Fish Only tank

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by locoyo386
http:///forum/post/2928399
Hi all,
Does anyone have a TRUE FO tank set up and running? NOT a FOWLR
I've had a fish with lots of dead coral tank (s) for years; they remind me of my early days in the hobby.No fake plants, air stones, "no fishing signs", or plastic clams that open and bubble.No LR, even in the sump. I have a big FOWLR & a big reef too; I just like to keep the stuff that got me addicted.
 

1990jpyj

Member
i used to run my 55g FO. i had the fake plants and all. my set-up was pretty easy to:
marineland 400 filter carbor24/7
standard flouresent light
35#'s blue gravel rocks
like 10 fake plants
even the fake background
all this got changed once i saw a real reef tank then it all changed. had it set up this way for like 5 months
 

mpdan

Member
i have had a fo tank for 2yrs changed the filter to sump changed substrate and background now i want more color so im slowly adding lr to add some softies dont really like the look of a full reef to much of a garden look to me
 

locoyo386

Member
Thankyou all for posting your comments. I hope you all keep looking at this thread as I will ask all of you independent questions. I will start with the first reply.
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2928499
I've had a fish with lots of dead coral tank (s) for years; they remind me of my early days in the hobby.No fake plants, air stones, "no fishing signs", or plastic clams that open and bubble.No LR, even in the sump.
Do you still have it?
If not, why not and how long did you have it?
If you still have it, how long has it been running?
What fish did you have?
What type of filtration did you have running?
What type of problems did you encountered
If you were to do one with what you know now, what would you do different?
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by locoyo386
http:///forum/post/2928631
Thankyou all for posting your comments. I hope you all keep looking at this thread as I will ask all of you independent questions. I will start with the first reply.
Do you still have it?
If not, why not and how long did you have it?
If you still have it, how long has it been running?
What fish did you have?
What type of filtration did you have running?
What type of problems did you encountered
If you were to do one with what you know now, what would you do different?
This is really impossible for me to answer. It would take hours, especially the way I type. I've kept tanks, like the one described above, for over 30 years and do lots of things that I wouldn't recommend to everyone. And, I admit, some things I wouldn't recommend to Anyone. If you can describe what you want to do and what your concerns are, I'd be glad to help. I will say that (IMO) it is not difficult to keep a SW tank without LR and the cost of good LR should not prohibit a beginner from getting into this hobby. LR is incredible stuff and changed this hobby dramatically, but fish can be kept without it. But, if I just had one tank, it sure would have plenty of LR.
 

locoyo386

Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2929560
This is really impossible for me to answer. It would take hours, especially the way I type. I've kept tanks, like the one described above, for over 30 years and do lots of things that I wouldn't recommend to everyone. And, I admit, some things I wouldn't recommend to Anyone. If you can describe what you want to do and what your concerns are, I'd be glad to help. I will say that (IMO) it is not difficult to keep a SW tank without LR and the cost of good LR should not prohibit a beginner from getting into this hobby. LR is incredible stuff and changed this hobby dramatically, but fish can be kept without it. But, if I just had one tank, it sure would have plenty of LR.
Well thank you for your responce. I will get back to you if I have any further questions.
 

locoyo386

Member
Hi there, now you
Originally Posted by CedarReef
http:///forum/post/2928509
I had a FO for a while before I recently went reef with my setup.
Do you still have it?
If not, why not and how long did you have it?
If you still have it, how long has it been running?
What fish did you have?
What type of filtration did you have running?
What type of problems did you encountered?
If you were to do one with what you know now, what would you do different?
 

jdl

Member
This guy is just looking for a "yes" to no live rock.... how sad...
one can run a tank without live rock, but the real question is why would you want to? Live rock not only is a great filtration system and food source, but it also looks nice.
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/2929896
one can run a tank without live rock, but the real question is why would you want to? Live rock not only is a great filtration system and food source, but it also looks nice.
$$$; very often. IMO, this can be a legit reason for a beginner; the goal being to gradually add LR. Like I said above, I sure suggest LR; but don't think the expense should disqualify new hobbiest on a budget.
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2929812
This guy is just looking for a "yes" to no live rock.... how sad...

