Stocking for a 20 Long

[Baby Ray]

I am setting up a 20 long reef at my school. I will be keeping mostly softies, some LPS and maybe some rock nems. My school's colors are red, black, and white and I want at least one fish that has some of those colors in them. I just want to keep 3 small fish. During the summer the fish will be fed pellets by an automatic feeder so the fish will have to be able to survive on pellets. I am afraid that some of the fish I want won't be aggressive enough to swim up and take the food from the feeding ring. Here are my thoughts-

Fish- 3 of these
percula clown
clown goby (afraid it won't get enough food)
neon goby (afraid it won't get enough food)
Tankaka's pygmy wrasse (red and white for the school colors)
Shrimp goby pair (afraid they won't get enough food)- I was thinking yasha goby for school colors
yellow watchmen goby
firefish
court jester goby
orange stripe prawn goby
Kaudern's Cardinalfish
chalk basslet
any blenny (worried about aggression)
royal gramma (worried about aggression)
Red stripped goby (for school colors)

Inverts-
cleaner shrimp
sexy shrimp
pincushion urchin (Ill add it after a lot of coralline algae starts to grow)
mini brittle stars
nassarius snails
1 or 2 hermit crabs
fighting conch
bumblebee snail
feather duster
maybe a rock nem


Sorry if this is overwhelming I just want to do this right the first time
Thank you everyone!!

 

[CarrieB]

Clowns come in black and white.

 

[Baby Ray]

Clowns come in black and white.

If I do get a clown I think I will get the original Orange, black and white for the little kids. They would drive me insane calling him "nemo" though

 

[eatbreakfast]

Rhe gramma, chalk bass, and cardinals will likely eat the sexy shrimp.

Any of the wathman gobies will be fine. Small, site oriented fish can't afford to be too picky.

 

[Baby Ray]

Rhe gramma, chalk bass, and cardinals will likely eat the sexy shrimp.

Any of the wathman gobies will be fine. Small, site oriented fish can't afford to be too picky.

Thank you!! I was just worried about them being to timid to swim all the way to the feeding ring and eat. Especially a shrimp goby pair

 

[DeniseAndy]

Let's see. First off, a pincushion urchin will get too large for a 20g L. I would try a red tuxedo. These would be cool because you are looking for red in there. They do not get as large as pincushions.

Sexy shrimp are super cool, but tend to get lost even in a 20g and do not have a long life. So, not a great investment IMO.
Sounds like you are having sand, so nassarius are good, but I would get some cerith and nerite snails too. These guys are algae eaters and the nassarius are more carion or rotten food eaters.
Make sure you have enough food or the conch before adding. They eat junk off the sand and rocks. Cool guys. Love them.
Mini brittles will be present if you get any live sand or rock. Those just come, no need to buy them. They populate fast and easily.
Hermit crabs: I would stick to scarlets. The others are cool, but also like to eat snails and other hermits. So far my green legs have been good in my tanks, but they are not as easy to find.
Feather dusters need the debris in the water to eat. May want to wait for mature tank for these.
My favorite shrimps are the spotted cleaners, but they are white and blue. So, a skunk cleaner or blood red would work for your colors.

I would get a black and white clown to match your colors. These are ocellaris and really cool fish. You could get a pair and then a yellow watchman and be set for fish. However, if you want others, 1 b&w clown, Yasha goby pair. They will do fine if only one other fish to compete with. They will learn to get food. My pink bar and shrimp are fine and I have never seen them eat. Seriously, in two years never seen them eat. Crazy fish.

 

[Baby Ray]

Let's see. First off, a pincushion urchin will get too large for a 20g L. I would try a red tuxedo. These would be cool because you are looking for red in there. They do not get as large as pincushions.

Sexy shrimp are super cool, but tend to get lost even in a 20g and do not have a long life. So, not a great investment IMO.
Sounds like you are having sand, so nassarius are good, but I would get some cerith and nerite snails too. These guys are algae eaters and the nassarius are more carion or rotten food eaters.
Make sure you have enough food or the conch before adding. They eat junk off the sand and rocks. Cool guys. Love them.
Mini brittles will be present if you get any live sand or rock. Those just come, no need to buy them. They populate fast and easily.
Hermit crabs: I would stick to scarlets. The others are cool, but also like to eat snails and other hermits. So far my green legs have been good in my tanks, but they are not as easy to find.
Feather dusters need the debris in the water to eat. May want to wait for mature tank for these.
My favorite shrimps are the spotted cleaners, but they are white and blue. So, a skunk cleaner or blood red would work for your colors.

I would get a black and white clown to match your colors. These are ocellaris and really cool fish. You could get a pair and then a yellow watchman and be set for fish. However, if you want others, 1 b&w clown, Yasha goby pair. They will do fine if only one other fish to compete with. They will learn to get food. My pink bar and shrimp are fine and I have never seen them eat. Seriously, in two years never seen them eat. Crazy fish.

