Hi all! Thanks for the add. I currently have a 20g high tank (fresh water) and am interested in making it a saltwater tank (fish and rock only). I know I have a lot to learn. I am trying to plan out what I will need (once I save up money)….I plan on using a Tidal 55 for filter, and as I probably won’t do corals, I’d probably just use the light I have (fluval 2.0)… unless I’d need a different light. I’m on disability so cost is a thing. I’d probably have to get a new heater (I’m not sure mine are meant for saltwater). My main thought is what type of fish I could have (I know not very many in this size tank), and can I do a community type tank)? I’ve searched on google, read a ton of different threads in various groups, but don’t quite understand. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’m hoping to do this next year but want to know what I’m doing first
Considering saltwater
- Thread starter Patscom4
- Start date
Welcome to RC!
The nice thing about doing a fish only with live rock is they are much more forgiving than reef tanks. With that said, I’ve never heard of a heater not designed for saltwater, so your current equipment (light, heater, filter, etc should be fine). One thing to keep in mind is your live rock is a large part of your bio filter.
As for fish, something to google is “nano fish for a saltwater tank”. Fish is this category are ones that generally don’t get very big and are great for smaller tanks. I probably wouldn’t try to do much more than 4 or so fish so it’s good to be “choosy” per se. Hope this helps some!
The nice thing about doing a fish only with live rock is they are much more forgiving than reef tanks. With that said, I’ve never heard of a heater not designed for saltwater, so your current equipment (light, heater, filter, etc should be fine). One thing to keep in mind is your live rock is a large part of your bio filter.
As for fish, something to google is “nano fish for a saltwater tank”. Fish is this category are ones that generally don’t get very big and are great for smaller tanks. I probably wouldn’t try to do much more than 4 or so fish so it’s good to be “choosy” per se. Hope this helps some!
Thank you!
wvned
Well-known member
I think I will disagree with my learned colleges on a few things. If you are not sure on the heater, I would not use it.
If it was part of a discount aquarium setup. It will fail.
In the saltwater world small tanks are called nanos.
Here is a place with info on fish suitable for them. The info is very nice. Buying fish from them has been a bad idea in recent years.
Nano Fish | Marine Fish
I dont think Dottybacks are good for a 20 gallon tank. They are too aggressive. The 2 most common types, the neon and orchid, are said to be semi-aggressive and need a 30 gallon tank.
The problem with marine fish is many are quite tiny when sold and people purchase them and then they quickly outgrow a tank because their adult size is a foot or something bigger.
There are many non fish things you can keep that may interest you. Crabs and shrimps being some of the more active ones to watch.
If it was part of a discount aquarium setup. It will fail.
In the saltwater world small tanks are called nanos.
Here is a place with info on fish suitable for them. The info is very nice. Buying fish from them has been a bad idea in recent years.
Nano Fish | Marine Fish
I dont think Dottybacks are good for a 20 gallon tank. They are too aggressive. The 2 most common types, the neon and orchid, are said to be semi-aggressive and need a 30 gallon tank.
The problem with marine fish is many are quite tiny when sold and people purchase them and then they quickly outgrow a tank because their adult size is a foot or something bigger.
There are many non fish things you can keep that may interest you. Crabs and shrimps being some of the more active ones to watch.
wvned
Well-known member
For most people they are an impulse buy with very little thought. The little fish will be fine in the little tank. It's so pretty.
Since most fish swim at a particular level, a 20high has less room than a 20 long.
You could put 5-6 small colorful shrimp and have a much more interesting tank IMHO.
or a shrimp goby pair.
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Thank you! I know I have a lot of researching to do. I may try to go a bit larger on my tank, but doubt I could do any larger than a 29 unfortunately. I AM really set on fish, so if I’m unable to create a setup in which any fish would thrive then I’ll stick to freshwater
Could I do 5-6 shrimp AND a goby, or is that too much?
wvned
Well-known member
I think 5 shrimp and a goby would be fine in a 29.
Nothing wrong with fish. I love them.
wvned
Well-known member
I will be honest. I never had much success keeping small fish alive in small tanks.
I made the first mistake of putting too many in the tank.
I made the second mistake of not feeding them the right things.
