fowlr vs reef

I could be wrong but from what I'm reading, it sounds like you have limited saltwater experience???
If so, IMO, getting your feet wet, so to speak, with a FO/FOWLR, would be great for at least a few months.
If in the FOWLR, you keep reef fish as you planned, then once you've got a good handle on the cost of maintaining the FOWLR, you can then determine if you can make the upgrade to reef...
Everyone has definitely offered some sound advice!!
And remember..... PATIENCE.
 
griseum said:
I could be wrong but from what I'm reading, it sounds like you have limited saltwater experience???
If so, IMO, getting your feet wet, so to speak, with a FO/FOWLR, would be great for at least a few months.
If in the FOWLR, you keep reef fish as you planned, then once you've got a good handle on the cost of maintaining the FOWLR, you can then determine if you can make the upgrade to reef...
Everyone has definitely offered some sound advice!!
And remember..... PATIENCE.
Click to expand...

Yah I've had a 30gal fowlr for just over a year now and haven't had any problems. I guess what I'm after is what type of tank you have and questions like, why did you decide on that type of tank, time spent caring for the tank, equipment that you use and that type of stuff.
Interested in you comments.
 
I started with a 55 g reef tank. Then I went up to a 90. As time went on, I realized that I prefer larger tanks. I got my 150 reef tank. Then, I fell in love with a majestic Angel. Since it's not reef safe, I had to get a FOWLR. It was just a logical progression! Anyway, everyone needs a hobby, right?

It took time for me to learn my preferences in aquariums. I also like really hardy fish because I get upset when my fish die.
 
drej424 said:
I started with a 55 g reef tank. Then I went up to a 90. As time went on, I realized that I prefer larger tanks. I got my 150 reef tank. Then, I fell in love with a majestic Angel. Since it's not reef safe, I had to get a FOWLR. It was just a logical progression! Anyway, everyone needs a hobby, right?

It took time for me to learn my preferences in aquariums. I also like really hardy fish because I get upset when my fish die.
Click to expand...

That is what I was after, people's experiences.
Do you mind posting a pic of the angle and your tank please
 
Fishy 1 said:
I'd like to go reef but don't know how hard it is to keep corals
Click to expand...

It depends, like everything. :) If you want to go for soft corals like mushrooms, polyps, leathers, etc, IME it is not to hard to keep once your tank is established (my soft coral tank is 65 gallons).

What you would need for a soft coral tank if you do not have already:
- protein skimmer ( if you do not have a sump, that is OK, you can get a HOB one that will work OK for soft corals, my 65 has a BakPak HOB skimmer).
- T5 fixture (you can also do compact flourescent or LED, but my 65 has a corallife 4 bulb t5 36" fixture with 2 actinics and 2 10K bulbs and everything is doing GREAT)
- Circulation pump or 2 (my tank has a hydor koralia on it along with the sump return pump for flow)
- test for ammonia and nitrates (phosphates is a bonus but not a bad idea)

What I would do assuming you tank has cycled:
- Slowly add the reef safe fish you want
- Work on maintaining your water quality with your nitrates always <10ppm
(A note, if you have massive algae growth, you probably have high phosphates that is why that test is helpful)
- Wait until you have decent coralline algae growth (This has always been an indicator to me that the tank is ready for corals...)
- Try some mushrooms

Best of luck with whatever you decide! If it had been up to me, our 150 would have been a fowlr... not a SPS tank! I love fish.

ETA: You should use RO/DI water if you are not already. I used tap water treated with Prime for years, but than all of the sudden I had random unexplainable losses in multiple tanks. Switched to RO/DI, no more unexplained losses.
 
Last edited:
+1
There's no reason why you can't do a FOWLR + some hardy corals and have a bit of both. Even just a few simple clumps of Xenia swaying in the current and some Zoa colonies for contrast will look nicer than just plain LR and no more demanding to keep. IMO, small tank fowlr's are a little boring with the limited number and type of fish you can put in.
 
In a "perfect world", I would have both. A reef with just a few carefully chosen fish. And then a FO with all the bad a$$ fish I love.

I've come to the conclusion mixing more than a few fish with corals is more trouble than it's worth. The focus of your tank needs to be one or the other - fish or corals - it can't be both.
 
desjardinii said:
+1
There's no reason why you can't do a FOWLR + some hardy corals and have a bit of both. Even just a few simple clumps of Xenia swaying in the current and some Zoa colonies for contrast will look nicer than just plain LR and no more demanding to keep. IMO, small tank fowlr's are a little boring with the limited number and type of fish you can put in.
Click to expand...

This is what I have in my 125. Everybody who sees it,loves it. Best of both worlds
 
desjardinii said:
+1
There's no reason why you can't do a FOWLR + some hardy corals and have a bit of both. Even just a few simple clumps of Xenia swaying in the current and some Zoa colonies for contrast will look nicer than just plain LR and no more demanding to keep. IMO, small tank fowlr's are a little boring with the limited number and type of fish you can put in.
Click to expand...

Yah all I want is a few easy corals. I have fallen in love with coral beauties but I also what some corals:-)
I don't think I will have time for a full on coral tank. What are your thoughts on the coral beauty and a few softies?
 
As others have said do both! Heck throw a cold water tank in there too, I did.

I would say figure out what fish you want. You already mentioned clowns and wrasse, so you could go reef. If you like the messy press, reef may be out. Figure your fish wants and build around them for your success.
 
I think I have a fish list
2 clowns
1 flasher wrasse ( could someone please name a pretty one, so I can get my lfs to order one when I'm ready )
1 chromis
1 bangia cardinalfish
1 lawnmower Blenny
2 cleaner shrimp or fire shrimp
Is that to many fish or is it all right
 
rayn said:
As others have said do both! Heck throw a cold water tank in there too, I did.

I would say figure out what fish you want. You already mentioned clowns and wrasse, so you could go reef. If you like the messy press, reef may be out. Figure your fish wants and build around them for your success.
Click to expand...

When I get my new room built I'll be gunning for a 180cm tank :-)
 
Fishy 1 said:
Yah all I want is a few easy corals. I have fallen in love with coral beauties but I also what some corals:-)
I don't think I will have time for a full on coral tank. What are your thoughts on the coral beauty and a few softies?
Click to expand...

Why not, a cb's probably more difficult to keep than the softies anyway and it'll be a lot more interesting :thumbsup:
 
desjardinii said:
Why not, a cb's probably more difficult to keep than the softies anyway and it'll be a lot more interesting :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I meant will the coral beauty eat all the softies or will it just eat some here and there. If I kept her well fed will it pay less attention to the corals?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
New to saltwater
Replies
3
Views
167
Acetaprofen
A
N
75 gallon set up and stocking advice
Replies
8
Views
2K
Newham94
N
M
Back to this wonderfull hobbie after 10 years
Replies
4
Views
275
griss
griss
A
First SPS coral. Is this bleaching?
Replies
6
Views
574
apavlik2
A
YellowDesmo998
Back from a decade of silence...
Replies
8
Views
2K
Elmareefer
E
Back
Top