Fowlr

[frankieboy]

Hi all was wondering since I'm going to be new to hobby, how long should I do fish only with live rock, then move on to invertebrate and corals. Can I setup a refugium as I planned micro algae. I'm reading the book reef aquarium volume 3 it says tangs can be in 100 gallon tank minimum won't length wise be stressful for them, do I have to start with perticular fish like chromas, demsles
I don't want to rush and get every tang. I want to setup tank right and once, Please give some suggestion, advice opinion thanks.

 

[ClownAquatics]

Well that all depends on you. A FOWLR is easier to maintain since the water quality does not have to be "as good" as with corals. The fish can handle dirty water for the most part. If you plan on going REEF then you should plan now and make sure that you stay on top of your water changes. You can add inverts right away IMO, depending on what you are looking to add (AS LONG AS TANK IS CYCLED). But some shrimp would be fine. Make sure that you do get a CUC (clean up crew) for algae control.

You can set up a fuge with micro algae that really can be put on any system

Some people have tangs in smaller tanks than 100 gallons which some people thing is wrong. I think that most people will say that a 6 foot tank is need for tangs.

I am not sure what you mean by start with a particular fish like a chromis or damsel. If you mean to cycle the tank, then NO do not start with those fish. Chromis and damsels can be nasty fish. If you are asking the question on how to cycle, throw a couple raw shrimp in a media bag into the sump. Then start reading your levels.

What size tank is it? When you say every tang, how many do you plan on having?

 

[Awibrandy]

Frankie, since it seems you plan on having tangs then yes a 6' tank would be best for them.
Yes, some people have tangs in smaller tanks. But they are really small, and they are prepared to re-home them when they get larger.
Your first fish should be fish that you truly would like to keep. Start with the gentler disposition fish first, leave the aggressive one for last. Reason for that is that if you add the aggressive one first you will have a very difficult time adding any other fish.
CUC = cleanup crew such as snails & crabs which are considered invertebrates. But are tougher then the other invertebrates like anemone, shrimps,so on & so on. The later invertebrates should be added when your tank is cycled & stable (meaning no swings in parameters). It is said most saltwater tanks can take upwards of a year to fully mature, but you do not have to wait that long to introduce most invertebrates.
I would suggest to you to research the types of fish you would really like to keep in your glass/acrylic box. Research their requirements, adult sizes, and temperaments. I would also suggest you stay away from those classified as difficult to keep until you yourself are more experienced in the saltwater hobby.
Also, once you do your research, and have a list of fish which you would like to keep you can post it on MR so that folks here can give you their opinions on them.
Damsels can, and are very nasty territorial little fish, and once in your system you will have a horrid time getting them out.
Have a wonderful reefing experience! I love that you are taking your time to learn all that you can before jumping in.

 

[frankieboy]

Awibrandy thank you that's my plan slow want to enjoy fish and hobby thanks for advice suggestions I'm planing on a 6 feet tank 150 gallons also planing my stocking list of fish when I'm ready with list and will post here on mr and ask opinions then will ask other stuff. So it's good to go reef after fowlr, want to be comfortable with fish and there health.

 

[frankieboy]

Clownaquatics tank size will be a150 gallon, planning on reef was asking if it's ok to start with fowlr first then add corals after I'm comfortable with fish and there health. I know tank needs to cycle and I hear damsels are hard to catch what about chromis can I start with I thought these fish are easy fish for beginners. What I want to do is have everything that's good brands for sump, skimmer, gfo reactor, dsb macro algae refugium planning on cheto. What I would like to know going right into fish corals invertebrate from day one once setup or fowlr first then when everything is stable with parameters water quality then add corals and so on. I also plan a good cuc for tank thanks.

 

[Awibrandy]

Awibrandy thank you that's my plan slow want to enjoy fish and hobby thanks for advice suggestions I'm planing on a 6 feet tank 150 gallons also planing my stocking list of fish when I'm ready with list and will post here on mr and ask opinions then will ask other stuff. So it's good to go reef after fowlr, want to be comfortable with fish and there health.

Frankie, lots of people felt the same as you, me included! I started out with a fish only, then FOWLR, now mixed reef. So yes, you can start with a fowlr, and when your comfortable you can move on to a reef. Just be mindful to choose fish that will be reef safe. Some fish are not reef safe because they will pick at corals, and or invertebrates. Chromis are fine in a reef. The problem with chromis is that for some people they start with x amount of chromis, and they end up with just one at best. They tend to pick each other off.

