Can a FOWLR have invertabraes

btrs

btrs

Member
If a FOWLR had invertabraes would it then be considered a reef tank? Also what if you added a FEW corals. Then would it be considered a reef tank? I was hoping to set up a tank with a shark, a fish, a FEW corals, and invertabraes. Would it then be considered a reef tank? What if I took out the corals and did the other stuff? What If I took out the invertabraes and only did the other stuff? Thanks.
 
mohawkninja

mohawkninja

Member
That would be a reef yes. Also what kind of fish and what kind of shark are you planning on keeping, and it what size tank? If you had no corals but you had inverts in your CUC it would be a FOWLR considering you probably have live rock (hopefully)
 
btrs

btrs

Member
I was planning on a black tip reef shark and some other fish. What if the inverts arnt CUC, just inverts.
 
dmanatee

dmanatee

Member
Inverts...Invertebrates are defined as, "anything without a vertebral column. This in effect includes all animals apart from the sub-phylum Vertebrata. Familiar examples of invertebrates include insects, worms, clams, crabs, octopus, snails, and starfish. Taxonomically speaking, "invertebrate" is no more than a term of convenience. The vast majority of animal species are invertebrates, since only about 3% of animal species include a vertebral column in their anatomy."
So your clean up crew "typically" is filled with invertebrates. Snails, crabs, worms of various sorts, and microscopic creatures like copepods, and arthropods. (Sorry about the spelling. I am an Engineer, not a Biologist)
I don't think its possible to have a true FOWLR without any traces of invertebrates (because there will always be those microscopic critters. That being said, I know that many people who have invert eating fish tend not to add snails and crabs to their tanks. They invest in "Giant arm snails" and a good filter.
And I "think" the term "Reef tank" is defined by the presence of corals. But I could be wrong on that front.
Happy Studying and good luck with you future tank :)
 
mohawkninja

mohawkninja

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmanatee http:///t/395590/can-a-fowlr-have-invertabraes#post_3522788
Inverts...Invertebrates are defined as, "anything without a vertebral column. This in effect includes all animals apart from the sub-phylum Vertebrata. Familiar examples of invertebrates include insects, worms, clams, crabs, octopus, snails, and starfish. Taxonomically speaking, "invertebrate" is no more than a term of convenience. The vast majority of animal species are invertebrates, since only about 3% of animal species include a vertebral column in their anatomy."
So your clean up crew "typically" is filled with invertebrates. Snails, crabs, worms of various sorts, and microscopic creatures like copepods, and arthropods. (Sorry about the spelling. I am an Engineer, not a Biologist)
I don't think its possible to have a true FOWLR without any traces of invertebrates (because there will always be those microscopic critters. That being said, I know that many people who have invert eating fish tend not to add snails and crabs to their tanks. They invest in "Giant arm snails" and a good filter.
And I "think" the term "Reef tank" is defined by the presence of corals. But I could be wrong on that front.
Happy Studying and good luck with you future tank :)

Ahahaha. My LFS sells those ;_;, they are a buck each. :)
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
If the tank has corals, it's a reef.
You can have fish and invertebrates (snails, shrimp, crabs - typical cleaning crew) and it will not be considered a reef z
 
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