which way to go? fowlr or reef

[deejeff442]

i have my 150 gallon running now with 125 lbs lr.
3 clowns
1 purple tang
1 foxface
1 damsel
and a shrimp
i would like to have some corals but i seem to like the non-reef safe fish a little more.
butterflyfish ,angels
if i go fowlr i guess all i have to look at is purple on the rock growing.i have alot of sponge and fan worms on the rock all kinds of colors will the butterfly and angelfish eat these too?
i guess i am asking can i get some color in the tank besides just the fish with a fowlr?

 

[cedarreef]

I would go for FOWLR if you're into the large angels and butterflies. I do believe you can get some coral with large angels like some SPS. You won't be able to have any zoos, brains, some softies because they'll get eaten right away. I've heard that they don't really like toadstools, but im not too sure about that. The sponges you have on your LR will be gone if you get a large angel. I would just stay FOWLR because I would go for the angel opposed to the coral. JMO

 

[dingus890]

FOWLR

 

[dragonboy]

If you can afford it and keep up the maintenance you can run a small reef and keep the 150 for fish that's what I'm gonna do. I got little bored of coral after awhile and I'm more into seeing fish now since they can swim around and also they show a lot of color.

 

[deejeff442]

actually i just did the oposite.i had a 90 gallon reef and a 150 fo.too much work keeping up.both tanks were suffering.i shut down the 150 for a couple years and kept up on the 90 now i started up the 150 and shut down the 90.my neighbor used to have salt fish so he is taking the 90.now i have added 50 lbs of lr a ocyo skimmer and dont know if i want to buy bigger lights for a reef or go fowlr.i know the fish alone will be easier to keep .but corals look awesome.

 

[cedarreef]

I love the look of a natural coral reef in a tank, but you just cant beat the beauty of larger angels or other not reef-safe fish. If I were you, I would just go FOWLR.

 

[deejeff442]

doing a little reading .if i can keep some stony corals with the angel and butterfly i will go fowlr.is the angel going to mess with my cleaner shrimp?

 

[gatorwpb]

I appreciate the beauty of a large angel or butterfly, but for me, theres nothing more rewardng than seeing large coral colonies. the colors cant be matched by any fish. plus, theres still a decent number of options for fish in a reef tank. Especially with a tank your size you can get many of the amazing tangs.

 

[cedarreef]

I wouldn't think the angels will mess with the cleaner shrimp or other stony corals...

 

[aquaknight]

deejeff, my 2¢ would be to sit down and decide what fish you truly want, then plan corals/inverts around them. You should be able to keep some types of corals around the fish you want. You might not get to kept, say any zoas with a large angel, but there are some softies or SPS that should be able to work.
Originally Posted by GatorWPB
http:///forum/post/2793452
the colors cant be matched by any fish.
The ball's in your court now my friend.

 

[deejeff442]

i would be happy to get a select amount of corals in the tank for some color .i really like to have a large angel and a couple butterflies maybe 2 more tangs .that would finish out the tank nice.
so,could you guys name a few stonys you think would be safe in there.also right now i have 2 -175 mh bulbs i need to get a little brighter set up .what kind of light do stonys need?

 

[gatorwpb]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2793686
The ball's in your court now my friend.

LOL. Im sure this is a debate that will never have an answer. But remember, I said that there are many reef safe fish that have beautiful colors, so having a reef does not preclude beautiful colored fish.
Not my corals, but pretty colors.