Upgrade Reef or FOWLR

[osuaquarist]

This summer I plan on upgrading from my nano to either a 24" cube or a 125g FOWLR tank. I come from freshwater so I love all the nice fish that I can do with the FOWLR, but I do love the looks of the reef and the challenges it presents.
I can either invest in a custom 24x24x24cube to turn into a reef (I would try to drill the bottom so I could put the sump underneath in a cabinet. Or I could transform my 125g fresh into a FOWLR add a skimmer rock and maybe a refugium.
What are the pro's and con's of each system and which would you pick?!

 

[aquaguy24]

y not turn ur 125g into a reef..

 

[mr_x]

Originally Posted by aquaguy24
http:///forum/post/2613856
y not turn ur 125g into a reef..
+2
i like them both, but i vote for a 125 reef as well. it's very easy to run out of space in a reef tank. there are so many corals that you will want to have, and so many corals that you think you want, and will end up growing like weeds all over the place. there are corals that will sting each other to death of placed too close, and plenty of awesome reef-safe fish to choose from.
the downside is that you will have to purchase a few more test kits and some expensive lighting, as well as more powerheads to have a much greater flow.
there are other components, like calcium reactors and media reactors, but that doesn't have to be purchased until your tank is mature.
you will also have to keep the water alot cleaner in a reef. corals are less tolerant than fish are.

 

[niskyvaulter]

Originally Posted by aquaguy24
http:///forum/post/2613856
y not turn ur 125g into a reef..
+3
i dont see why you cant make the 125 a reef. i personally dont think that cubes give the most usable space per gallon. a 125 would give a very long profile, but still has some depth to it

 

[osuaquarist]

Ya I would love to do a 125g reef but I just don't see it as a possibility with my economic position right now (college student). Some time in the future for sure but that talk would cost far too much to stock for me.

 

[prime311]

A 125G FOWLR won't be much cheaper. TBH the only thing you save on is Lights.

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2614197
A 125G FOWLR won't be much cheaper. TBH the only thing you save on is Lights.
Wont need light ($600)
Wont need to dose
Wont need to buy expensive salt
Wont need to stock with $1,000's worth of corals (biggest problem for me)
With the FOWLR all I have to buy is...
Skimmer ($300-$500)
Livestock ($200-$500)
have to buy rock for both ($200-$300)
Plumb for insump skimmer and refugium ($100-$300)

 

[prime311]

Well I wasn't including the stock, just the initial setup cost. Stock cost to me is not a big deal because you can get some pretty cheap online and spread it out over time. The salt and dosing expense really isn't much. I'm about 1700$ in on my 125 and I haven't added any livestock yet. TBH I'd take your estimate of whats it going to cost and then double it.
Tank/Stand/canopy - 350
Sump - 100
Lights - 300
Return pump - 50
Skimmer and Pump - 225
Plumbing - 150
RO/DI unit and supplies - 175
Salt - 100
Test kits - 30
50' Python tube for water changes - 70
Powerheads - 80
Overflows - 60
Heaters - 25
Refractometer - 30
Power strips - 60
Various supplies(scraper, airline tubing, sponges/filter bags etc..) - 75
Sump filter sock with dual inflows - 60
Live Rock - 300

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2614274
Well I wasn't including the stock, just the initial setup cost. Stock cost to me is not a big deal because you can get some pretty cheap online and spread it out over time. The salt and dosing expense really isn't much. I'm about 1700$ in on my 125 and I haven't added any livestock yet. TBH I'd take your estimate of whats it going to cost and then double it.
Tank/Stand/canopy - 350
Sump - 100
Lights - 300
Return pump - 50
Skimmer and Pump - 225
Plumbing - 150
RO/DI unit and supplies - 175
Salt - 100
Test kits - 30
50' Python tube for water changes - 70
Powerheads - 80
Overflows - 60
Heaters - 25
Refractometer - 30
Power strips - 60
Various supplies(scraper, airline tubing, sponges/filter bags etc..) - 75
Sump filter sock with dual inflows - 60
Ya the thing is I have most everything except for lights if I go reef, the LR and a good skimmer. We almost have our ro/di paid off from the water we make so that is exciting (our landlord agreed to pay water, lol mistake on his part.)
But I'll have to look into the 125g reef. it would be pretty awesome

 

[prime311]

Ya lighting for a reef can get wild. Personally i like the FOWLR too for a predator tank, I just wanted to get you a nice checklist so your estimate of the cost can be somewhat close to your budget.

 

[mr_x]

Originally Posted by OSUaquarist
http:///forum/post/2614236
Wont need light ($600)
Wont need to dose
Wont need to buy expensive salt
Wont need to stock with $1,000's worth of corals (biggest problem for me)
With the FOWLR all I have to buy is...
Skimmer ($300-$500)
Livestock ($200-$500)
have to buy rock for both ($200-$300)
Plumb for insump skimmer and refugium ($100-$300)
you don't have to have a sump for a reef. it's an option. i'd suggest a reef ready tank and sump setup for either fowlr or reef.
i spend 40 dollars a bucket for salt. i don't dose anything.
the best part about a reef is buying small frags and growing them out. it's much cheaper, and gives you the feeling of accomplishment.
after all, how hard is it to purchase full size colonies and toss them in your tank?

 

[mr_x]

also...you can get crazy with a predator tank too. it's easy to drop 400-500 on an awesome fish. i know a guy that had a pair of eels he paid about a grand a piece for.
i don't think i spent more than a thousand dollars on my livestock, and i'm out of room in my 195.

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2614385
you don't have to have a sump for a reef. it's an option. i'd suggest a reef ready tank and sump setup for either fowlr or reef.
i spend 40 dollars a bucket for salt. i don't dose anything.
the best part about a reef is buying small frags and growing them out. it's much cheaper, and gives you the feeling of accomplishment.
after all, how hard is it to purchase full size colonies and toss them in your tank?
Ya I wouldn't ever drop the cash on a full colony that is for the people who don't set up their own tanks and have professionals do it. I like to grow everything from babies, it's like getting a puppy

My roomate has a 55g reef so I might live vicariously through his and get the FOWLR so he can appreciate the awesome fish that he can't get in his reef.

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2614300
Ya lighting for a reef can get wild. Personally i like the FOWLR too for a predator tank, I just wanted to get you a nice checklist so your estimate of the cost can be somewhat close to your budget.
ya, thanks