"Fish Only" OR Reef tank??
- Thread starter reef dude
- Start date
galina
Member
Personally, I would go reef. True.. many fish can't go in a reef system, but the beauty of corals, and different creatures makes up for all that anyday. I have a 29 gallon reef and a 10 gallon fish only.. can't put too much in it, thanks to size, but I think reef tanks are far more interesting. Lately I've even been thinking how nice that 10 gallon would like as a nano downstairs........
Galina
Galina
galina
Member
You might be able to get away with an angel in a 90 gallon.. but in my personal opinion, you shouldn't have less then a 150. They like a lot of room and they get quite big. A reef can have so much cool stuff. Alot of fish will eat inverts, but in a reef, they can be safely kept. I find myself sometimes very transfixed by my shrimp, crabs, and starfish. My fish have to fight for attention! 
You could have a nice FO with some wrasses and smaller angels.. but I think a reef has just so much more interesting, complex stuff in it. Up to you!
Galina
You could have a nice FO with some wrasses and smaller angels.. but I think a reef has just so much more interesting, complex stuff in it. Up to you!
Galina
joe's reefer
Member
sure u will have more fish species while in a reef u still have alot of fish, and unimaginable number of inverts(some even might be undiscovered or unidsentified in your live rock and live sand).and in a fish only u will have to use more chemical to replace the diseases that shrimps and other inverts will eat and stop from spreading. Also alot of fish also need live rock to live(dragonets, certain basslet,gobys and blennies).
irishstout
Member
I started out with "fish only", it was nice, however, since switching over to reef I couldnt be happier. You can still have beutiful fish in a reef tank and the whole thing doesnt have to be filled with rock. With a tank that size, you should be able to have the best of both!
y2says
Member
Let's talk about care and time. I think if you want a simple saltwater tank, you should go with a FO. A fish only tank, IMO, is a bit more foregiving. I have a FO and two reefs and I have to pay attention to the reef tanks much more than I do the FO. I think your answer is, have both.
jumpfrog
Active Member
I have both and reef and FOWLR and they each have their pluses and minuses. Fish only need less attention and you can have the more aggressive fish while nothing beats the diversity of a reef system. Something new everyday.
Almost like choosing between a Chevy and a Ford.
Good Luck and which ever way you go I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience.
Almost like choosing between a Chevy and a Ford.
Good Luck and which ever way you go I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience.
kris walker
Active Member
It might just be my bad luck or fish-keeping skills, but I have to disagree with Y2SAYS. I think a reef tank w/o fish is easier to maintain than a fish-only tank. With FO, you have disease to worry about. To do this right, you either need a lot of luck or a QT tank. So add a QT tank to your maintenance list if you want FO. You also have to have fish you can catch when they get diseased. This can be very difficult and stressful to the hobbiest sometimes.
Maintaining a reef is not difficult once you get past that tank maturing stage (2-6 months after end of initial cycle assuming nothing else changes during this time, like adding more LR, LS, etc.). I hardly check my chemical levels anymore because every time I check (now about once every 2 weeks), they are still the same. I just watch the critter behavior and if they start acting weird, I check all the levels. Feed corals and inverts once every 2 days, drip kalk for 5-15 minutes each night, and that's it.
I would go with reef and no fish. As mentioned, it can be fascinating.
Cheers,
kris
Maintaining a reef is not difficult once you get past that tank maturing stage (2-6 months after end of initial cycle assuming nothing else changes during this time, like adding more LR, LS, etc.). I hardly check my chemical levels anymore because every time I check (now about once every 2 weeks), they are still the same. I just watch the critter behavior and if they start acting weird, I check all the levels. Feed corals and inverts once every 2 days, drip kalk for 5-15 minutes each night, and that's it.
I would go with reef and no fish. As mentioned, it can be fascinating.
Cheers,
kris
von_rahvin
Member
I think reefs are harder to maintain but worth it. the only problem is there are jsut too many fish and corals out there to have everything you want in just one tank. My solution . . . MANY TANKS!!!! A 90 gal is perfect size for a reef, not too big and not to small. For a FO and it sounds like you like bigger fish, save up and buy the 200+ gallon, you would be supprised how cheap they are once you start to shop around. (cheap being a realative thing.) I think i am going to be able to set up my 240 for around 1200 dollars. I need to check the numbers again. As long as you take your time this hobby becomes slightly less expensive.