Need advice on setting up a 20-gallon FOWLR tank

HI guys,

I am new to Saltwater fish keeping. For the past weeks I have been reading tons of information on this website and others about going into SW! It's super exciting! I have a 20H tank that I'd like to start with. I know it's a bit on the small side but I can't get a bigger one due to space limitations. Nevertheless, I want give whatever living beings I will have the best care.

So here's what I think about the tank:

Tank: 20H with 15w fluorescent light
Buckets: I have three unused 5gal Petco buckets
Live rock: 20 pounds
Substrate: shallow sand bed (~1 inch)
Skimmer: AquaC Remora with drain-fitting and Maxi-jet 1200 pump, will attach a bigger collection cup through the drain plug
Test kit: API Saltwater master kit
Powerhead: a small one, maybe Maxi-jet Pro 110? Is it too powerful?

Here are my questions:

(1) Do you think this is a sensible setup as for the equipment and live rock?

(2) I do not want to stress the living beings that I would add to the tank once it finishes cycling. I want to have just one Ocellaris Clownfish because of the small setup. Do you think the bio load will be proper?

(3) Maybe I can have a few shrimps/snails? What are some good choices of invertebrates?

Thanks for your time! I am trying to gather more information and learn as much as I can. Any advice or suggestion is welcome and truly appreciated!

 

Welcome to Fishlore!
I'm fairly new to saltwater too and it has been a great experience so far. As for the tank size, I think it's a pretty good size. You can keep a pair of clowns and another species of fish. Such as a fire fish or a royal gramma. As for the powerheads, I don't have experience with those, but I would recommend another powerhead so there can be good circulation In the tank. Water circulation is really important so that there isn't any dead spots and buildup. Some good invertebrates would be nassarius snails, nerite snails, Ceriths, margarita snails. You can also get some shrimp like peppermint shrimp or a cleaner shrimp. I have a few Nassarius snails and they are good because they dig up your sandbed. I also forgot that you can also add hermit crabs

 

HI guys,

I am new to Saltwater fish keeping. For the past weeks I have been reading tons of information on this website and others about going into SW! It's super exciting! I have a 20H tank that I'd like to start with. I know it's a bit on the small side but I can't get a bigger one due to space limitations. Nevertheless, I want give whatever living beings I will have the best care.

So here's what I think about the tank:

Tank: 20H with 15w fluorescent light
Buckets: I have three unused 5gal Petco buckets
Live rock: 20 pounds
Substrate: shallow sand bed (~1 inch)
Skimmer: AquaC Remora with drain-fitting and Maxi-jet 1200 pump, will attach a bigger collection cup through the drain plug
Test kit: API Saltwater master kit
Powerhead: a small one, maybe Maxi-jet Pro 110? Is it too powerful?

Here are my questions:

(1) Do you think this is a sensible setup as for the equipment and live rock?

(2) I do not want to stress the living beings that I would add to the tank once it finishes cycling. I want to have just one Ocellaris Clownfish because of the small setup. Do you think the bio load will be proper?

(3) Maybe I can have a few shrimps/snails? What are some good choices of invertebrates?

Thanks for your time! I am trying to gather more information and learn as much as I can. Any advice or suggestion is welcome and truly appreciated!

Welcome to Fishlore! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time here learning about our wonderful hobby

I'll get straight to the questions to cut down on excess reading.

(1) I think your setup is largely fine. If you plan to grow corals you're going to need a much stronger light though. I've been recommended it, and I will also personally recommend Kessil lights.. Specifically the A150 or A160 for your tank size. They are LED lights so they will cost a bit more initially but will save you money long term.

I would also suggest looking into getting a better brand of powerheads, either Hydor Koralia powerheads, or something like a Jebao WP-10 (Or possibly the WP-25) It's a good idea to try to get a lot of flow going in the tank so detritus doesn't settle on the rock or sand much, rather remaining suspended in the water column to be picked up by any filters and skimmers.

(2) You could have 2 ocellaris clownfish in a 20 high, as long as they are the only fish.

(3) Snails and shrimp are definitely an option! One I'd highly recommend is a cleaner shrimp, they help pick any parasites off fish so your tank will be overall healthier. They are also really cute.. Watching them picking around the rocks looking for food. Peppermint shrimp are also good for aiptasia control, but you'll want to be careful picking them up because peppermint shrimps are often confused with a different type of shrimp which isn't reef safe.

As for snails, you have a lot of good options.. I'd recommend a mixture of:

Nassarius snails to eat detritus off the sandbed and keeping it stirred.
Cerith snails for algae control and keeping the sandbed somewhat stirred.
Astrea snails are also a good option but if they fall over you'd need to manually flip them back over.
Nerites are also pretty good for algae control but they will try to escape your tank at one point or another.

 

You could also try a Watchman goby and a Pistol Shrimp. They should pair up so you would get to see a symbiotic relationship all the time in the tank. Then you could also get a free swimming fish for the pretty colors ^^ Such as the firefish or what-have-you.

 

Hi, welcome to Fishlore

Some great advice above.

