Who Gives A Fish Forums

A familiar question, I'm sure, but I've got a tank of this size in my son's room, currently housing a pair of Channa Orientalis snakeheads and their babies. For now, it's the only size we have to work with due to our current living situation - I've got to wait till we move house before I can think about getting any other tanks.

My question is, would it be feasible to keep a pair of young clowns in a tank of this size, at least until they reach their maximum size? I do have some experience with brackish water, so that's not entirely new to me. The local fish shop has recently set up a marine section, which is convenient given the tank's small size - I could easily do regular water changes using their ready-mixed water.

If it's possible, what kind of filtration would I need, and would some live rock be beneficial in this setup? Appreciate any advice, and sorry if this is a pretty basic question.

You'll get a lot of different opinions on the minimum tank size for clownfish, as everyone's got their own take on it. For me, I think 20 gallons is the bare minimum for the smaller species - that's just my two cents, though. Some folks will tell you more, some less.

Live rock, on the other hand, is a no-brainer - you'll definitely want some. I'd say around 15 pounds should do the trick.

coral8 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 5:19 am You'll get a lot of different opinions on the minimum tank size for clownfish, as everyone's got their own take on it. For me, I think 20 gallons is the bare minimum for the smaller species - that's just my two cents, though. Some folks will tell you more, some less.

Live rock, on the other hand, is a no-brainer - you'll definitely want some. I'd say around 15 pounds should do the trick.

Thanks for the response, I almost feel embarrassed asking about a "nemo" setup, feels a bit basic after my previous experience.

I'm planning ahead, once I move house I'll have a room for my tanks and snakes, it's been a tough year with my wife's new business and lack of storage space, I had to sell 7 tanks this year, leaving me with just my 150g and my son's tank.

That being said, I'm going to give it a go, with the sole purpose of keeping just 2 clownfish. I'll get the live rock from my LFS, they always have a good stock. The tank's already equipped with a heater and lights, although I think I might need a different bulb for a marine setup.

In terms of filtration, would the live rock be enough or would I need something extra? I remember when I was planning a larger marine setup, I needed power heads, is that still necessary for this basic setup?

I can already imagine, once I get this tank set up with the clownfish, my wife will start pushing for a better, bigger setup that can go in the living room, unlike my tanks with freshwater predators that have always been relegated to the garage.

After doing some research, it seems like I can get away with just live rock and marine sand for filtration, no extra kit needed.

For water movement, I'm thinking a couple of powerheads would do the trick - one at each end of the tank should be enough. Any recommendations on what type to go for would be great.

Not sure about lighting though - do I need a specific marine bulb or will the live rock be okay with standard lighting?

The live rock is essentially the lifeblood of your tank, providing vital biological filtration. To complement this, you'll also need aragonite sand to maintain optimal water chemistry. A powerhead is another essential component for creating water circulation and preventing stagnant areas.

If you're not planning on keeping any corals, your current lighting setup might be sufficient. However, I'd be surprised if you resist the temptation of adding some soft corals once you see them at your LFS. If you're currently using T5 tubes, consider replacing them with marine-specific tubes. This will give you the flexibility to support a variety of soft coral species, should you decide to add them in the future.

felinxo wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 10:14 am The live rock is essentially the lifeblood of your tank, providing vital biological filtration. To complement this, you'll also need aragonite sand to maintain optimal water chemistry. A powerhead is another essential component for creating water circulation and preventing stagnant areas.

If you're not planning on keeping any corals, your current lighting setup might be sufficient. However, I'd be surprised if you resist the temptation of adding some soft corals once you see them at your LFS. If you're currently using T5 tubes, consider replacing them with marine-specific tubes. This will give you the flexibility to support a variety of soft coral species, should you decide to add them in the future.

Agree with felinxo, except I'd like to throw in another option that's not often mentioned - ditching the sand altogether. The tank floor will eventually get covered in coraline algae anyway, which makes it a breeze to keep the tank free of debris. I've been running my 100g as a bare bottom tank, initially just a temporary setup, but I'm actually considering keeping it that way in the long run.

Cheers for the advice, I know you're not sold on the tank size, but I appreciate the input. I'm gonna go with the aragonite sand though, I like the look of it with the blue back and sides, gives a nice effect.

I've found that having sand in the tank does add a nice aesthetic, and it's true you get some life in the sand that you wouldn't otherwise have. I just thought I'd throw the alternative out there, as it can make maintenance a lot easier - not many people consider it, but it's definitely worth thinking about.

The process is nearly underway, I've got the last of the fish to rehome tomorrow and then I can start stripping the tank down, draining the water, removing the sand and giving it a thorough clean. I'll let it dry out completely before I give the inside a coat of royal blue tile paint to match the back and sides I've already done.

I was just thinking, once it's all set up and cycled, would it be possible to add a couple of hermit crabs and a blood shrimp to the tank, or would that be too much for a small setup like this?

yeah I think hermits will be alright, but I'm not too sure about the blood shrimp, I'd probably go with peppermint instead