Fowlr

[tjmm]

I have a 75 gallon tank with 50 lbs of LR. I have read that no lighting is necessary during the cycle, what about after it's cycled? Aren't there living things in the rock? Do they require anything special? I'm not ready to add any coral, just fish initially. I've added a protein skimmer to my tank. Am I missing anything?

 

[malounsbury]

Do you have a heater and any powerheads to move the water? If you're doing a FOWLR tank then all the lighting you need can come from a regular hood you can buy with tanks at any *****/PetSmart. They don't need any special lighting at all.

 

[viet-tin]

Power compacts or HO lights are good. IME under NO lights coralline will turn white and die.

 

[malounsbury]

He's not adding any coral now, so he doesn't really need anything powerful. Just for a FOWLR tank he can use a regular hood. If/when he goes to add coral, he will need a PC or some type of high output lighting.

 

[viet-tin]

Doesnt coralline have lighting needs as well. as i said IME in NO lights coralline turned white and died. Better lighting will also make your tank look better.

 

[viet-tin]

but if hes using the rock jus to have it in there and couldnt careless about the coralline then NO are fine

 

[tjmm]

I do have a heater. Explain what a powerhead is.

 

[malounsbury]

A powerhead is a water pump that can be completely submersed. They are generally used to provide water circulation and to power a protein skimmer. Powerheads come in a number of different sizes and can pump as little as 50 GPH and as much as 3000 GPH. Bigger powerheads are often used as return pumps or are used in conjunction with large canister filters.
You will need at least 2 of these for your tank. I would suggest 3 though. You can use Maxi-Jet 600's for this. In a marine tank, you need to simulate the current of the ocean that fish have out in the wild.