180 FO or FOWLR

[Nighthawk31]

Hi all I just joined the forum but I've been lurking around for a while.

I've been in the hobby 23 years sometimes keeping fresh water sometimes keeping saltwater and sometimes both. All the marine tanks I've had in the past have been FO and very old school filtration methods e.g. canisters and ugf's. I currently have a 180 gallon FW that I'm considering changing to a SW. I could easily do the old school thing again with the canisters and a big skimmer on a FO system. This time, however, I am considering a FOWLR.

I'm wondering what the pros and cons of setting up a FOWLR tank with my current filters would be. I'm using 3 AC 110's, 2 Magnum 350's and an Eheim 2217. I'd also get a large skimmer. I understand that in this type of system the live rock is the biological filter so how could I best utilize my current equipment. How much live rock would be needed in a tank this size? The main fish in the tank would be a volitan lionfish, emperor angel, yellow tangs, powder blue tang and a blue tang.

 

[mcbaes72]

Welcome! You can use a canister filter for media (i.e. carbon, phosphate removal, etc.), but of course leave out the UGF. There is one member here that has a RUGF (reverse) running for over 30 yrs though...amazing!

For 180g, 1 lb LR per 1 gal is a general rule, but I did less than half that in my tank (I prefer more swimming room). You may wanna consider chaeto in a sump or a refugium + skimmer to get the best of both. Good luck w/ whatever set up you decide on.

 

[cichlid333]

i would choose to go with the live rock, if their is proper flow threwout the rock the more rock the better i always say just my opinion

 

[Jerry W]

With live rock, a good skimer and good flow, you really won't need other filtration. You can use a supplemental filter to run carbon if you like. IMO, the pound per gallon rule is out dated. Go with what look aestheticall pleasing. With a lot of large active fish, having a tank full of rock is going to limit your real estate so leave enough open area for swimming. Absolutley ditch the UGF.

 

[phk36]

Hey I have a 180 fowlr. I have 120 lbs live rock and 200 ibs live sand. I also have a 75 gal sump, Iwaki 55 rlt, 45 watts uv, asm g4x skimmer. Sump is in the basement

 

[Nighthawk31]

Thank you for all the replies. The ugf is definetly out. The fish I plan on keeping are going to be pretty active. With the exception of the lionfish. So, 180 lbs. of live rock is out for two reasons. First, I don't want to give up that much swimming room and second, I couldn't afford it. My plan is to have a couple inches of live sand. Buy about 50 lbs. of porous live rock and base rock for the rest. I want to have a somewhat large rock pile on one side and a smaller one on the other with a few random rocks in the middle.

I can't put a sump in the stand because it has a bookcase in the middle and small cabinents on either side. There's no basement either. So I may build a cabinent beside the tank to house the sump (50 gallons is probably going to be max size) and put a 29 gallon on top of the cabinent for a refugium. The addition of a sump and refugium is still a maybe. I may end up having to utilize the canister filters for supplemental filtration.

If you could have only one would you use a refugium or skimmer? Is chemi-pure still used or has it become outdated also? I'm still in the very early planning stages and I'm trying to read as much as I can here and on other forums. I want to set this up right so I can enjoy the fish without trying to correct problems that should never have happened. I also don't want to go broke.

 

[phk36]

If you have a fowlr than the skimmer is a must. You can put phos ban is your filter

 

[limitdown]

Chemi-pure or regular GAC carbon in the canister will be fine, just make sure that it's tightly packed cuz tumbling will release carbon fines.

If you get a sump, then you'll have flexibility to add a bunch of other equipment and have all of the equipment hidden from sight. With a large 180g, you'll need a large skimmer, which would be really difficult to plump without a sump.

 

[Mike5252]

Using base rock with just a little live rock will save alot of cash. Plus the base rock will end up being 'live rock' after a while anyway.

Definitely get a skimmer before refugium. Skimmers are a must. You could try using a 'hang on the back' skimmer to avoid the sump for a while. There are some good ones out there. You may need more than 1 for a 180gal though.