looking to try a fowlr tank...first saltwater tank

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patrick mitrevics

New Member
I have been looking at getting into saltwalter and have been talking to local pet shops as well as watching videos on youtube. pet shops have been great so far but seems like youtube is a lot of reefers and I am having a hard time finding fowlr build tips/setups. buying everything will be spread out over time because I don't want to "cheap out" but looking for more advise on how to approach my tank. looking to do somewhere between a 55-100 gal tank.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Bigger is always better. Old saying i know, but w sw its true. The more water volume the easier it is to keep stable. Plus the more live stock you can house. You said 55-100. Rule out 55 too narrow. A 75 is the same length 4ft. Wider tho. 100 generally can be 5 or 6 ft. If 6ft is ok for u space wise, then go 125. All my tanks currently are fowlr.
A sump is the easiest filtration, however a large hob will work too. You will need powerheads, a good heater (s) , sand not crushed coral.
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
90 is a good size at 4 feet wide. I'd go with a reef ready tank. They are pre drilled and have an overflow built in. Much easier to use a sump with a reef ready tank. In my opinion sumps make everything easier.

The advise is pretty similar for a fowlr as a reef. The initial set up is essentially the same. The equipment needed is less expensive for a fowlr. You won't need a skimmer but it wouldn't hurt to have one. Lighting is the biggest difference. Coral need a lot of light fish don't. Lights are probably the biggest difference between reef and fowlr.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
IMHO Start you tank with macro algae right from the start. then do the rest.

On my old 55g I just crammed in some 1/4" square plastic grid (egg crate) 3" in front of the back glass and added 2 2 tube 4' shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. Macro algae thrived in that area, nitrates dropped to 0 in 3 weeks with phosphates following a few months later. Meanwhile, fish like my tangs picked at the macros that poked through the grid, fed on pods, and smaller fish would swim through the grid to feast on the pods.

just my .02
 
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