A challenging setup, need help

I took a challenge to set up a saltwater theme freshwater nano tank ( 20 gal ) with fake coral decoration sand and some rocks
just like original nano reef tank with a pair of clown fish
but remember I want fresh water fish, no brackish no black water
any fish stock ideas ? please share
oh I also looking for a fresh water fish that almost looks like saltwater clown fish, can you you help me with this also ?

 

You said Nano tank... how many gallons exactly?

 

Bumble bee goby is about as close as you’ll get I think.
Again what size tank and what decorations are you putting in? Are they fake corals and shells. Dead coral skeletons and real shells will mess up your water quality.

 

You said Nano tank... how many gallons exactly?

20 gal , fake coral, sand ans stone
all I mentioned in my original post

man that why I am saying its a challenge because freshwater only, no brackish no black water .

 

Agreed, a bumblebee goby is going to be your best bet. They stay small and have the basic pattern you are looking for. A lot of the other saltwater-esque looking freshwater fish are too large for a 20

 

I would do some platies of all different colors! They will look like really colorful little “saltwater” fish.

edit; honey gouramis kinda look like a saltwater fish, you could do 5 of them. Or more if it’s a species only jinjerJOSH22?

 

but I don't want brackish , I only want fresh water only

 

but I don't want brackish , I only want fresh water only

all fish mentioned are freshwater fish.

 

bubble bee is a good idea, it almost looks same ,but the problem is it is brackish,
oh yes platies or mollies are better
but looking and waiting for the best
any other suggestion ?

 

bubble bee is a good idea, it almost looks same ,but the problem is it is brackish,
oh yes platies or mollies are better
but looking and waiting for the best
any other suggestion ?

Bumblebees can be fresh or brackish. Mollies get too big for a 20 unless you just get 2. What about honey gouramis?

 

On the theme of color (rather than actual body shape and patterns) guppies would work.

You could also do shrimp (neocaradina) in the same tank. Caradina shrimp would want different parameters than the guppies though, so I'd avoid them unless you water is super soft to begin with

 

Vote for Platies
or other suggestion
Caradinas need plants some it’s out I think

yes sp only 22 gal ,

 

Peacock gudgeons?

 

pck gudgeon ?
well these fishes are perfect dwellers for a tank having lots of plants.
not stone, and fake coral ? no no

its a 22 gal I am going to place not a single plant in there, just some stone sand and fake coral
I want to make it looks like awesome nano reef with a pair of clown fish ,
but
I want to create it with fresh water and fresh water fish
so I am here to discuss and talk about this , and looking for you suggestions

 

20 gal , fake coral, sand ans stone
all I mentioned in my original post

man that why I am saying its a challenge because freshwater only, no brackish no black water .

I just wanted clarification on fake or dead. Fake is good to go

 

Interesting idea! Will be neat to see pictures when you are done. Would either golden killifish or clown killifish suit the parameters of this tank? They strike me as a marine looking type of fish but I don't know anything about them.

 

gertrudae rainbow?
Or maybe Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis?

 

sure I will upload pic when its done, but the problem is the tank sand decor all ready , but can't find fish to keep in it

 

Have you looked at princess cichlids (neolamprologus brichardi) they look almost like reef fish and are small enough for your tank.

 

yes, they are Tanganyikan right ? you what I like this idea I mean salt water theme fresh water tank,
so I decide to make one of my own with sand fake coral stone with my MalawI m buna in my 108 gal tank. but I have to set up that small tank for my customer , he seems like he can't handle all type of fish, and yes bichardis are almost rear here.

 

Yes lake tanganyika

 

Okay, I want exactly the same thing only with a larger aquarium! I have a post on another forum, asking if I can use a type of fake coral that is not silicone but some sort of hard, decorative, fake coral but still not sure. Anyway, the reason I want to do this is because I saw an out of this world, freshwater aquarium that was done as you describe and wanted to replicate it. Only thing is, I was going to go with a larger aquarium, a 54 gallon, so I could house discus. The companion fish to the discus were going to be cardinal tetras and possibly German rams. Both of those are very colorful and will get along with the discus. But with discus, I'd need at least a 54 gallon because they grow big. So, I didn't want to overstock. Yes, the aquarium I saw was a freshwater with those tank companions, a light, sand bottom, no plants unless a few fake but a lower sump with real plants and extra filtration, etc. Discus is the most beautiful freshwater fish I've seen but not easy to take care of and they are expensive. Anyway, long story short, yes, I know what I want but the discus would be too big for your tank. I can't have an aquarium, according to my landlord, but if I did, I'd think about going even bigger than that 54 gallon. Good luck with your search but you may be able to use the cardinals and the rams and have a nice aquarium.

 

for 20 gal saltwater theme hardcore fresh water tank for my client with fake corals , sand , stone
I think gouramis are best hardy easy care low tech , but can I keep 2 in this tank ?
but......
honey gouramis are native fish here in India kolkata we called them chuno fish (we generally eat them just like people from amazon they eat arwana , p bass , piranha )

 

To be honest, the whole idea makes me cringe and get stomach aches. There are few fish that can thrive in a tank like your client wants, and most of them are not that colorful. I could just imagine Tanganyikan Shelldwellers (best would be Lamprologus ocellatus) working in that environment and you should put emersed growing plants in the filter, then, to at least try to counter the build up of nitrates. Otherwise I see the cycle possibly crash after a few months.

