FOWLR fading away
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Fish
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about fish.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49054
Printed Date: July 25 2026 at 12:47am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: FOWLR fading away
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Subject: FOWLR fading away
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 9:47am
|
I believe the Fish Only with Live Rock tank idea is a thing of the past and here is why: - Coral help filter the water which the fish pollute - Fish do better when the water is kept in good shape for coral. (fish need Alkalinity and Calcium to grow scales, bones, teeth, etc.) - Coral eat the Ich Parasite! - Coral help keep nuisance algae under control - The best way to set up a saltwater tank is with as much biofiltration as possible. This means we want to use Algae and Coral along with LS, LR and LW. - Most marine fish that in the past were designated as non-reef safe were only called that because they eat shrimp, not because they eat coral. - Many coral do just fine with aggressive fish. In fact, Gorgonia, Briarium and even GSP are some marvelous coral that many coral eating fish won't eat. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 11:20am
|
I agree with this...sort of. Does placing a few mushrooms in my FOWLR make it a Reef rather than a FOWLR? If so then I have 2 reefs. Does it count if I don't light the tank and the mushrooms eventually fade away and die? If not then I still have a FOWLR. I see where you are coming from, but in my FOWLR the fish were the main focus and a few corals here and there were more of an afterthought rather than an attempt to keep corals in that tank. It was almost a place to ditch corals I didn't have room for in my reef such as mushrooms, cabbage leather, etc. The few that went in that tank didn't make it even though it sits in the window getting sunlight. (Well it did when we had sunlight anyway.  )The cool part about what you are saying is that we have come a long way in learning which corals we can keep in our previously FOWLR tanks with fish that will eat coral. So if I have a bunch of large coral eating angel's I simply don't keep corals they like to eat and instead keep corals they tend to leave alone. We have learned a lot about how to keep these critters together over the last 10 - 20 years. |
Posted By: Lexnano
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 11:27am
| Can you guys provide some more insight on other corals that may be "safe" in a FOWLR? |
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 1:18pm
|
Yes, but first we need to know what fish you keep. Different fish eat different corals. Those that Mark offered above are usually safe, but some fish will nip at and eat them as well. It seems to me that LPS are a favorite of most coral eating fish, but some fish have a taste for SPS polyps and some even eat mostly or even exclusively SPS polyps. It seems that most softies are safe with most fish, but that is not always the case either. What fish are you currently keeping? |
Posted By: Lexnano
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 2:21pm
| I haven't purchased any non-reef safe fish as of yet but I would like to eventually have some larger angels. I have a 225 with some softies for color. |
Posted By: Lewy
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 5:44pm
|
Mark,
You talk about corals that filter. Were could I get a list of these? I would like to set up a sump with a bunch of these. ------------- 40 gal w/ 20 sump |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 7:37pm
Soft corals love dirty water and are the ones that are going to filter the water the best IMO. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Lewy wrote:Posted By: Lewy
Date Posted: May 20 2011 at 7:58pm
|
cool thanks. ------------- 40 gal w/ 20 sump |