Yeah; its all in the way you ask a question. If I ask "Do you recommend keeping large triggers with lionfish?' I'll get a lot of good advice and not do it. If I ask "Who has successfully kept a trigger with a lion"; I'll hear from a few that have done it. (Very few have done it, long-term). After all, in this hobby; someone has done just about everything, at least for a while. Then I feel better about my new Niger Trigger shredding my lions fins because I did my research.
 

locoyo386

Member
Thankyou for reponding
Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2929812
This guy is just looking for a "yes" to no live rock.... how sad...
(I do not consider an attempt to learn this hobby in more depth, to be "sad". I do otherwise consider sad that people do not want to bother with the "why" and just be content with the "how".)
I do not want to sound rude, but I would not need someone to say ""yes" to no live rock". If I wanted to do this I would just simply do it. I do not need anyone's permission to do it. I am not asking this question to get permisson from someone on this site as to what I want or would want to do. I am asking this question so I may gather experience from what other members on this site already have gone thru.
I am asking this so I may further understand the different problems that occur in the vast types of tanks that could possibly be done with saltwater fish.
I do understand the benefit that "Live Rock" provides for saltwater tanks. I also know that there are several medias that provide the same affect that "Live Rock" provides. At leat from what the majority would consider as being "Live Rock".
Just a note, I have multiple saltwater fish tanks and none of them are without what I consider "Live Rock". Some have less than others and some have alot.
It is easy to make assumptions, but sometimes it is very hard to live with the consequences of our assumptions.
 

locoyo386

Member
True
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2929934
Yeah; its all in the way you ask a question. If I ask "Do you recommend keeping large triggers with lionfish?' I'll get a lot of good advice and not do it. If I ask "Who has successfully kept a trigger with a lion"; I'll hear from a few that have done it. (Very few have done it, long-term). After all, in this hobby; someone has done just about everything, at least for a while. Then I feel better about my new Niger Trigger shredding my lions fins because I did my research.
Exactly, just cause it worked for him it might work for me. Statistically speaking there could be someone (one out of as many people keeping saltwater fish aquariums) that had this work. I would not assume it will work for me. On the other hand if I ask the same question, and I get a single responce from someone that was able to do this. Why can't I try learn as to why it worked for him and not for the rest of us. Why assum that this is what I want to set up, and I am looking for approval. I think it is very naive to want to seek aprroval for something that you already KNOW you want to do.
 

locoyo386

Member
Hi there,
Originally Posted by 1990jpyj
http:///forum/post/2928518
i used to run my 55g FO. i had the fake plants and all. my set-up was pretty easy to:
marineland 400 filter carbor24/7
standard flouresent light
35#'s blue gravel rocks
like 10 fake plants
even the fake background
all this got changed once i saw a real reef tank then it all changed. had it set up this way for like 5 months
Was the 400 filter the only filter you had?
Did you buy a 55 gallon kit?
If so was that the equipment you used for it?
How long did you have it for?
What kind of fish did you have?
Well I hope you want to share your experience with me. Thanks in advance if you repond.
 

