FO vs FOWLR

[satellite4881]

I'm starting an in wall tank project from scratch. What is the best way to go? FO or add live rock? Also what type of filter is best for FO? Do I need a sump?

I have kept reefs in the past but do not know much about FO. I wanna cut electric costs by not needing MH lights on a FO. Also my kidloves to look at the fish.

 

[namxas]

Personally, I'd run FOWLR. You don't need lots of light just for the LR, so you can go without MH. In fact, you can run NO's if you don't have any light-needy critters in the tank.

 

[satellite4881]

The more I read it seems FOwLR is the way to go.

Should I go with a sump, fuge, skimmer, or a wet/dry filter set up?

Also as I construct the wall, stand, etc and find a tank can I start cycling the lie Rick in a Rubbermaid w/ a power head or will that not work?

 

[angelfish7]

I would absolutely put a sump with a protein skimmer(especially if you go with larger fish or medium to heavy bioload. As for skimmers, I would go with an Octopus. Great skimmers and moderately priced.

 

[viggen]

I am doing my first FOWLR, always been a FO person with wet/dry.

YEs to a sump/fuge.... necessity I think with a good skimmer

Wet/dry only if you do a FO tank with no live rock which also works great.....

Octopus skimmer many state are great however there are several other great manufacturers as well.

 

[scoobster]

FOWLR is they way to go in my opinion

 

[Flaring Afro]

I'd definitely do a sump. Drilling a tank is easy and not as big as a deal as it sounds, and if you do it yourself and use a tank for the sump (vs the expensive titled sumps), the price difference between that and a quality filter with enough gph isn't that much - and most filters don't take too well to saltwater and don't last very long (or become loud fairly quickly).

A skimmer might not be necessary. It's all about how big your tank (and sump) is vs what you want in it.

 

[Fishnthecorner]

I also vote for a FOWLR. And Sump. But you really don't need a fuge... Instead run a UV Sterilizer for crystal clear water!
P.S. How big is this tank?

 

[satellite4881]

I also vote for a FOWLR. And Sump. But you really don't need a fuge... Instead run a UV Sterilizer for crystal clear water!
P.S. How big is this tank?

I havent bought the tank yet. i am still in the planning stage. Want to get everything planned out and then buy everything in one shot. I am looking at a range of 75g-125g. Leaning towards 125.

 

[TitanTV]

I would say you will need a skimmer without a doubt. It does not matter what your bioload is as you will pull nasty stuff out even with 1 fish in the tank. I could not imagine the gunk I dump out of my skimmer cup being left in my tank.

 

[mattsilvester]

Really, anything non-LR based is seen as outdated these days - and for good reason.

Some pertinent questions however are; how experienced are you, what type of fish are you planning, do you / can you quarantine all new live stock?

By running a traditional system, you can treat for ich etc. in situ. The potential need to do this can be all but avoided by good q-tine, meaning LR is the best way to go. LR opens you to far more species to choose from, and will ensure they are far happier healthier i.e. angels, tangs, butterflies.

 

[satellite4881]

Really, anything non-LR based is seen as outdated these days - and for good reason.

Some pertinent questions however are; how experienced are you, what type of fish are you planning, do you / can you quarantine all new live stock?

By running a traditional system, you can treat for ich etc. in situ. The potential need to do this can be all but avoided by good q-tine, meaning LR is the best way to go. LR opens you to far more species to choose from, and will ensure they are far happier healthier i.e. angels, tangs, butterflies.

I kept reefs for a couple yrs. I have basic understanding of the hobby. As for qt I planned in setting up a small tank to hold fish for a couple weeks before adding to main display. I have dealt with ich in the past w/ a hippo tang an was successful ridding him of it.

 

[mattsilvester]

I kept reefs for a couple yrs. I have basic understanding of the hobby. As for qt I planned in setting up a small tank to hold fish for a couple weeks before adding to main display. I have dealt with ich in the past w/ a hippo tang an was successful ridding him of it.

So the salient point is that you realise if your tank gets ich, or any other disease, you cannot treat them in place. It is not the case that you can just say "I'll sacrifce the live rock and dump in the copper" because that would kill all the life in it and result in ammonia spikes.....

To that end, q-tine becomes more or a pre-requisite than a precaution and hence a couple of weeks holding needs to be more like 4-6 weeks, and this may or may not include hypo or copper dosing as a preventative measure.

If you take these points on board, and are happy to proceed on that basis, then an LR based system (FOWLR) is the way to go ...... better water quality, more natural for fish, nicer looking..... there is no downside.