On the stocking, you could definitely consider a pair of clowns

 

I like 2-3 clowns, a royal gramma/firefish, and a sand goby with 10 hermits with different collars legs, a conch, a sand sifting star, a red tile star, 6 astera snails, 2-4 nassarius snails, 2 margarita snails, 1-2 bumblebee snails, an emerald crab, 3-5 pistol shrimp/1-2 cleaner shrimp , 1 fire shrimp (you can cancel the fire shrimp and keep th cleaners too), a turbo snail if you wanted a big snail,

I think a good amount of what I said has already been suggested!! You have lots of options!!

 

Thank you AquaticBrandon! I think having two powerheads is a good idea! I'll do some more research then. Thanks for the inverts recommendations! I feel like there are just too many species and all are awesome!

Welcome to Fishlore!
I'm fairly new to saltwater too and it has been a great experience so far. As for the tank size, I think it's a pretty good size. You can keep a pair of clowns and another species of fish. Such as a fire fish or a royal gramma. As for the powerheads, I don't have experience with those, but I would recommend another powerhead so there can be good circulation In the tank. Water circulation is really important so that there isn't any dead spots and buildup. Some good invertebrates would be nassarius snails, nerite snails, Ceriths, margarita snails. You can also get some shrimp like peppermint shrimp or a cleaner shrimp. I have a few Nassarius snails and they are good because they dig up your sandbed. I also forgot that you can also add hermit crabs

Thanks a lot LiterallyHydro for your detailed reply

Re #1: I do not plan on having corals now since I know most corals require intensive lighting and good water quality (like ro water). Thanks for the recommendation though! I might be able to use that in the future!

Re #2: I think I will get a pair of ocellaris clownfish! One might be too lonely. I am not adding any more fish.

Re #3: Cleaner shrimps look so cool! I might get one plus some snails. But I will need to do more research. It's a long way to go so I have plenty of time to charge myself

Welcome to Fishlore! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time here learning about our wonderful hobby

I'll get straight to the questions to cut down on excess reading.

(1) I think your setup is largely fine. If you plan to grow corals you're going to need a much stronger light though. I've been recommended it, and I will also personally recommend Kessil lights.. Specifically the A150 or A160 for your tank size. They are LED lights so they will cost a bit more initially but will save you money long term.

I would also suggest looking into getting a better brand of powerheads, either Hydor Koralia powerheads, or something like a Jebao WP-10 (Or possibly the WP-25) It's a good idea to try to get a lot of flow going in the tank so detritus doesn't settle on the rock or sand much, rather remaining suspended in the water column to be picked up by any filters and skimmers.

(2) You could have 2 ocellaris clownfish in a 20 high, as long as they are the only fish.

(3) Snails and shrimp are definitely an option! One I'd highly recommend is a cleaner shrimp, they help pick any parasites off fish so your tank will be overall healthier. They are also really cute.. Watching them picking around the rocks looking for food. Peppermint shrimp are also good for aiptasia control, but you'll want to be careful picking them up because peppermint shrimps are often confused with a different type of shrimp which isn't reef safe.

As for snails, you have a lot of good options.. I'd recommend a mixture of:

Nassarius snails to eat detritus off the sandbed and keeping it stirred.
Cerith snails for algae control and keeping the sandbed somewhat stirred.
Astrea snails are also a good option but if they fall over you'd need to manually flip them back over.
Nerites are also pretty good for algae control but they will try to escape your tank at one point or another.

Wow I youtubed watchman goby and pistol shrimp and they are really amazing! Can't believe a fish and a shrimp can actually team up LoL

Although for my tank I am still leaning toward a pair of ocellaris clownfish... but thanks for the suggestion! firefish have astonishing colors

You could also try a Watchman goby and a Pistol Shrimp. They should pair up so you would get to see a symbiotic relationship all the time in the tank. Then you could also get a free swimming fish for the pretty colors ^^ Such as the firefish or what-have-you.

Thanks ryanr! I am seriously considering a pair now

Hi, welcome to Fishlore

Some great advice above.

On the stocking, you could definitely consider a pair of clowns

WOW thanks James! Your setup looks awesome! Lemme do some more research on them as I am not familiar with the invertebrates. I think I will have a pair of clowns plus a cleaner shrimp and some snails. Thanks for the suggestion!

I like 2-3 clowns, a royal gramma/firefish, and a sand goby with 10 hermits with different collars legs, a conch, a sand sifting star, a red tile star, 6 astera snails, 2-4 nassarius snails, 2 margarita snails, 1-2 bumblebee snails, an emerald crab, 3-5 pistol shrimp/1-2 cleaner shrimp , 1 fire shrimp (you can cancel the fire shrimp and keep th cleaners too), a turbo snail if you wanted a big snail,

I think a good amount of what I said has already been suggested!! You have lots of options!!

 

Your tank could most definitely house more than just the pair of clownfish. I personally think that you could have a pair of clownfish and a firefish or a small goby.

Otherwise it seems you're on the right track with all the information you've been given.

 

Sounds good LiterallyHydro!

Your tank could most definitely house more than just the pair of clownfish. I personally think that you could have a pair of clownfish and a firefish or a small goby.

Otherwise it seems you're on the right track with all the information you've been given.