Just got 20 gallon...

[carmen7]

I just purchased a 20 gallon tank, and was wondering what kind of fish and inverts would be okay in this size aquarium. So far, I'm sure I want one Percula Clownfish and one Royal Gramma. I know a bigger tank would have been better, but I have very limited space. Can anyone relate? I know that this probably limits me to about three to four fish... Any ideas from you fish experts?
~~C.7~~

 

[angus]

I'm not sure of your experience level, so if you know some of this, sorry. First off, make sure your tank is completely cycled before you stock anything. Read up on this. You can use some live rock to cycle the tank, it will take 3-4 weeks. I'd reccommend getting "The Concientious Marine Aquarist " by Fenner. A very good book with much important info on set up, fish and inverts, everything you'll need really.
While the tank cycles, read about the fish and inverts you want, make sure they are compatible with each other. Go slowly, take your time stocking the fish, you'll have less problems if you're patient.
For this size tank, I'd only add 2 fish, at least for the first six months or so. The clownfish is a nice choice. Maybe try and get a mated pair.
As an idea for a 20 gl tank: 15 lbs live rock, two clownfish (small, same size and same species is important here...one will become dominant and turn female), a couple of turbo snails, 2-3 red leg hermits, and a coral banded shrimp.....
Does this help, or have I confused you?

 

[robchuck]

angus has offered a great suggestion, but I will go a step further and say that if you want to feel comfortable about your tank, I would just stock it w/ one clown and the royal gramma. I would also look into shrimps and crabs. Like angus suggested, pick up a good book, and get an idea of what would work for your tank. "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" is a great guide for designing a successful setup to suit your particular needs.

 

[justinx]

just thought that i would throw this in here. I have a 20 gall tank as well, and my list of stuff is at the bottom of the post here. my tank is doing quite well, and i am very pleased with it. just thought that i would tell you and show you what my set up is.

 

[kewl kat]

Originally posted by Angus
two clownfish (small, same size and same species is important here...one will become dominant and turn female)

Okay, I'm a newbie at this and I too am interested in clownfish. What do you mean by one will turn female though? Will clownfish really change their --- in a same---- situation? I know there was some kind of weird frog in Africa that did that, but I didn't think that included fish too.

 

[justinx]

Someone correct me if i am wrong, but i think its like the jurrasic park thing. A dominant male will change to female in a group of all same --- fish. I have just created a mated pair myself. Just be sure that you buy two juvenilles of that same genus and eventually they will become a mated pair. My two percs were both one inch about a month ago, now one is about 2 inches, and the other is an inch and a half. Its pretty clear who wears the pants in their relationship two

 

[demosthenes]

All, or maybe I should say most, fish species are hermaphroditic. They all begin, like jwtrojan44 said, as males, and morph as they need to into females. When they are born in the ocean, they travel until they find a host anemone with a family of their species. If one is accepted, it becomes a docile male, until eventually the female dies, and then the dominant male changes into a female, and another male becomes dominant.