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I'm planning a 20-gallon saltwater tank, and while researching and considering possible fishes some questions came up.
Note: if it matters, the tank would have live rock, live sand, and a skimmer (at least).

#1 What is the difference between Ocellaris and Percula Clownfish?

#2 Could I keep a scooter blenny with a pair of Clownfish (or yellow wrasses?)(or anything else?)?

#3 Assuming they were the only residents, besides inverts, how many clown gobies could safley live together in a 20?

#4 Are there any other (relatively inexpensive) gobies that could live together in a colony?

#5 How many watts per gallon are needed for a fish only tank? How many would be needed if i wanted to keep some mushroom or soft corals.

Thank you SO much!!!

Last edited by 123mjb at 04-Oct-2005 17:02

#1 What is the difference between Ocellaris and Percula Clownfish?
They're two different types of fish. Two different scientific names, two different looks.

#2 Could I keep a scooter blenny with a pair of Clownfish (or yellow wrasses?)(or anything else?)?
Yup!

#3 Assuming they were the only residents, besides inverts, how many clown gobies could safley live together in a 20?
Do you mean clown citron gobies? Usually the yellow kind? I wouldn't do more than one or two.

#4 Are there any other (relatively inexpensive) gobies that could live together in a colony?
There's a lot of inexpensive gobies...but it depends also on what you consider to be inexpensive. And in a 20 gallon tank, you dont really want too many. Saltwater cant hold as much oxygen as freshwater can, therefore greatly lowering the stocking ratio. Always keep this in mind.

#5 How many watts per gallon are needed for a fish only tank? How many would be needed if i wanted to keep some mushroom or soft corals.
Fish only tanks need only as much light as you want to provide. It's for the viewers pleasure only really. Mushroom and softies tend to be pretty low light corals, but it's hard to do a WPG rule with sw tanks b/c there are so many different kinds of lights, and they dont all have the same output if that makes sense. I'll give you an estimate, and say somewhere from maybe 3-5 wpg.

HTH a bit...

-Ferret


-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Thanks!

But about the clownfish, I was wondering if there was any difference in care needed, like different foods, etc.

About the blennies (which are so totally cool!), are there any differences in the care needed (not color) between Red scooter blennies and regular scooter blennies?

Thanks again!

The clownfish can be cared for in the same manner; they really aren't that different at all. As far as I know, they'll even host in the same anemones.
I can't help with the scooter blennies, maybe the above helpful poster can take care of that for you.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I believe both scooters have similar care, but I would not recommend putting a scooter in a 20 gallon. They need a lot of live rock to sustain them, or at the very least, very well established lr in a tank that has been up for at least a year.

The reason for this is that scooters generally only feed on copepods and such critters living in the rock. Often, and mine is included in this, they will not accept any other food. So, they usually only do well in large tanks that have been running for at least a year.

Ok... Thats good to know...
In that case, are there any other fishes that could live with a pair of clownfish in a 20?

And also, I live near a beach on the gulf, and was thinking about getting my own live sand. Is that a good idea? Or not?

Thanks!