what to get for my 20 gallon...?

[jmg]

what to get...
well today is my birthday, so i got $50 gift certificate at the LFS... should i get more live rock, a pair of clowns, or a valentini puffer?
i also have $300 i could spend, but with the g/c what should i get? or should i get something else even maybe?

 

[marineman]

The puffer is not reef safe and may even nip tankmates and eat you inverts/shrimp, ect. 1-2 lbs per gallon of live rock is about right. Clowns are really cool esp in pairs and with a bubble tip anemone if you got the right set up, ex 4-5 watts per gallon and excellent water quality. Midas blenny is a really interesting fish and is hardy / easy to feed in a small tank. But not good with firefish in such a small tank (20g). Good luck! How about a bigger tank?

 

[jmg]

not really interested in a bigger tank... i gotta do 3 moves in the next 4 years, so im gonna stay small till im done movin (3 different colleges)... but i dont have a reef setup on the 20 gallon, thats why i was thinkin the puffer for that, about 15 lbs live rock maybe total, and then maybe buying a 10 gallon tank to do a nano reef setup with the pair of clowns... think that would work out?
the 20 gallon is at the g/f's apartment, and the 10 would be at mine...

 

[marineman]

puffers are really cool but not good community fish in smaller tanks where space is tight and fin nipping is more common. Fast moving and active tankmates with small type fins may work best with them. Have no exp with nanos but 2 clowns may be okay if not planning to add much more. remember water conditions can change quickly in nanos and stress or kill the fish. So one must monitor things closer and do small water changes often. Good luck

 

[jmg]

yea if i did the puffer, he would more than likely be the only one... maybe another small fish to go with him, but maybe not. now the 10 gallon, thats at my house, so it would be easy for me to monitor it. and i had planned on weekly water changes. what everyone else think?

 

[ivanfj]

If you are talking about specifically the valentine puffer, I think it would be alright in a 20. Valentine is more the peaceful type puffer but still semi-aggressive IMO and yes they do attack inverts when they feel like to.