I made the third mistake of not changing enough water.
If you want to succeed.
Fall in love with a particular type of fish. Learn what it needs to survive and then get fixated without fail on providing those things.
Join every marine tank forum you can find. I was on Nanoreef for a long time. they are the masters of small tanks. I do not know if it is still there.
Keeping a nano reef is like growing super rare plants like orchids. It has to be right but is a formula you have to follow and then success.
I made the first mistake of putting too many in the tank.
I made the second mistake of not feeding them the right things.
I made the third mistake of not changing enough water.
If you want to succeed.
Fall in love with a particular type of fish. Learn what it needs to survive and then get fixated without fail on providing those things.
Join every marine tank forum you can find. I was on Nanoreef for a long time. they are the masters of small tanks. I do not know if it is still there.
Keeping a nano reef is like growing super rare plants like orchids. It has to be right but is a formula you have to follow and then success.
This is EXTREMELY helpful…Thank you so much!
wvned
Well-known member
My first tank I considered a success was in 2009. It was a 20 long with a fire shrimp. I made a PVC pipe overflow, used a 10 gallon tank for a sump where the heater a skimmer were. It used Maxijets for flow and a return pump.
Before that I had a nano cube where I made every mistake possible but finally got rid of because the rear chambers were so small I could not get my hands in them to do anything like clean the pump.
Careful this is addictive.
Before that I had a nano cube where I made every mistake possible but finally got rid of because the rear chambers were so small I could not get my hands in them to do anything like clean the pump.
Careful this is addictive.
I don’t have room for a sump or canister filter (( it’s on my dresser.). I would need to use an hob (aqua clear 50 or tidal 55). Gorgeous tanks by the way
vlangel
Premium Member
Welcome Patscom4! I think I understand how you feel about fish because they are my 1st love too. I have a reef tank with coral but it's the fish that are my favorite part. You could have a few fish in a 20 high. I would consider a pajama cadinalfish and/or firefish goby to inhabit the top third of the tank. Then for a bottom dweller perhaps a yellow watchman goby if you have a sand bottom or one of the other many small gobies; masked goby, citrin goby, clown goby, yasha goby, ( there are a lot to choose from). Many of these gobies will pair with a pistol shrimp symbiotically and share a burrow which is so much fun. You still probably have room for a clownfish or royal gramma or a midas blenny or bicolor blenny. All these fish are pretty hardy, and will eat flake, pellet and frozen food so are easy to feed.
The most challenging aspect is building an aquascape that is tall, especially if you are using live rock (rock that already has living bacteria from a saltwater environment in it). In my opinion keeping a successful saltwater tank is much easier if you use live rock. There are putties that can bond the rock together underwater to build your structure. And it can be done. I have a tall tank and I did it.
My tank has a sump now but it was an All in one with an Aquaclear filter to start with. I would be happy to answer any questions that come up as you are working through things should you decide to start a tank.
Thank you SO very much! I told my mom yesterday that I gave up on wanting one, but your comment has given me hope. It’s gonna be a few til it will become a reality (I’m on disability with a lot of debt to pay off, so need to deal with that first). I’d like to ave it done while my mom is still here (she’s 87 and good health but I still worry) so she can see it. I took a screenshot of the possible fishes, and will look them up. Could I do live rock AND regular rock (like I currently have in my freshwater tank, below)just to cut cost a bit? Or is that a bad idea? With a regular hob filter, would I just run a sponge and carbon, or is it different? Thanks!
vlangel
Premium Member
I understand and applaud you not setting up a saltwater tank until you are prepared financially. That is very wise on your part.
You can use a combination of live rock and dry rock. Not all fresh water rock can be used however because some rock for freshwater have metals in them that the saltwater will corroded. Tufa rock is OK and there are dry rock specifically for saltwater sold online. Sometimes the cheapest way to get live rock is to watch for someone who wants to tear down their saltwater tank. That is how I got started when I first got into the hobby.
Yes, you can use filter floss or a sponge in the HOB filter along with carbon. The rock once it's cycled and live will be the main source of filtration. Water changes are also an important aspect of maintaining a healthy tank enviroment, especially when the tank is newer.
