ghandidawgg
New member
Cool. I think I will definetly go with a harem of flame angels. How much is a good number? should it be 1 male with x# of females or do u want a diversity in there
220 gal fowlr
- Thread starter ghandidawgg
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ghandidawgg
New member
Gotta add a lemonpeel to the list. Saw recty's thread and really like the convict. really stands out. how many is ok to keep together?
mattsilvester
Team RC
Fish wise..... I read something very good recently "get fish that excite you, not fish that excite other people"...... its good to get peoples opinions, but think about what fish that made you want to do a FOWLR...... this is advice that I wish I had taken when I set up my current tank and now I am a little bit stuck with fish that I like but don't love.
There are some good ideas here, but I would caution you to be careful before plunging into anything. For example, getting a hareem of dwarf angels..... it can be done, and it is done frequently, but there are alos lots on instances where the group doesn't work out, and you get WWIII....... if it sounds unusual, ask yourself why everyone isn't doing it........
If I were doing my tank again, I think I would just go for my 5 favourite fish. I think I would start with a short list of 10..... then pick my absolute favourite, then choose my next favourite influenced only by compatability....... don't get caught up in "colour schemes"...... a pitfall that many people fall into.
I think the mistake I made with my fowlr is that I got an emperor angel, and then I thought ok, a yellow tang will look good with him. Then I thought the purple tang would really contrast the yellow tang. Then I always wanted a powder blue, and my mrs wanted a lipstick tang....... then I thought I needed some red and I was tryin to keep corals...... so I anthias...... the end result is a great looking colour scheme, great activity, that everyone thinks looks fabulous, but I ultiamtely find boring....... I should have either not got the emporer and gone for a reef - which would have looked even better....... OR...... I should have got the big non-reef-friendly fish that excite me.... and not an ad-hoc 50-50 mix.
With regard to some of the advice you have been given, I would repsectfully disagree with some of it. For example, I would disagree with the statement "the skimmer is the primary filtration for most tanks"....... it is my opinion that the LR is, and should be the primary filteration. Skimmers, in my view, as like slimming pills.... correctly used, they help, and help alot, but they are no substitute for a health diet - and skimmers are no substitute for a good LR structure.
You mentioned that you will be building up your equipment etc. over time. My advice would be to get good LR, get some good circulation pumps, and get a sump set up properly. If you stock slowly, like you should, then the LR will more than handle the bioload, all the while maturing and creating a stable, strong system. Then save your money, and buy a good skimmer later.
I think it is a mistake not to include macro algae in your sump. I have had macro in my sump for about 7 years, and never had it over grow the system.
Quantity of LR - well my tank has similar dimensions and I have about 200lbs. Here's a pic.
There are some good ideas here, but I would caution you to be careful before plunging into anything. For example, getting a hareem of dwarf angels..... it can be done, and it is done frequently, but there are alos lots on instances where the group doesn't work out, and you get WWIII....... if it sounds unusual, ask yourself why everyone isn't doing it........
If I were doing my tank again, I think I would just go for my 5 favourite fish. I think I would start with a short list of 10..... then pick my absolute favourite, then choose my next favourite influenced only by compatability....... don't get caught up in "colour schemes"...... a pitfall that many people fall into.
I think the mistake I made with my fowlr is that I got an emperor angel, and then I thought ok, a yellow tang will look good with him. Then I thought the purple tang would really contrast the yellow tang. Then I always wanted a powder blue, and my mrs wanted a lipstick tang....... then I thought I needed some red and I was tryin to keep corals...... so I anthias...... the end result is a great looking colour scheme, great activity, that everyone thinks looks fabulous, but I ultiamtely find boring....... I should have either not got the emporer and gone for a reef - which would have looked even better....... OR...... I should have got the big non-reef-friendly fish that excite me.... and not an ad-hoc 50-50 mix.
With regard to some of the advice you have been given, I would repsectfully disagree with some of it. For example, I would disagree with the statement "the skimmer is the primary filtration for most tanks"....... it is my opinion that the LR is, and should be the primary filteration. Skimmers, in my view, as like slimming pills.... correctly used, they help, and help alot, but they are no substitute for a health diet - and skimmers are no substitute for a good LR structure.
You mentioned that you will be building up your equipment etc. over time. My advice would be to get good LR, get some good circulation pumps, and get a sump set up properly. If you stock slowly, like you should, then the LR will more than handle the bioload, all the while maturing and creating a stable, strong system. Then save your money, and buy a good skimmer later.
I think it is a mistake not to include macro algae in your sump. I have had macro in my sump for about 7 years, and never had it over grow the system.
Quantity of LR - well my tank has similar dimensions and I have about 200lbs. Here's a pic.
ghandidawgg
New member
Matt. Thank you. I really like the advice that you gave. I was going for "color scheme". I found out today about the harem of flame angels. They said if I were to do it, get 1 large flame angel and the rest of the group has to be tiny. I think I'm going to steer away from that. Fish that exite me... triggers... eels... bamboo sharks... puffers.... lions... all the good stuff that I can't keep because of my daughter. As I said earlier, she likes to stick her fingers in everything that looks cool... Anyway. Why I decided on FOWLR. mainly because even though I would love it, a 225 reef set up gets pretty expensive. metal halides on this size tank in Arizona. electric bill will be about $800/month at the least...
