Suggestions for a 20 FO tank

[SCFatz]

I need a couple of starting point thoughts from the salty vets?

If you were setting up a 20g FO...what would you stock?

Thanks as always,

 

[canyon15]

You could go with a pair of clowns and a firefish. They get along fine.

 

[FishFrik]

Royal gramma and sixline wrasse are great fish

 

[2revup]

Chomies, cheap very hartey and will school, and go with just about any other fish with out agression.

 

[afilter]

Any of the fish in this link would be appropriate:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=2124

A 20g really needs to be considered a nano set-up and is pretty small for a SW tank, but can be done if you accept the premise that you need to stock very lightly.

Is this your first SW tank? If so describe your set-up/plans.

What ever you go with no more than 2 maybe 3 of the fish listed plus an assortment of cleanup crew inverts.

Personally I would avoid the sixline and chromis in a tank that small as a sixline ideally needs a pods population which you cannot provide in a FO tank that small. Chromis do look cool and school, but again you would want a 75g+ to add a small school of 3 or 5.

HTH,

 

[ckmn101]

I like the Royal Gramma too

 

[SCFatz]

Is this your first SW tank? If so describe your set-up/plans.

Well actually its a friends...but I'll be taking point on the project since he is a complete aqua noob.
But to better answer the question...it will be my first attempt at SW as well.

I haven't seen the equipment yet but I think its just a tank,standard tank light and a hob filter (this was brought to him this weekend by a relative).

I'm thinking one powerhead, a heater and some sand...then into the cycle it goes.

Thanks all for the suggestions and the link it will make deciding much easier.

 

[afilter]

Ok, sounds like you have the basics covered. Take your time and remember that even more so than FW you need to have patience. Suggest you and your friend do as much reading in the meantime while the cycle is starting. Statring right here in the forum is a good place.

Not sur if you already saw it, but this is a great sticky/thread with many of the basics of SW:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=76139

Along with the article page:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/article_cat.php?fldAuto=2/&pc_tzo=-18000&pc_d=20060629&pc_t=79764

Good luck and keep us posted.

Oh, one more word of warning SW is very addictive. I started with a 20g which quickly grew to a 75g which turned into a 90g reef with overflow and 30g sump.

Have fun,