20g Themed Tank

[Wandering Albatross]

Another build, tank gifted by a family friend, Hawaii themed and used for testing.

Gear/equipment:

20g 24"x12"x16", no drill, no sump
tunze powerhead (forgot rating, have to track down)
100w Innovative marine heater
22lbs dry rock
20lbs caribsea Hawaiian black live sand

Proposed stock (subject to change):

1-2 pygmy red rooster waspfish
1-2 falco or flame hawkfish
2 firefish

These fish may be struck from this stocking or added to the 50g, depending on disposition and space. Ideally, all will be able to stay, considering they make up the lava to my volcano. I also ran Hawaiian black sand to test it for myself, given the mixed reviews. Grain size is large, like small pebbles. BB-sized for those who shot BB guns as kids. Was expecting it to be shiny, not matte black like it is. So far it does fine, but most sifting or burrowing creatures would struggle. The bag I got is highly magnetic, but it's in a low flow system and doesn't get kicked up where it might get caught against the glass. It's too early to tell, but no metals have leached to my knowledge. I figure its less loss testing it on a smaller tank, and the problem of the larger grains becoming a detritus trap are easier to manage in this small space, both by the substrate being easier to access for cleaning, and the kind of fish intended for this system will hopefully eventually take spot feeding, minimizing waste.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Please ignore the cords, those are a work in progress.

The volcano structure on top is completely hollow, and there are 3-4 decent sized caves and crevices, the one on the side is tough to see from this angle. For what it’s worth, even with dry rock, in this small space that 20lb of live sand insta-cycled my tank.

As you might notice, I’m temporarily holding my less aggressive of 2 tomini in here, to keep it cycled. He’s actually better behaved in here than in the 150, or in the 40g sump, which I find odd. He meanders without a care, no glass surfing, no pacing, just really chill. Makes me wonder if when everyone else is stocked, he might be able to go in the 50g. I doubt he’ll be able to stay in here once the rest of the stock is added, but given that they are semi aggressive too, he might surprise me. He’s been so chill, it’s like a whole different fish.

Anyway. That’s my build so far, I’ll try to keep everyone updated when my wasps and hawks come in, give a report on how they fare together.

Blessings

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Update y’all, I currently have the flame hawks in. The wasps have been out of stock everywhere I’ve looked.

One is half the size of the other, give or take, and they paired almost immediately. Super cute little guys, thought they’d be a risk to ‘small’ fish, but even the larger ones mouth is way smaller then I expected.

They currently share the space with a spotted mandarin male sized about on par with the smaller hawkfish, and they get along great.

Still looking for the wasps, but wondering who else could fit in if the wasps are put on a serious hold. Something red, orange, black/grey, or yellow. Was thinking standard firefish but worried they’d be too timid.

 

[PNWreefer97]

Update y’all, I currently have the flame hawks in. The wasps have been out of stock everywhere I’ve looked.

One is half the size of the other, give or take, and they paired almost immediately. Super cute little guys, thought they’d be a risk to ‘small’ fish, but even the larger ones mouth is way smaller then I expected.

They currently share the space with a spotted mandarin male sized about on par with the smaller hawkfish, and they get along great.

Still looking for the wasps, but wondering who else could fit in if the wasps are put on a serious hold. Something red, orange, black/grey, or yellow. Was thinking standard firefish but worried they’d be too timid.

Top Shelf aquatics has some waspfish in stock now. I just picked up 2.