I think I have decided on a pair of large black ocellaris clowns,
1 majestic angel, 1-2 lemonpeel angels, 1 convict tang or 1 naso blonde tang, 6-8 Kaudern's cardinals.
I love the ocean so pretty much all fish exite me. hehe. I just want ideas from others with same size tank. I want to make sure that it is not overstocked, that the fish are compatible, and that there is plenty of swim space. I hate for a tank 2 be crowded. But i like lots of activity. I like naturalfish behavior as well. that's why I like shoaling fish. ie. the group of cardinals. I wanted to do 6-8 green chromis but not a big fan of the way they look. I even considered anthias,but read on them and decided that they weren't for me. Thanks for the help matt. Nice tank. lots of room.
I think I have decided on a pair of large black ocellaris clowns,
1 majestic angel, 1-2 lemonpeel angels, 1 convict tang or 1 naso blonde tang, 6-8 Kaudern's cardinals.
I love the ocean so pretty much all fish exite me. hehe. I just want ideas from others with same size tank. I want to make sure that it is not overstocked, that the fish are compatible, and that there is plenty of swim space. I hate for a tank 2 be crowded. But i like lots of activity. I like naturalfish behavior as well. that's why I like shoaling fish. ie. the group of cardinals. I wanted to do 6-8 green chromis but not a big fan of the way they look. I even considered anthias,but read on them and decided that they weren't for me. Thanks for the help matt. Nice tank. lots of room.
ghandidawgg
New member
well. just read up on the cardinals and they advised not 2 keep them in large groups. so there goes that.
mattsilvester
Team RC
If you like anthias, I see no real reason to stay away from them??? The common type Anthias Squamipinnis are not that difficult and would be more reliable than the sometimes finiky lemonpeel. I have had them in my tank for over two years now with great sucess. I typically feed once a day, although that being said when I do feed I feed plenty (do not read that as over feed). If I could get a decent pic of the male I wold, because he is as nice as any pic I have seen and he "changed" in my tank.
If you decide to get anthias, more is better..... I would go for about 8 as a minimum. But get all females. Do not let anyone convince you that it is "better" to get a single male....... It is better to get all females, and the strongest fish that adapts best to captivity will turn into a male.
In terms of fish that bite...... I've had a clownfish draw blood...... FYI.....
In terms of your little girl sticking her fingers in the tank..... this is something you should seriously discourage:
(a) It is dangerous - what if she knocks the lights in while playing? What if there is an electrical short circuit somewhere else due to an equipment fault?
(b) Her "playing" could lead to "look daddy, I gave your fish some of my sandwhich - they looked hungry......
(c) Anyone dipping their fingers in the tank is going to cause significant stress to the fish.
I am not suggesting for one minute that you go out and get lions, triggers and puffers on the basis that "she shouldn't be doing that"..... I am just pointing out that there are other dangers other than fish inflicted injury - some more, some less serious.
If you decide to get anthias, more is better..... I would go for about 8 as a minimum. But get all females. Do not let anyone convince you that it is "better" to get a single male....... It is better to get all females, and the strongest fish that adapts best to captivity will turn into a male.
In terms of fish that bite...... I've had a clownfish draw blood...... FYI.....
In terms of your little girl sticking her fingers in the tank..... this is something you should seriously discourage:
(a) It is dangerous - what if she knocks the lights in while playing? What if there is an electrical short circuit somewhere else due to an equipment fault?
(b) Her "playing" could lead to "look daddy, I gave your fish some of my sandwhich - they looked hungry......
(c) Anyone dipping their fingers in the tank is going to cause significant stress to the fish.
I am not suggesting for one minute that you go out and get lions, triggers and puffers on the basis that "she shouldn't be doing that"..... I am just pointing out that there are other dangers other than fish inflicted injury - some more, some less serious.
fender4string
New member
Sorry for the incorrect advice-Matt's absolutely right, the LR is definitely the primary filtration for your tank. The bacteria definitely do the most work.
Thanks for cleaning up after me Matt
!
Thanks for cleaning up after me Matt
!
mattsilvester
Team RC
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15709349#post15709349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fender4string
Sorry for the incorrect advice-Matt's absolutely right, the LR is definitely the primary filtration for your tank. The bacteria definitely do the most work.
Thanks for cleaning up after me Matt
All part of a day work
..... LOL.....I would agree that the skimmer can in fact remove more waste than the LR processes, and thus it "can" take care of the majority of the bioload in some instances....... it is just that it can never take care of it all, and thus while what you said was in a way correct, it could be mis-read and thereby misleading
There's no right or wrong in this hobby, just shades inbetween of "more right" and "more wrong".....and those shades are 'shaded' by the light in which they are portraited.
well said! when it comes down to it, you need to make your own decision, considering the sometimes conflicting information you gather.
if you are newer to the hobby, I'd stick with the "conventional wisdom" at first, then use your own experience and accumulated knowledge over time to push the envelope or try something different.