stones

Member
I run a tank with no live rock. I have 2 chunks of live rock in it but they aren't live anymore as i had to do copper for a outbreak.
I don't know if it's possible for me to make the live rock come back alive or not but it would be nice if i could, it's just very expensive.
My no live rock tank has been running for almost 4 years, no problems. A few fish have passed along the way, but i also have some fish that i got when i first started the tank. Nothing major.
I've just have the 2 used to be live rocks, & a few other base rocks, some fake coral plants & a large leafy green plant all which are dishwasher safe to clean. & crushed coral for a base.
I use tap water for replenishing evaporation & water changes & i have had no issues with it.
I have a Sedona 37 gallon tank/stand/canopy.
Here is the filtration i use & have used for the 4 years.
Magnum Bio-pro system, with Bio-wheel pro 30 is my filtration.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...a-000423bb4e79
Here's my stock:
1 Bluedevil
1 Domino
1 Lemon Damsel
1 3 Stripe Damsel
1 Purple Pigme Angelfish
1 Yellow Canary Wrasse
1 lemondrop?
1 juvenile miniatus grouper
 

locoyo386

Member
Thankyou for replying,
Originally Posted by Stones
http:///forum/post/2930221
I run a tank with no live rock. I have 2 chunks of live rock in it but they aren't live anymore as i had to do copper for a outbreak (did you clean the tank after use? is there still copper present in the water column?).
I don't know if it's possible for me to make the live rock come back alive or not but it would be nice if i could, it's just very expensive.
My no live rock tank has been running for almost 4 years, no problems (Do you know what your levels have been for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrtate aswell as Phosphate?. A few fish have passed along the way, but i also have some fish that i got when i first started the tank (So you have 4 year old fish? Which ones?). Nothing major.
I've just have the 2 used to be live rocks, & a few other base rocks, some fake coral plants & a large leafy green plant all which are dishwasher safe to clean. & crushed coral for a base (Do you siphone the CC when doing water changes?).
I use tap water for replenishing evaporation & water changes & i have had no issues with it (Do you know if your tap water adds Nitrates and Phosphates to your water column?).
I have a Sedona 37 gallon tank/stand/canopy.
Here is the filtration i use & have used for the 4 years.
Magnum Bio-pro system, with Bio-wheel pro 30 is my filtration (Is this the only filtration you have on the tank?).
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...a-000423bb4e79
Here's my stock: (Is this your current stock? If so, what is your Nitrate level? What size are they?)
1 Bluedevil
1 Domino
1 Lemon Damsel
1 3 Stripe Damsel
1 Purple Pigme Angelfish
1 Yellow Canary Wrasse
1 lemondrop?
1 juvenile miniatus grouper (How long have you had this fish, If you still have him? How bg is this one?)
 

stones

Member
I haven't checked the copper level to see if there is still any in it.
My levels all test great.
The 2 oldest fish i have is the 3 stripe damsel & the purple pigme angelfish.
Sometimes i siphone the cc, but not everytime.
I don't know if my tap water adds nitrates to my water or phosphates.
Yes, that's the only filtration i use.
Yes, those fish are my current stock, & they range in size of probably 1-3" mostly.
The grouper i have had for 4 months & he hasn't grown much at all, he's probably not quite 3", which i'm glad honestly, i was hoping he wouldn't grow much & outgrow my tank.
 

1990jpyj

Member
Originally Posted by locoyo386
http:///forum/post/2930154
Hi there,
Was the 400 filter the only filter you had?yes
Did you buy a 55 gallon kit?no i built the stand and bought everything in peices
If so was that the equipment you used for it?i had a 150w heater, like this ugly blue gravel(changed to CC) guess i never got any better.
How long did you have it for?i would like to say about 5 months but it was probly longer. more like a year but probly 5 with just the blue gravel
What kind of fish did you have?i had a pretty full tank(imo):
1 Baby Hippo tang(about .5")
2 FP clowns
1 Firefish
1 3 strip damsel
3 pajama cardinals
thats all i can remember its been like 4 yearsish
Well I hope you want to share your experience with me. Thanks in advance if you repond.
if you are planing on going this route plan on doing alot of water changes. my hardest problem was keeping my peramiters in check. thats y i went with LR and ever sence i havnt had a single problem. i even ran this tank using tap water so i guess it shows how much of a noob i was. lots of algee, had to clean every day. its totally doable but i wouldnt ever do it again.
 
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