin to just add a bio load for tank?

Add fish based off of potential aggression, where most aggressive is later, but doesn’t have to be last. There’s not going to be any conflict between the clowns and the mandarin due to species so you’re fine to add as you please here.

Now for a fourth fish you’ll really need to pay attention to details. Ideas include a Pygmy wrasse like the pink streaked, small clown gobys (may irritate sps), helfrichi firefish (jumper), royal gramma (territorial). Many of these have great color - especially a gramma but also needs space.
You could add the gramma and clowns at the same time so they can figure out territories and then add the mandarin much later.
I would not recommend any more fish than four, and most definitely research all the negatives of each fish too