dwarf angel in my 20?

[Xandernfs]

I was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to put an angel in my 20H. I DO have all kinds of coral (softies, LPS, & SPS). I was wondering if it would be okay? I was really interested in a flameback, flame, and cherb. I also have a tailspot blenny and a six line wrasse. If a dwarf angel is out of the question. Then would would go good as a nice center piece fish?

Thanks,
Xander

 

[eddie c]

i had a cherub in a 20g and i currently have a lemon peel in a 75g, and neither of them have ever picked at any corals, but then again i keep them well fed, but some people have bad luck with them.

 

[Illuminati]

I have a flame in my 24 gallon nanocube without problems. Your best bet would be the cherub, I think they stay smaller.

 

[clowninaround74]

I also have a flame in my 24g AP

 

[Illuminati]

Great looking flame clowningaround.

 

[clowninaround74]

lol thanks but i cant take credit for this guy....im using this pic that i got off of google until i can actually get mine to stay still long enough for me to get a good pic!!!! But hey thanks! Honestly my flame looks pretty much identical to the one in the pic.

 

[Illuminati]

Good luck getting a good picture. I had to get a far away picture and crop it. I think this is the best I can come up with.

 

[Angel*Fish]

According to Bob Fenner no dwarf angel, not even a cherub shoud be put in a tank smaller than 40g. He's refering to adult sized fish, though.

IMO, a young cherub - meaning one about 3/4 of an inch to an inch long - would be fine in a 20 g for about a year. Long term it's really not very kind to the fish. Most grazing fish need more range than that to feel secure even though food drops down from "the sky" for them. Though angels are not as active as tangs, the issues are similar.

 

[hammerswinger]

It will be fine.

 

[Xandernfs]

So, if not an angel, then what for my tank?

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9116825#post9116825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Xandernfs
So, if not an angel, then what for my tank?

Well you've probably already considered percs or oscellaris clowns. IMO they make a great centerpiece.

If you don't have a skunk cleaner, they make a very nice display.

But back to fish...Blackcap basslet maybe? A pair of yashas or similar shrimp gobies with their commensal shrimp? A pair of azure damsels? If you could find it, a pair of firefish would be stunning.

Blackcap basslet

 

[Xandernfs]

What about a fire fish and a clown...or would that be too much with my blenny and wrasse?

 

[dogstar74]

My Brazillian Flameback angel is doing fine in my 20H with two other oscellaris clowns. As for corals, all I have is a pulsing xenia at the moment, but he's left that a lone. He does get moody once in a while and chases the clowns around. But he doesn't do any real damage. I'd say forget the nay sayers and go with the smaller angels. They should be fine.

 

[Angel*Fish]

If I was going to put an angel in a 20 it would be a Brazilian flameback.

Well do you mean bioload or getting along? Getting along should be just fine. Bioload should be fine, too depending on your setup. Clowns and firefish are great for a 20 H because they don't need a lot of horizontal swim space.

 

[Xandernfs]

What if i did a flameback and a clown....that is what i wanted to do all along. But I do have quite a bit of LPS (open brain, blasto, frogspawn, plate. I also have 2 derasa clams too)

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9118796#post9118796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Xandernfs
What if i did a flameback and a clown....that is what i wanted to do all along. But I do have quite a bit of LPS (open brain, blasto, frogspawn, plate. I also have 2 derasa clams too)

Usually they're ok with corals. But not always. Get a baby one... but even this tiny fish will eventually outgrow your tank. If it starts picking on it's tankmates, assume the fish has decided it needs more space.

The good news is you'll probably fall in love with it and won't mind any sacrifice involved in upgrading.

 

[Xandernfs]

But would the bio load be too much with a 1-1.5" clown and a 1-1.5" flameback, along with my 6 line and tail spot?

I'd prolly add the flameback, then the clown down the road...

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9119146#post9119146 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Xandernfs


I'd prolly add the flameback, then the clown down the road...

Uh oh...
Might not be a big deal, but I think you'd probably better get the clown first. Your established angel may not appreciate additions to the tank.

The bioload issue depends on your system - what-cha got?

 

[Xandernfs]

I'm skimmerless, but I have an AC110 fuge with LR and i'm growin a lot of macro (have to harvest every 2 weeks!)

I also do 10% water changes weekly.

 

[Angel*Fish]

How big is that fuge?

Are you trying to keep sensitive corals like acropora? If not, you're probably fine. You might wind up doing something like bigger water changes - or buying a skimmer.

The best way is to add the fish gradually (maybe 1 month intervals) so your system has a chance to stabilize with each new fish. Test for nitrates - if they aren't controlled by your 10% water changes. You've got too much load or you need to do 20% changes.

I've got something like 26 fish in my 100 g - + 30g fuge. I run a dsb and skim heavily. I also feed like a maniac. Anyway, I think that's like 4 fish to you.

Your clown would be the only large fish. It might be pushing it. See how you do with the 3 for a month. Your clown will get fairly large in maybe even a year, but maybe grow slower without a mate(?). Eventually though as they get big, you might be in trouble. But that's not going to happen overnight, anyway - just keep an eye on your nitrates, test before your water change every week.

Are we in the nano forum? I had searched for angel threads. Somebody else in here is going to know about the bioload thing better than I . Sorry that was the best I could do.