How many fish can you have in a 20 gallon long

[Echo2656]

I going to keep a my first reef in a 20 gallon long. How many fish can i keep in it? FIsh would prob be 2-3 inches.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I going to keep a my first reef in a 20 gallon long. How many fish can i keep in it? FIsh would prob be 2-3 inches.

4-6 and monitor both water quality and diet

 

[jkcoral]

It really depends on the size and type of the fish you plan to keep. Without knowing specifics, I’d say 4 fish in total, but 5 or 6 *might* be possible.

And the 2-3 inch size doesn’t always mean the same thing across different species, so be mindful. My McCoskers wrasse is 2.5-3 inches and needs more space to swim and is very active. But a 3 inch goby could have completely different needs, etc.

Also, whether or not you keep clowns can matter. They are mean and will kill others in their territory, so the other fish in the tank will be forced to occupy a smaller space.