Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hello,

I'm looking for some input on stocking levels for my two saltwater marine tanks, a 16 Gallon and an 8 Gallon. I've built them specifically for small fish, no corals.

For the 8 Gallon, I was thinking:
- 2 Common Clownfish - they're pretty small and shouldn't cause any issues
- 3 Hermit crabs - they're great for cleaning up
- 1 Cleaner shrimp - to help keep the tank clean

I've ruled out larger fish, like Angelfish, as they grow too big for this tank.

For the 16 Gallon, I've got:
- 2 Common Clownfish - again, they're a good choice for a small tank
- 3 Neon Gobies - they're quite small and peaceful
- 5 Hermit crabs - they'll help keep the tank clean
- 1 Cleaner shrimp - for the same reason as before

Since both tanks are fish-only, I can maintain high water quality, which should help keep the fish healthy.

Thanks

You're pushing the limits, but with regular water changes and a good skimmer, I think both tanks should thrive.

Agreed, water stability will be enough for fish, but don't plan on keeping corals in there.

personally, i think 12 gallons is the bare minimum for marine fish. 2 clowns in the 16 gallon should work out as long as you keep up with those water changes, like the others mentioned. just a heads up, though - clownfish are supposed to need at least 25 gallons, but i know plenty of people who've kept them in smaller tanks. i've got a 90 gallon tank myself, and i've seen how much space they like to use up for swimming.

'Minimum tank size' is often subjective and influenced by personal ethics. Rarely is it grounded in concrete scientific evidence.

For an 8-gallon setup, I'd suggest a less active species, like a small frogfish or a shrimp goby. That being said, I've seen clownfish pairs thrive in tanks as small as 5 gallons, with no apparent issues. I recall a pseudochromis being kept in a tank barely over a gallon, surprisingly without any visible harm - although it does strain credibility.

I think that's a pretty harsh view though.