FOWLR v. REEF TANK

[batguano]

So, I just got back from the LFS with a dilemma. I tell the guy working there that I want to convert my FO tank to FOWLR and the reef snob tells me that this is not a good idea. He suggests that I make up my mind, do I want fish or coral. I reply with why can't I have both. No he tells me , that never works out because in a FOWLR tank the salinity will be kept too low in order to ward off parasites and that is why I need to make up my mind. Am I going to host fish with a salinity range of 1.020 to 1.023 or corals with a salinity of 1.025? Can anyone offer me their opinion or advice? Can I do a FOWLR with a 26 gal AGA bowfront with much expectation of success? I should divulge that currently the tank is FO with one powerhead, an emporer HO filter (biowheel type) and a Prizm HO protein skimmer. Occupants include one royal dottyback, one yellow tang, one hippo tang, one ocellaris clown and one blue damsel. The cleanup crew are four large turban snails and three red-legged hermits along with eight margarita snails (they are getting a new home along with the very aggressive male blue "devil" damsel). Do I really need to consider the possibility of going reef one day before making the jump to LR?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

That's way off. You can have a FO (Fish, fake decorations, substrate, etc), FOWLR (As a FO but with Live Rock), and Reef (As a FOWLR but with corals) with any salinity.

It's easier to regulate salinity with FO and FOWLR because corals are a little jumpy to changes in salinity. Fish are too, but not as bad. But even a reef tank can be kept at 1.020 but is not recommended. I would suggest keeping your tank at 1.023-1.027 (1.025 prefered) whether or not its a FO, FOWLR, or Reef.

Also, you might want to ready up on your tank inhabitants ASAP. A yellow tang and hippo tang will QUICKLY outgrow your 26g. Also, your bioload is excessively heavy. If you don't have ammonia or nitrite problems, you will quickly have nitrate problems.

To simply answer your question, you can make the jump to live rock and not have to worry about turning it into a reef in the future. In fact, I recommend having live rock. But watch out. Make sure that the rock is totally cured so you don't kill your tank.

 

[batguano]

Thanks TS. I thought so. Yes, the bioload is heavy. When I started I couldn't resist the one more fish syndrome. I think I will adopt out the tangs and just keep the clown and the dottyback, maybe get a canary wrasse.

 

[Mel-E-Mel]

ever consider upgrading to a bigger tank? larger water volume = more stable water conditions. just a suggestion, 75g and up. plus you can keep your current livestock.

 

[batguano]

Married with children. I am currently trying to convince my spouse that spending vast amounts of money on this hobby is a good idea, but I do have my eye on an AGA 92 gal reef ready corner tank. Gotta win that big case!

 

[Mel-E-Mel]

Secrets to convincing wife, (my case, girlfriend ) for purchases, get them emotionaly involved with the fishes! get them saying '' oh that fish is so cute and colorfull, i love them!'' theeeeeeeeen you can say '' arent they? they woulld be so much happier in a bigger tank, you would see there true personality!'' hahahahahahahahahahahh!!!!!!! :lol:

not saying this works for everybody, it didnt work for me!!
she did however agree i can put up a inwall tank when we get our house! any size i can fit into a wall! woohooo!!!! anyways, good luck with your case!! hopefully it works out for you.

 

[batguano]

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try.

 

[XtrmCHoPZ]

A salinity of 1.020-1.023 will not rid your tank of parasites anyways. It has to be down closer to 1.010! THat guy who told you that stuff is full of it. And you can have coral at 1.023, its not that far from 1.025. YOu wont have to worry about parasites if you quarantine your fish......also sorry to say, but a 26 is way too small for ANY tang...let alone two. YOure going to want to upgrade to AT LEAST a four foot tank for those guys or get rid of them. Personally in a tank that small I would just go reef, its not really big enough to enjoy as a fish tank. You wont be bale to keep anything that gets remotely big. I think if its a reef you have way more options, and there are lots more things you could put in there. just my opinion

 

[batguano]

I'm starting to come to that realization, the tank is just too small, it's really suitable as a mini, almost a nano. So, incorporating the advice of rommelgin and XtrmCHoPZ, I make the following argument to the little ladie, "Aren't the fish soooooo cute? And their little personalities just come right through when you watch them long enough! But you know what? They're not really happy, they need more room and to feel like they are back on the reef! Honey, that 250 gal Oceanic Wave tank we saw at the LFS is just the thing they need. Let's go and look at it."

What do you think, do I have a shot?

 

[Mel-E-Mel]

sounds like a good start!:lol: but let the ladies come to realize how cute the fishies are...let the fishes grow on them.......just like anything in this hobby....be patient!....work up the charm sloooowly! :thumbsup:

 

[XtrmCHoPZ]

Well ive found that the ladies like the aggressives better, just my situation...... I do think that a 250g would be great for those tangs though, see what you can do!

 

[Mel-E-Mel]

xtrmchops, you have a point with the aggresives...........they find it erotic when they eat each other! hahahahahahhahahah!!!!! (from duece bigelow)

 

[Ironsheikh]

not sure what your prices are but they sell 60g tanks for $100 at petsmart and most pet stores in my area sell 75g tanks for $120. I waste that taking my girl out to eat a couple times a week.

invest in live rock there are too many positives and the only negative is spending your cash on rocks. Just do some easy low light flourescent corals for colors-- I'm starting w/ some star polyps, zoos, and metallic mushrooms