20g long fish list

[sm1983]

Hey,
I have a 20g long with a 10g sump. I am running a 150w MH with two koralia 1's. I currently have around 20-30lbs of live rock in the display and cheateo in the sump. I already have a small perc clown in the tank and I am trying to plan the rest. I was wondering if you guys think it would be too much to get a Royal Gamma and a twin spot goby. I would also really like Copper banded shrimp. What do you think?

[Big_Pun]

royal gamma can be a lil aggressive sometimes, but no you should be fine, I'm not sure on copperband I think the nip at coral, maybe someone else will chime in on copperband

[JoshOdphi]

u mean coral banded shrimp? i had one in a 27 gal hex..in which it grew quick...but got very territorial...couldnt even stick my hands in the tank without getting attacked..and i also have one in my 110 fowlr...no problem with that one what so ever...

[justahobby]

CB shrimp do grow fast and are territorial. If you won't be keeping SPS a yellow clown goby would be a good fit. Twin spot gobies are on several "Do not purchase" lists as they can be hard to feed. I wouldn't expect any trouble from the gramma if the clownfish is close in size. Dartfish do well in a tank your size.

[justahobby]

You didn't mention any mechanical filtration. Will you be running a skimmer?

[sm1983]

When I end up with more livestock I will get a skimmer. This list is a long way down the road, I am just getting some ideas. I guess I will ditch the coral banded shrimp. Thanks for all of the help!

[justahobby]

I wouldn't completely swear off a CB shrimp if your really into them. You can buy them pretty darn small. My girlfriend's 20L has housed a CB for 4 months now without issues. Sounds like you have a great plan. Remember, You can find lots of good skimmers for cheap on here.

[Mr Cob]

Hey,
Royal Gamma and a twin spot goby. I would also really like Copper banded shrimp. What do you think?

-I say "No" to the Royal Gramma (I have tried these guys in both large and small tanks and in both they are aggressive once comfortable. The problem is they defend their territory and in a small tank that can be a problem, not a problem in a big tank because there is plenty of room for territorial species)

-I say "Yes" to the Twin Spot Goby (great addition)

-I say "No" to the Coral Banded Shrimp (too small of a tank and it may end up messing with your frags, it will definitely take food from them in that small of a tank...the targets would be too focused, different story in a large tank because it could not target all of the corals during feeding every time. If you don't care about this and aren't going to keep premium frags then go for it)

[Gilbert]

I agree with saying no to the royal gramma. Even in my 55 the royal gramma (fred) wouldn't let any fish swim near his spot and i dont just mean fish his size, he was scaring off the tangs also.

As for the CB shrimp IMO you have to much live rock and your never going to see him. At least that was the case in my tank. I use to only see it when i would feed with the lights off.

[Mr Cob]

I agree with saying no to the royal gramma. Even in my 55 the royal gramma (fred) wouldn't let any fish swim near his spot and i dont just mean fish his size, he was scaring off the tangs also.



Seriously...those guys don't know size...tough little fish!

[Squiers007]

I would say no to all 3. Like several other said before the Royal Grammas are quite angry as is the CB shrimp. As for the goby, there are other chioces out there that feed more readily and are easier to keep than the two spot. I would look into getting a highfin or a prawn goby. Hope this helps.

[justahobby]

Weird that I am just finding out of people having so much trouble with grammas. I was speaking on personal experiences, I guess I was just lucky twice :ph34r:

As for CB shrimp stealing food, ALOT of fish will do this. My scopas tang insists the acans and sun coral are his feeding ground and I owned a pair of blood shrimp that stole from the rbta everytime. Sixline wrasse might have been the worst since he was so small and quick..... I think it goes with the territory of owning livestock

[dustint21]

I had a 20L with a a gramma, twin spot, blood shrimp, and a black perc. They all did well together. With that said I agree with all the say no to the gramma. It just didnt have the room it needed. The twin spots are picky eaters and need a well established sand bed. My blood shrimp, and perc were awsome! The blood shrip would eat out of my hand. Good luck, I love the 20L tanks.

Dustin

[glennr1978]

I'm in the process of stocking my 20L as well. It will house a pair of percs and a sixline wrasse. I'm keeping this one simple.

[Hamp]

I think a skunk cleaner would do fine in there if you want a cool shrimp. I have kind of trained mine to stop eating from my nems and corals. Just feed them a little first. They are really cool and help control parasites if you ever get them.

[msmith619]

I keep a royal gramma in every tank I set up. In 25 years of reef keeping, I have never seen a mean royal gramma. My tanks were always 55 gallon or bigger, maybe they are agressive if confined to a smaller tank?
Coral banded shrimp are cool if you don't plan other inverts. They will kill other shrimp and might even catch some small fish.

[JoshOdphi]

yup...my coral banded killed my twin spot actually....i didnt have such a hard time keeping the twin spot...and thas cuz my tank's sandbed`was half sand half crushed coral....my twin spot was great until the shrimp made a meal out of him....

[sm1983]

Thanks again everyone for the feedback! I guess I will continue to refine my stocking list. I love the highfin and the yellow watchman goby. I would like another mid to top level fish. Any suggestions?

[Mr Cob]

My purple firefish stays "mid"

[justahobby]

Pygmy angel with some caution to corals, chromis, or cardinal fish

[sm1983]

I will have to look up more info on the Pygmy angels. Is all the damsel talk true, are they really the little devil fish?? I really like the half blue half yellow ones.

[justahobby]

I don't have personal experience just know word of mouth. Someone will probably confirm that blue damsels and dominoes are more aggressive. From what I understand chromis are the least aggressive. The worst scenario I have witnessed was a pet store on the 410W had a HUGE green moray eel housed with 20 or so different damsels. The damsels were literally picking the eel to death. Lots of sores along his back. When I told the store attendant I was shrugged off. I was pretty disgusted and haven't go back to see how the eel turned out.