10 Gallon Beginner Fish.

[Booster]

I'm looking at starting a 10 or 20 gallon reef and fish aquarium for my desk at work. This will be my first saltwater reef aquarium. I was looking for recommendations on what fish to get. I want a couple fairly hardy and active fish that are good for reef tanks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you in advance!

 

[mike61289]

The best advice I could give is to start with an aquarium of 30 gallons or more. The biggest issue with saltwater tank is the water chemistry, not whether a fish is easy to keep or not. In an aquarium as small as 10 or 20 gallons, the water chemistry can change quickly and drastically.

Even most advanced saltwater aquarists don't keep tanks as small as you're suggesting.

 

[Booster]

The best advice I could give is to start with an aquarium of 30 gallons or more. The biggest issue with saltwater tank is the water chemistry, not whether a fish is easy to keep or not. In an aquarium as small as 10 or 20 gallons, the water chemistry can change quickly and drastically.

Even most advanced saltwater aquarists don't keep tanks as small as you're suggesting.

Well the most I have room for at work is a 20 max. There have to be some fish that are easier than others? Obviously I have to take my time and be cautious, but I was just looking for a decent start with what I have available to me. Thanks.

 

[Demnok]

The hardiest fish from what I have experienced are clowns and damsels. The right species of each stay pretty small. I would suggest the clowns personally as they are less active and will feel less constrained in a smaller tank. I have a 20g quarantine tank with a large piece of live rock that stays pretty stable as far as parameters go, with weekly 50% water changes. However that is a glass bottom QT, with just a sponge filter that I over feed the heck out of. If you had live sand more live rock and a decent filter you would probably get away with 5gal changes weekly. I would definitely recommend a ammonia spike indicator at all times unless you are willing to test your water daily, because as the prior post stated changes happen fast in that size.

 

[ThRoewer]

After acclimatization I found bluestripe pipefish quite hardy. They will go after frozen mysis rather quickly.

Another type of fish that would be fine in a pico tank are the Stonogobiops shrimp gobies. A pair of yasha or nematodes will do fine in a 10 gallon tank if there is enough gravel and you give them also an Alpheus randalli shrimp.

If you want to go with clownfish, I would stick with ocellaris or percula and recommend not to go below 20 gallon. Ideally they should also have an anemone or at least a suitable surrogate (ceramic flowerpot always works).

I would not do Damselfish in such a small tank.


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[Booster]

The hardiest fish from what I have experienced are clowns and damsels. The right species of each stay pretty small. I would suggest the clowns personally as they are less active and will feel less constrained in a smaller tank. I have a 20g quarantine tank with a large piece of live rock that stays pretty stable as far as parameters go, with weekly 50% water changes. However that is a glass bottom QT, with just a sponge filter that I over feed the heck out of. If you had live sand more live rock and a decent filter you would probably get away with 5gal changes weekly. I would definitely recommend a ammonia spike indicator at all times unless you are willing to test your water daily, because as the prior post stated changes happen fast in that size.

I will be using a AIO. I kinda like the CAD Light 18 actually after looking around. I will also look into the ammonia spike indicator. If I have to, I will make sure to do 5 gallon water changes. Thank you for the advice!!

 

[Booster]

After acclimatization I found bluestripe pipefish quite hardy. They will go after frozen mysis rather quickly.

Another type of fish that would be fine in a pico tank are the Stonogobiops shrimp gobies. A pair of yasha or nematodes will do fine in a 10 gallon tank if there is enough gravel and you give them also an Alpheus randalli shrimp.

If you want to go with clownfish, I would stick with ocellaris or percula and recommend not to go below 20 gallon. Ideally they should also have an anemone or at least a suitable surrogate (ceramic flowerpot always works).

I would not do Damselfish in such a small tank.


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You've given me some really good advice for what fish to look at getting eventually!! I really like the yasha gobie with a snapping shrimp.

While i was looking up the pipefish, a White Banded Possum Wrasse popped up as a suggestion for nano tanks. Do you know much about them?

Thank you again for the help!!

 

[Demnok]

Yeah stay away from damsels I was off on that one, I thought some stated smaller. However we didn't mention fire fish which would be good. If you go to live aquaria.com and click on marine fish then nano fish, there are a ton of suggestions on what can go in that tank.

 

[Rilelen]

Agree with everyone saying go as big as you can - if that's 20 gallons, at least do the 20.

As for beginner fish, I was planning to do a percula clownfish pair in my 29 gallon at work....and instead got suckered into saltwater mollies. Probably *not* what you're looking for if you're bothering to go salt (they do just fine in fresh!), but cheap, hardy, and a pair rapidly becomes....more than a pair.

 

[btb72]

Naso tang would be great!

 

[farfromsea]

Agree with everyone saying go as big as you can - if that's 20 gallons, at least do the 20.

As for beginner fish, I was planning to do a percula clownfish pair in my 29 gallon at work....and instead got suckered into saltwater mollies. Probably *not* what you're looking for if you're bothering to go salt (they do just fine in fresh!), but cheap, hardy, and a pair rapidly becomes....more than a pair.

+1 on the mollies! Technically any molly can go in saltwater. I have a sailfin molly and a couple sailfin balloon mollies in mine. They are tolerant of saltwater fluctuations which can be a relief if you're worried about evap over the weekend and they eat anything just make sure you don't buy Platys on accident haha


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[ThRoewer]

Agree with everyone saying go as big as you can - if that's 20 gallons, at least do the 20.

As for beginner fish, I was planning to do a percula clownfish pair in my 29 gallon at work....and instead got suckered into saltwater mollies. Probably *not* what you're looking for if you're bothering to go salt (they do just fine in fresh!), but cheap, hardy, and a pair rapidly becomes....more than a pair.

How are the mollies with eating green hair algae?

 

[Booster]

Naso tang would be great!

Got one ordered!! LOL

 

[sde1500]

Clownfish. You can run them over with a truck and they'll be fine.

 

[Fissues]

Occelaris clowns. And if you're looking for corals, mushrooms and xenia. You could leave them in shipping bags in your backyard for a week and they'd be fine.

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[farfromsea]

How are the mollies with eating green hair algae?

Mine are on and off with the GHA. Sometimes they eat bunch and then they refuse :-/ I give them mysis too so they are probably holding out. Lol. However my GHA problem might be way worse without them so no regrets and at $4/piece worth the gamble


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