You should at least tell your client that the tank will likely be unstable, which can lead to loss of fish and also that fish will be stressed, get sick and possibly die in an environment that doesn't fit their needs.

Speaking of which: I wouldn't put gourami in an unplanted tank.

 

hmm seems like there is no such fish, then
I am going to set up the tank with fake coral construction sand with some small lava rocks
put some colorful platies in the tank , you agree ? how can I make this tank better and beautiful any idea ?

 

hmm seems like there is no such fish, then
I am going to set up the tank with fake coral construction sand with some small lava rocks
put some colorful platies in the tank , you agree ? how can I make this tank better and beautiful any idea ?

I've seen when fake, silicone coral was used (you know, the ones with the longer "tentacles") the water flow direction was aimed at the "limp" silicone coral which made it sort of undulate, making it look real. A nice effect, as long as it doesn't disrupt your fish. Hey, for the heck of it, here's a picture of the large piece of imitation coral I was going to use in my tank but I can't find info on it, if this hard, resin-type of fake coral is toxic to fish or not. Big plans gone awry. But please make sure to post pics of your end result!

 

resin generally fine for fish, , just cure it for 5 days and its all perfect
but there are some toxic resin so be careful, if it is made for the aquarium I don't see anything to wary about, and thanks for your suggestion
by the way may I know a little bit about you project ? which fish ? you know ....

 

resin generally fine for fish, , just cure it for 5 days and its all perfect
but there are some toxic resin so be careful, if it is made for the aquarium I don't see anything to wary about, and thanks for your suggestion
by the way may I know a little bit about you project ? which fish ? you know ....

Well, this coral was not made for the aquarium but as home decoration so I don't know if it would be toxic or not. A few posts above this one gives you more info on the plans I had with my tank if you want to read a little about those plans. Again, the freshwater aquarium I saw with discus was exceptional. Looks like I will end up using that piece of coral as it was intended, for home decor. :-(

 

oh I see, yes I read already, nice plan please send me some pic when you done

 

oh I see, yes I read already, nice plan please send me some pic when you done

Plans dashed---landlord won't allow. So, to get my "fish fix" I'll have to take out a membership to my local Sea World, here in San Diego. Sigh

 

same was with me my landlord wasn't allowed me any aquarium 1st then and now she love them
so don't-wary if you can't , just buy a nano tank 1st , used one will be more cheap and you can easily sell them

 

Plans dashed---landlord won't allow. So, to get my "fish fix" I'll have to take out a membership to my local Sea World, here in San Diego. Sigh

May I recommend the San Diego Zoo instead?

 

same was with me my landlord wasn't allowed me any aquarium 1st then and now she love them
so don't-wary if you can't , just buy a nano tank 1st , used one will be more cheap and you can easily sell them

Well, to tell the truth, after seeing these beautiful tanks, I could not be satisfied with a nano tank. I'm spoiled!

May I recommend the San Diego Zoo instead?

Have had a membership to the S.D. Zoo for years but they don't have fish displays like Sea World. The last time I was in Sea World, eons ago, they had a tropical fish set up that was as big as the wall and I'd sit in front of it like a kid staring into a candy shop. Don't know if they still have it but maybe I'll go back to see, one of these days.

 

I found a betta tank with fake corals on youtube

 

I found a betta tank with fake corals on youtube

Beautiful, especially with the soothing music!

 

ye that betta playing the role of nemo

 

Gee, I just came across a freshwater aquarium on YouTube that shows some of the most striking combinations of freshwater fish in one aquarium I've seen. Don't know what these fish are but in a fake saltwater setting, it'd be hard to tell that these fish were from freshwater. If interested here's the link.

 

Gee, I just came across a freshwater aquarium on YouTube that shows some of the most striking combinations of freshwater fish in one aquarium I've seen. Don't know what these fish are but in a fake saltwater setting, it'd be hard to tell that these fish were from freshwater. If interested here's the link.

Holy cow, what a mix! There are fish in there from just about every freshwater habitat (and some brackish) on every continent. I don't know how they got it to work but it sure is eye catching.

 

Not sure how long that setup would last without some serious aggressive behaviour or fish deaths from incompatible water conditions you have African and American cichlids together aggressive fish with peaceful discus, fin nippers with long finned fish the tank is a recipe for disaster

 

Holy cow, what a mix! There are fish in there from just about every freshwater habitat (and some brackish) on every continent. I don't know how they got it to work but it sure is eye catching.

Yes, it is the most striking display I've seen, of other than saltwater fish! And they all seem to be getting along perfectly. No nipping or even chasing. The tank seems to be over-stocked but look at the result! In fact, I'm watching this on my 47" TV in 4K and hey-----who needs an aquarium?!!!!

Yes, it is the most striking display I've seen, of other than saltwater fish! And they all seem to be getting along perfectly. No nipping or even chasing. The tank seems to be over-stocked but look at the result! In fact, I'm watching this on my 47" TV in 4K and hey-----who needs an aquarium?!!!!

Ohhhhh, online, the description says it's a gosh darn "virtual aquarium"! It ain't real!!!