Like ClownAquatics I will say the same just to be sure: Please do not add any fish in to the tank until it is fully cycled. It would be very cruel to put a fish in a tank to cycle it on account that as the ammonia, and nitrites build in the tank the fish's gills will be burned. There are many ways to cycle a tank faster. The most popular way is as ClownAquatics stated in previous post.
Buy a shrimp or two from the fish department at your supermarket, put it in a nylon bag, and let it rot in your tank. This will cause an ammonia spike which will then turn into nitrites, and finally nitrates. Do a search on cycling a tank if you haven't done so already.

 

[ClownAquatics]

Clownaquatics tank size will be a150 gallon, planning on reef was asking if it's ok to start with fowlr first then add corals after I'm comfortable with fish and there health. I know tank needs to cycle and I hear damsels are hard to catch what about chromis can I start with I thought these fish are easy fish for beginners. What I want to do is have everything that's good brands for sump, skimmer, gfo reactor, dsb macro algae refugium planning on cheto. What I would like to know going right into fish corals invertebrate from day one once setup or fowlr first then when everything is stable with parameters water quality then add corals and so on. I also plan a good cuc for tank thanks.

A nice pair of clowns would be easy to start with (NOT CYCLE) just as your first set of fish :batangel:

Do not put anything into the tank that you MAY NOT WANT to keep forever. Especially in a tank your size, you will have some trouble to get a fish out that has become a pest. If you are lucky you may be able to get a fish trap to work, but not gaurenteed.

Do not just settle for a fish that is easy. Like Awi said, you may find an easy fish and then it is a coral eater. Then you have to either get that fish out or say goodbye to your coral.

You have to look at the tank in the long run, if you plan on doing reef then make sure that all the fish are reef safe (or even reef safe with caution). Look at that first and then how easy the fish is. Like you can get a wrasse that is reef safe but may eat your ornamental shrimp. Or you want that puffer that will eat your CUC. So you need to plan out what you want the tank to be in the end, and work towards that.

Make sure that you are ready with a QT also, I did not see anything about you having a QT set up. All fish should be quarentined to watch them before you add them to your display. Don't learn the hard way.

I know that I am going a little off topic but sometimes people do not think that certain things are worth it, or the right thing to do. Just ask questions and you will get answers.

Also RO/DI is the only way to go with water. Do not put tap water (with conditioner) into your system. Not even to cycle, you will regret it in the long run.

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks guys, so I can setup my tank

 

[frankieboy]

Thanks clownaquatics, I have a 10 gallon tank for qt hope size is ok for that purpose It's only used once when I had freshwater fish, down with that hobby I used for qt freshwater fish. I have a ro/di system planned for my setup. And a top off reservoir,sump, refugium, protein skimmer, gfo reactor, heater, thermometer, leds, timers, refractometer, pvc plumbing, mp40s powerheads, live rock, live sand, cuc, tangs, clownfish, reef safe fish. what stuff I have digital thermometer can hang outside dt or outside off sump. Still have and used canister filter magnum 350 from marineland 350 gph 100 gallon capacity, hear they have nitrate issues so plan not to use for my setup, I have two heaters from old tank not planning to use in dt cause I'm not shore there ok to use in saltwater. Might use for qt tank. Is equipment I mentioned good for a reef or there's other equipment missing. Right now I'm reading book the reef aquarium volume 3, also have other books animal planet saltwater aquarium, saltwater aquarium for dummies, the new marine aquarium. I'm planning slow cause I want to enjoy fish hobby for years ahead like I did with freshwater hobby 15 years. What I learned is good husbandry also time and patientance. Planning to setup tank one time and want to buy all good popular equipments for this hobby. Anything you want to add please do, comments advice will be great
Frankie

 

[frankieboy]

Also what's good internal overflow or external overflow I hear external has poor sphion air trap and leak if power is out.

Sent from my PG86100 using Reefs

 

[frankieboy]

I'm going reef ready, so anyone can tell me it's ok to buy equipment used for a reef setup one time. like I posted want to start with fish get comfortable with them then add invertebrate corals, also fish I really like keep for a long time that are reef safe. Want very good equipments for setup. Thanks inadvance