Fish for 22 gallons

[YHSublime]

So I'm starting to consider fish for my Mr. Aqua 22. It's not a lot of room, but I plan on doing a very heavy bio-load, with the 30 gallons of extra water underneath, skimmer, filter socks, fuge, I'm don't think I'm going to have any problems with this.

 

I think I'll do a clown pair, just bc, but other than that, I'm looking for suggestions. I don't think I can get away with this without putting a lid on the thing, so I anticipate that as well. Most of preferred fish require super large tanks, so this is the other side of the spectrum for me.

[mari.harutunian]

Got marine pure? Extra water isn’t just going to do it, you need more bacteria. And firefish, Ray gobies, any gobies, cleaner shrimp, and i think the smallest wrasse needs 30 gallons..

 

 

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[roni]

pair of shrimp gobies are one of my favorites for small tanks.  

clown gobies

neon gobies

small flasher wrasses

geometric hawkfish

 

if primarily sps, maybe something like a pygmy angel?  

[YHSublime]

Got marine pure?

 

No need.

 

Extra water isn’t just going to do it, you need more bacteria.

 

Disagree. In between the sand, the rock, and the extra rock in the sump, countered with the mechanical filtration and a refugium, it should be more than fine. Although it's a nano, it's not my first rodeo.

 

 

firefish, Ray gobies, any gobies, cleaner shrimp, and i think the smallest wrasse needs 30 gallons..

 

I'll do cleaner shrimp for sure. Gobies seem to be the common trend in smaller tanks.

 

 

pair of shrimp gobies are one of my favorites for small tanks.  

clown gobies

neon gobies

small flasher wrasses

geometric hawkfish

 

if primarily sps, maybe something like a pygmy angel?  

 

Excellent ideas. The Yasha Gobys can be bought captive bred on live aquaria now, so that's appealing! Clown gobies are a fave, and I think It would be neat to have a set of blue neon gobies.

I really like the idea of doing some flasher wrasse, like a carpenters pair or a yellowfin pair.

 

The tank that inspired me to go with the Mr. Aqua had a pygmy angel in it, 12 gallon. Unfortunately, I love my zoanthids, so I don't anticipate risking anything outside of "reef safe." I guess never say never.

[roni]

you can also go the other way if you aren't set on your clowns and do a dwarf lionfish, dwarf frogfish or banana dwarf moray.

[treesprite]

I have had 2 cherub pygmy angels (not simultaneously) in the past, and they never never touched anything. However, they were very spunky, stressed out all the other fish by disrespecting all the territories, and used every single inch of a 75g. They are really cute, entertaining, visible, and leave corals alone, but because of their roaming needs and lack of boundaries, I would not even dream of putting one in a 22g with other fish.

[YHSublime]

I have had 2 cherub pygmy angels (not simultaneously) in the past, and they never never touched anything. However, they were very spunky, stressed out all the other fish by disrespecting all the territories, and used every single inch of a 75g. They are really cute, entertaining, visible, and leave corals alone, but because of their roaming needs and lack of boundaries, I would not even dream of putting one in a 22g with other fish.

Yeah, not in the books for me.

 

 

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[miggs76]

best nano fish I've every owned was the yellow clown goby

[treesprite]

Clown gobies are adorable, but they nest in branching SPS, leaving dead spots or entire dead corals. I vowed to never get another one, did it anyway, and it happened again. So no more clown gobies for me.

[miggs76]

I had a full blown sps tank and my clown goby never did a bit of damage to any of my colonies.

[KingOfAll_Tyrants]

If they were compatible with jawfish, and I had more space, I might add in my own 29G an algae blenny.  I will add a royal gramma, someday.   Other fish I considered were firefish, and PJ or Bangaii cardinals.  

[molcott]

anthias

[DukeLawn]

Biota captive bred mandarin pair....They are 0.75 inches or so on arrival, you would have probably have plenty of pods between your display and the 30 gallons underneath in your sump. Then they also eat frozen LFS nano/nutramar OVA/or whatever is small enough to fit in their mouths. 

 

They are bright, colorful and pretty, very active. 

[YHSublime]

anthias

Don't want to feed all day!

 

 

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[YHSublime]

Biota captive bred mandarin pair....They are 0.75 inches or so on arrival, you would have probably have plenty of pods between your display and the 30 gallons underneath in your sump. Then they also eat frozen LFS nano/nutramar OVA/or whatever is small enough to fit in their mouths.

 

They are bright, colorful and pretty, very active.

I've not had much success with mandarins, even those eating frozen.

 

 

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[treesprite]

What about occellated dragonettes (aka "scooter blennies")? They are not as pretty as mandarins, but are way easier to keep and are very cute in pairs. I plan to get another pair when my tank has been up for a while.

[Neto]

I have a 22 gallon and a 10-15 gallon sump.... I have had a pair of clownfish, a watchman goby, a clown goby and a pistol shrimp for years with no issues with nitrates, etc. 

[molcott]

neon dottyback

[Tommy]

How about a pink spot goby ? They’re a little bigger than the normal goby but doesn’t move much and always in front , lots of characters.

 

[YHSublime]

How about a pink spot goby ? They’re a little bigger than the normal goby but doesn’t move much and always in front , lots of characters.

 

I'm more impressed with those banging scollys

 

 

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[Tommy]

Haha !

[epleeds]

If it was me I would do a watchman goby, a royal gramma, a small pair of black ice clowns and a few different shrimp and Call it a day.

[John Ford]

Not to high jack a thread but you have a FTS Tommy?

 

How about a pink spot goby ? They’re a little bigger than the normal goby but doesn’t move much and always in front , lots of characters.

 

Edited November 29, 2017 by John Ford

[Tommy]

Here u go John ! Btw... the gold hammer says “Hi”

 

[John Ford]

Very nice!!