Bio load in a 20?

[Xandernfs]

I was wondering what is the max fishies you could put in a 20H. I do 10% water changes a week. My filtration is a HOB fuge. Currently I have a tail spot blenny and a six line. I plan on getting a small shrimp goby (orange striped) this week. I'd like to finish up with a clown. Would it be okay to put 2 clowns in? or would 5 fish be too much?

 

[Absinthe]

I think the number of fish should depend on not only the temperment and size of the fish, but also the husbandry.

In order to have a high bioload you absolutely must be diligent with tank maintenance.

A six line can be a feisty little fish. Just keep that in mind.

 

[Illuminati]

I have 6 right now in my 24, it's a pain. I plan to get another nano setup this spring and move 3 into that and maybe add another to this tank, No way I'll go above 4 again.

I'd stop at 4 and be very careful with adding fish with the six line already in there, have a backup plan in case there is fighting and they cannot co-exist.

 

[SugarFox03]

I have 3 fish in my 24 gal and I would never add a 4th, as much as I would love to. I have a true percula that hangs out on the left side, mostly in my frogspawn, a purple firefish that has claimed the right side of the tank, and a yellow watchman goby that stays in the caves. I dont know that I would go over 2-3 fish in a 20 gal. If you do add more, do it slowly, wait a month or more between adding fish so the system is used to the added bioload. As others have said, keep up with the maintenance as well. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Eskie]

I would agree with Sugarfox03 on this. I have 3 in a 24g aquapod, with 1 neon goby, 1 juvenile pygmy angel, and 1 disappearing wrasse. Even with a skimmer (the sapphire skimmer in rear) pulling out plenty of brown skimmate, and 10-20% water changes a week, I could not see how I could handle an additional load without messing up my water, as well as having too little room for the fish to call home. While I'm not lazy, I do think that a small tank really calls for light stocking (some might think I'm overstocked) for the health of the tank inhabitants, and for my own sanity.

I also don't keep SPS, because if I did, I would feel very leery about any fish to feed in the same small tank. I know that may be very conservative, but I'd hate for something to die just because I pushed my own limits. Folks here with far more experience can be successful at keeping such a tank healthy, but I don't think my personal ability is there yet. Absinthe and colinadam are both right on the points of careful attention to maintenance, and also to fish compatibility, which is a real issue in so little water.

 

[everl0ng]

right now i have a 20H with a false perc., a 6-line wrasse, a yellow watchman, and a green clown goby. they all have their own spots in the tankt hat they like to hide out in. i haven't had any problems so far, and i am definitely stopping at where i am at, fishwise. i plan on adding more corals, but for now i am going to wait and see how everything pans out.

 

[storagedaddie]

I currently have one true perc, and a camel shrimp. The shrimp came with the setup when I bought it. I also have a few corals...

I can only imagine 1 or 2 more fish, at most. I am really on the and may only add another perc. I enjoy the corals more than the fish thing, at the moment.

 

[NYproDJ]

I have 2 clowns and a 6-line and a chromis coexisting in my finnex 22g glass frameless cube... everyone seems happy, even the two emerald crabs - I don't think I would add anymore fish but I'm def. getting a cleaner shrimp!