Reef or Fish Only???

[limitdown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12298544#post12298544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
I think it's just a matter of taste and what kind of fish you want to keep.

LR certainly does a great job but you need enough of it to maintain adequate ammonia levels in the tank.

That said, I still use bio-balls and therefore do not need tons of live rock. More room for my fish to swim.

Billy, I've read many of your posts in the FO forum and you've convinced me to go FO. My incoming custom 200g display + 40g sump will be pure FO withOUT liverock. Ceramic rings/bioballs will be my only means of biofiltration. I will only put in a few rocks ("dead" rock, no live rock) for decoration and for fish to sleep in/on. I'm still not sure whether to go barebottom or to use sand, but the sand will be used purely for cosmetic/aesthetics (not using it for biofiltration)

The main reasons I'm shying away from using liverock are that 1) it robs fish of swimming space 2) i understand that the same volume of bioballs/ceramic rings can actually convert MORE ammonia/nitrites compared to LR 3) nuisance algae/worms/hitchhikers/nudibranchs/etc

 

[Billybeau1]

Well, I don't know which is better for a FO but I just have a little crushed coral on the bottom for looks. I just don't like the looks of a bare bottom but thats a personal choice IMO.

You can have a nice FO with a 200 gal tank. Thats the size I want next.

Good luck with your new tank.

Oh, and if you haven't got the lighting yet, get some with a couple of moon lights. My fish seem much more at ease at night since I got the moon lights. I love em.

 

[limitdown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12310587#post12310587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1


Oh, and if you haven't got the lighting yet, get some with a couple of moon lights. My fish seem much more at ease at night since I got the moon lights. I love em. [/QUOTE

I actually went down to one of my LFS's to talk to some of the guys about lights. I haven't bought anything yet, but I'm looking to get a setup with 4x60inch tubes of regular output T5's.

For moon lights, should I use 2 of the 4 slots for them? Or should I get a totally separate fixture with 1 or 2 tubes of them?

Another reason I'm choosing FO is the much lower energy consumption. The amount of electricity used to light 4x60inch T5's is just a tiny fraction of what would be required to properly light a 200g 40inch tall Reef tank. Such a large and tall Reef tank would probably require 3x 300watt MH's, and with the amount of heat produced, you'd need a 1/3 or 1/4 horsepower chiller to cool everything down.

 

[Billybeau1]

My moonlights are 2 little led's mounted in the fixture itself. The is powered by a separate cord so can put them on a timer if you want.

I think there are moon lights you can buy separate, but I like mine built into the fixture.

They give out just enough light to barely dim the tank.

I have three cords coming out of my light fixture. 1 for the main lights, 1 for the moonlights and 1 for the fan that keeps the fixture cool.

The guys in the lighting forum can probably guide you better for lighting.

 

[niles1967]

Let's just say it: reef tanks are boring! I have had salads that look better. Go with the fish!

 

[paulamrein]

I believe it requires both the Yin and the Yang to create the balance niles1967. Ask a reefer and they would say the exact same about a FOWLR.