How many fish can a 20g tank hold?

chamic1

chamic1

Member
I heard about the "magic rule": 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons. This seems like a lot of water for only one inch! I was hoping for more opinions. I want to buy 3 green chromis, 2 blue reef chromis, 1 midas blenny, 1 scooter blenny, 1 clarkii clown, 1 atlantic blue tang and a royal gramma. Is this too much?
I also want the following: 1 bubble tip anemone, blue leg hermit crabs, duster cluster, fame scallop, cleaner shrimp, orange linkia star, green star polyps, mushroom-blue polyps and mushroom-green polyps.
I know I can not add all of these things at once but eventually, this is what I want. Is my tank big enough? (Its 20 gallons)
I will also have live rock and possibly live sand. Any comments would be appreciated
 
bot587

bot587

Member
you may have a bit to many fish in there, but if your filtration and water movement goes well, you MAY and that is a big MAY be able to pull it off. You have to watch the fish and constantly test when you keep that many fish in a tank =/
 
avbryce1

avbryce1

Member
first off id like to say that your a large step ahead of most by being on this site ......IMO there is no tang that would be happy in a 20 gal. also i'd try to keep as close to the rule as possible.... its allright to bend the rule but i wouldent go breaking it:D
good luck!
 
chris a h

chris a h

Member
My best advice would be to search ads, garage sales, moving sales, friends garages etc. for a larger used tank. I paid $50 for my 55 gallon, $150 for my 75 gallon SW, and $70 for my 75 gallon Tanganyikan tank. The two 75's came with stands, gravel, lighting, all kinds of goodies.
In the long run this will be infinitely cheaper than the water changes and the tests, etc. that you will run into trying to put that much into a twenty.
Just my opinion,
Chris:joy:
 
chamic1

chamic1

Member
:joy: Thanks for the opinions, they are very helpful!!! I've read other places that the tang wouldn't be happy so I think I will remove it off my list.
Keep the comments comming!
 
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