20G Long

[flboyinohio]

I want 2 start a 20L and was looking for an interesting stock list... I dont want to do the normal percula and damsels, I talked to my LFS and they told me I could do small lion but I dont know what else I could put with it... like i said i wanna do sumthign "exotic" haha any input would be great!
PS
I plan on using 20 lbs or LR and 20 lbs of base, about 3 inchs LS and im going to build a canopy to house my lighting but need help deciding what I should use.. i was going to retro fit Compact Fluorescents or maybe a MH but idk how strong they both should be... what is the difference between the 2 i mentioned and t5 HO lights?
thanks,
Extreme Nubie

 

[yerboy]

with 40lbs of rock in a 20L i don't think you can add much of anything .. And i don't know of any lion that would live its lifetime in a 20L. Only a dwarf would work temporary imo.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by yerboy
with 40lbs of rock in a 20L i don't think you can add much of anything .. And i don't know of any lion that would live its lifetime in a 20L. Only a dwarf would work temporary imo.
I agree, and it would be impossible to accommodate another fish that would be big enough to avoid being lion-lunch.

 

[prk543]

Personally I wouldn't put anything aggressive in anything less than a 45 gal tank. Unfortunately I have "temporarily" housed aggressive fish in a twenty long, and it ended with disastrous results. Because temporary usually ends up getting put off until you look at your tank and realize that something is terribly wrong, and with a small body of water like a twenty gal tank, terribly wrong is usually too late. I really think that your LFS is just interested in selling you an expensive fish.
If you are truly dead set on keeping a lion in a 20L, here are a few tips. You would have to keep the dwarf Lion in a tank by itself, any other tank makes increase the possibility of the lion competing with possible tank mates for resources such as space, hiding places, and dissolved oxygen. You will need to buy an over-sized filter and the largest protein skimmer you can find for your tank. Even with the best filtration available you would need to keep up with your water changes. Lions eat a lot and create a lot of waste, which will raise the need for a good clean up crew. I wouldn't keep any shrimp or crabs, because they will be an expensive meal. Hermits and snails will be your best bets. I would also look into buying a larger set up and having it fully cycled in a maximum of 18 months, and that is if you get a small dwarf.
As for lighting. If you want to keep a Lion fish, you don't need bright lighting. Compact fluorescents would be perfect. If you want to keep corals in the tank along with the Lion, T-5 high outputs would be the brightest lighting that you can safely put on your tank. MH lighting gets pretty warm, and would probably cook your tank.
No matter what you choose, good luck.
-prk543

 

[flboyinohio]

Thanks everyone for your input! I am leaning away from the lion and thinking more of corals and maybe 4 inchs of LS and going a goby with alot of coral and shrimp

 

[reef46]

Probably a better idea. Shrimp and Corals are awsome to watch also! Also, with corals (and time) you'll be able to frag and trade.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by FLBOYINOHIO
Thanks everyone for your input! I am leaning away from the lion and thinking more of corals and maybe 4 inchs of LS and going a goby with alot of coral and shrimp
Great idea

20L are nice tanks. Keep with stock that won't fight. You could have two or three fish and the rest inverts.