New to saltwater

[heatherjh13]

Hi I have a 20 gallon saltwater tank, with one snow onyx clownfish one maroon clownfish one damsel. I am having a problem with pink stuff in my sand. I am wonder what snails, hermit crab ect. i could add to help clean the tank and how many. Also my maroon clownfish fin is nibbled off, the damsel and it seem to stay close but the snow clownfish keeps its distance any tips?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Sorry to say, that particular choice of three fish is probably not ideal for a 20 gallon. There could be more aggression to come.

Can you post a photo of your tank, so we can see if it's cyanobacteria?

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi and Welcome to R2R.

Sounds like Cyanobacteria as stated above.
Clowns are Damsels, an aggressive reef fish that will not tolerate other Damsel types in small tanks unless it's a pair.

 

[heatherjh13]

Hi and Welcome to R2R.

Sounds like Cyanobacteria as stated above.
Clowns are Damsels, an aggressive reef fish that will not tolerate other Damsel types in small tanks unless it's a pair.

Ill snap a photo and post it, Thank you. I believe we will have to take the maroon clownfish back he is hurt pretty bad. Do you think leaving the snow and damsel in together are okay? Im sorry if im not saying correct words we got them at petco and they were not helpful at all...

 

[Tahoe61]

Ill snap a photo and post it, Thank you. I believe we will have to take the maroon clownfish back he is hurt pretty bad. Do you think leaving the snow and damsel in together are okay? Im sorry if im not saying correct words we got them at petco and they were not helpful at all...

The Maroon eventually will be the issue. It would be the fish I return. Eventually you'll probably see aggression between the Damsel and Clown. If your focus is a pair of clowns that's doable.
A Clown left alone with no other Clown will become the dominant female. Your going to have to choose a significantly smaller Clown to pair with her. A Clown that displays submission by shaking.
I would let things settle down for a couple weeks and figure if you want a pair of Clown, because they will not tolerate other fish in a 20 gallon once they mature.
R2R is an excellent resource, just go slow and keep asking questions.

 

[TX_REEF]

Welcome. The clownfish will fight, likely to the death, eventually. I'd return one of them.

 

[heatherjh13]

The Maroon eventually will be the issue. It would be the fish I return. Eventually you'll probably see aggression between the Damsel and Clown. If your focus is a pair of clowns that's doable.
A Clown left alone with no other Clown will become the dominant female. Your going to have to choose a significantly smaller Clown to pair with her. A Clown that displays submission by shaking.
I would let things settle down for a couple weeks and figure if you want a pair of Clown, because they will not tolerate other fish in a 20 gallon once they mature.
R2R is an excellent resource, just go slow and keep asking questions.

 

[heatherjh13]

this is the tank we are returning the maroon fish back for its safety going to pick a couple of snails and a crab to help clean the tank. so i should leave the one clown and damsel together for now and then in future get a pair of clownfish? my roomates 3 of us are all our fish and we all would like one to be each of ours any tips on what other fish to get in the future?

 

[TX_REEF]

It’s better to get a pair of clowns earlier. Add another clown of the same type, ideally.

 

[Tahoe61]

Add only a smaller Clown than the residing Clown to the tank eventually. Some snails and hermits will definitely help with the algae issue.