Thank you so much!!!
You are right. A red tuxedo would be better. Thank you.
I have a pair of sexy shrimp in my 29 gallon mixed reef and I haven't lost them. They are also almost a year old. Mine hang out in my frogspawn or my rock nems. I was thinking about getting some rock nems for the sexy shrimp to make them feel safe. I will looking into the over snails. I would defiantly wait for the feather duster. I am not a huge fan of hermit crabs but I know the little kids would like them so I will defiantly get the smallest ones possible. I really do like cleaner shrimp so I think I will stick to them.
Again, thank you!!

 

[CarrieB]

[QUOTE="DeniseAndy, post: 3095167, member: /]
My favorite shrimps are the spotted cleaners, but they are white and blue.[/QUOTE]
Is the spotted cleaner shrimp the same as a Pederson Shrimp?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Great luck on the sexy shrimp. Mine always disappear too quickly. Rock nems will help.

No, they are different shrimp. Spotted are a bit bigger and easier to find.

 

[Baby Ray]

Great luck on the sexy shrimp. Mine always disappear too quickly. Rock nems will help.

No, they are different shrimp. Spotted are a bit bigger and easier to find.

I have had good luck on the sexy shrimp!! I will probably add the anemone before the sexy shrimp.

These are the fish that I am down to- what three do you think would go best together.

Shrimp goby pair
Clownfish
Fire fish
tankakas Pygmy wrasse
Clown goby
Orange prawn goby
Red stripped goby
Yellow watchmen goby

 

[DeniseAndy]

I personally love goby shrimp pairs in small tanks. LOOOVVVEEE them. They are so fun to watch. I would then go with tankakas cuz I have always wanted one and a clownfish just because I love those too.

 

[Baby Ray]

I personally love goby shrimp pairs in small tanks. LOOOVVVEEE them. They are so fun to watch. I would then go with tankakas cuz I have always wanted one and a clownfish just because I love those too.

I really like the shrimp goby pairs too. Again, I am just scared that they wouldn't eat the pellets. I know I am probably being too worried about it but that is how I role.
I also really like the tankakas because they are unique and they are red and white for my school. I am sure that everyone would like a clownfish at the school. I also love firefish and clown gobies. I can't narrow it down!!! :mad::mad:
Here is my list now and reasons to pick them

firefish- i have always loved these guys and I think they have a unique body shape

Clownfish- it is a classic

Clown gobie- they are really cute and I love how they move

Shrimp goby pair- they are just so fun to watch and i love how they work together.

Tankakas- they are very unique and they are red and white for the school colors.

I need some help!!!

 

[wkscott]

Just curious as I'm sure that I'm misreading what you are saying. Are you setting up a brand new marine tank, putting it up on an auto-feeder and then leaving it all by itself until school starts in September?

 

[Acro maniac]

I have had 3 royal grammas in different tanks. Never had an issue with aggression. Cool fish with lots of character. Easy to care for and hardy

 

[eatbreakfast]

I really like the shrimp goby pairs too. Again, I am just scared that they wouldn't eat the pellets. I know I am probably being too worried about it but that is how I role.
I also really like the tankakas because they are unique and they are red and white for my school. I am sure that everyone would like a clownfish at the school. I also love firefish and clown gobies. I can't narrow it down!!! :mad::mad:
Here is my list now and reasons to pick them

firefish- i have always loved these guys and I think they have a unique body shape

Clownfish- it is a classic

Clown gobie- they are really cute and I love how they move

Shrimp goby pair- they are just so fun to watch and i love how they work together.

Tankakas- they are very unique and they are red and white for the school colors.

I need some help!!!

I don't see why you couldn't do all of these in a 20L. They are all small, don't add much bioload, and pretty peaceful.

 

[Baby Ray]

I don't see why you couldn't do all of these in a 20L. They are all small, don't add much bioload, and pretty peaceful.

I am just worried about maintenance. Could i get away with a 5 gallon water change every two weeks?

 

[Baby Ray]

Just curious as I'm sure that I'm misreading what you are saying. Are you setting up a brand new marine tank, putting it up on an auto-feeder and then leaving it all by itself until school starts in September?

No, I will make sure the tank is cycled. I just want an automatic feeder for the weekends and the summer. But thank you for your concern. I do appreciate constructive criticism

 

[eatbreakfast]

No, I will make sure the tank is cycled. I just want an automatic feeder for the weekends and the summer. But thank you for your concern. I do appreciate constructive criticism

It should be fine.

 

[Baby Ray]

Anyone else have any opinions?
So I could do all 5 of those fish? That seems like a little much to me.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Depends on your maintenance. The small gobies do not put much bioload on the system. However, I would be nervous if you are leaving it for the 2 weeks for water changes. So what feels right for you.