From Reef to FOWLR

sanchoy · 05/24/2015, 07:56 PM

I had my reef tank running for the last 8 years. After awhile I sold everything and decided to go FOWLR. Just did not have the energy to constantly dose, and check parameters no more. It was fun, however with the addition of my son, I just got burned out.

FOWLR has been so much less stressful. Less water change, less worrying about parameters. I'm actually enjoying the tank now, instead of worrying about it.

jjk_reef00 · 05/24/2015, 09:23 PM

Yes that is exactly why I switched. On normal weeks I could keep up the reef but it become too stressful when things got in the way of tank care because the corals didn't appreciate it.

j tavares · 05/25/2015, 04:41 AM

kept reefs for years but REALLY the fish is where its at For me

johnike · 05/25/2015, 04:52 AM

I recently switched my 240 over as well after all these years, kinda digging it.
Still have corals in the 29 though.

tthouston · 05/25/2015, 08:40 AM

Switch from freshwater to saltwater because saltwater fish is more colorful and my decision is FOWLR but then the tank doesn't look nice with rock only then I add artificial coral in there.
Same idea with some people above, I am more enjoy the fish tank than water change, check parameter. To be sure nothing happen without W/C then I had filter sock, good skimmer, cheato, carbon, UV, ATO and water change just 10% for every 1 or 2 month...lol

sanchoy · 05/25/2015, 08:50 AM

My reef tank was awesome, but the stress that came along with it was too much. My son took most of my energy, time, and money. That of course took away from my tank. My corals suffered, so instead of neglecting them I sold most of them away. I still have a few LPS. But the relief of parameter precise control has taken the load off my shoulders for sure. Without kids, I was able to successfully care for my sps dominant tank. Maybe some day when my kids get older, and when I retire I will venture back into reef tanks. The key is to enjoy your tank, when it becomes more of a chore then a hobby, its time to change it up.

Instead of worrying, I can now watch my fish and enjoy it with my family.

NTP66 · 05/25/2015, 09:00 AM

You could always go the softie route and have the best of both worlds. I do nothing different from when I had no coral, and I've currently got a dozen or so mushrooms and Ricordea thriving in the tank.

tthouston · 05/25/2015, 09:08 AM

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Here is my fish tank.

tthouston · 05/25/2015, 09:19 AM

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Just enjoy without worry anything.

3dees · 05/25/2015, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTP66

You could always go the softie route and have the best of both worlds. I do nothing different from when I had no coral, and I've currently got a dozen or so mushrooms and Ricordea thriving in the tank.

same here. I started my 120 gal. as a fowlr because I wanted no part in dosing. now I have a tank full of softies and a few lps and I still don't dose. the only thing I miss is having a butterfly or two.

tthouston · 05/15/2018, 01:24 PM

Still enjoy my FOWLR tank, but I did upgrade the tank to 220 gallons.

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Dmorty217 · 05/15/2018, 02:42 PM

What are you guys doing for lighting if keeping some softies?

d-man · 05/15/2018, 05:17 PM

I’m going to do a softy/angel dominant Reef for my next build. Of course tangs and wrasses as well but the focus will be angels. All for the same reason. Sps and mixed Reef is too stressful and I like Fish more.
I’ll be centered around bandit angel pair, regal angel pair, goldflake, blueline, and emperor as my main angels. Few others hopefully include G. semifasciatus, Wantanabei, Colini, venustus, multifasiatus, and of course a flame.
Leathers, sinularia, mushrooms and montipora dominant as the Coral selection

Hopefully DT volume will be around 1000g

My lighting will consist of 400wt halides and blue leds

carrots · 05/15/2018, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

What are you guys doing for lighting if keeping some softies?

I am using a Current Marine Pro on a 55 gallon mainly softy tank. It does grows some hardy SPS frags out if they are placed high on rocks.

kramer1 · 07/11/2018, 09:37 AM

3dees - How much and how often are you doing water changes to not be dosing ? Just curious.

Thanks, rich

B][/B]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3dees

same here. I started my 120 gal. as a fowlr because I wanted no part in dosing. now I have a tank full of softies and a few lps and I still don't dose. the only thing I miss is having a butterfly or two.

05/24/2015, 07:56 PM	#1
sanchoy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Close to the ocean Posts: 1,026	From Reef to FOWLR I had my reef tank running for the last 8 years. After awhile I sold everything and decided to go FOWLR. Just did not have the energy to constantly dose, and check parameters no more. It was fun, however with the addition of my son, I just got burned out. FOWLR has been so much less stressful. Less water change, less worrying about parameters. I'm actually enjoying the tank now, instead of worrying about it. __________________ 250 gallon.. tangs are the best.. the po po is not. Current Tank Info: 250 reef

05/24/2015, 09:23 PM	#2
jjk_reef00 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,476	Yes that is exactly why I switched. On normal weeks I could keep up the reef but it become too stressful when things got in the way of tank care because the corals didn't appreciate it. __________________ I need more fish tank appliances! --Ed Current Tank Info: 375 FOWLR

05/25/2015, 08:50 AM	#6
sanchoy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Close to the ocean Posts: 1,026	My reef tank was awesome, but the stress that came along with it was too much. My son took most of my energy, time, and money. That of course took away from my tank. My corals suffered, so instead of neglecting them I sold most of them away. I still have a few LPS. But the relief of parameter precise control has taken the load off my shoulders for sure. Without kids, I was able to successfully care for my sps dominant tank. Maybe some day when my kids get older, and when I retire I will venture back into reef tanks. The key is to enjoy your tank, when it becomes more of a chore then a hobby, its time to change it up. Instead of worrying, I can now watch my fish and enjoy it with my family. __________________ 250 gallon.. tangs are the best.. the po po is not. Current Tank Info: 250 reef

05/25/2015, 09:00 AM	#7
NTP66 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: PA Posts: 975	You could always go the softie route and have the best of both worlds. I do nothing different from when I had no coral, and I've currently got a dozen or so mushrooms and Ricordea thriving in the tank. __________________ Nick Current Tank Info: 90g FOWLR, Reef Octopus NWB-150 skimmer, MP40wES x2, Eheim 1260 return, BuildMyLED 20,000k XB LEDs, Apex Jr.

05/25/2015, 09:08 AM	#8
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	[IMG][/IMG] Here is my fish tank.

05/25/2015, 04:41 AM	#3
j tavares Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,157	kept reefs for years but REALLY the fish is where its at For me

05/25/2015, 04:52 AM	#4
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	I recently switched my 240 over as well after all these years, kinda digging it. Still have corals in the 29 though.

05/25/2015, 08:40 AM	#5
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	Switch from freshwater to saltwater because saltwater fish is more colorful and my decision is FOWLR but then the tank doesn't look nice with rock only then I add artificial coral in there. Same idea with some people above, I am more enjoy the fish tank than water change, check parameter. To be sure nothing happen without W/C then I had filter sock, good skimmer, cheato, carbon, UV, ATO and water change just 10% for every 1 or 2 month...lol

05/25/2015, 09:19 AM	#9
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	[IMG][/IMG] Just enjoy without worry anything.

05/15/2018, 01:24 PM	#11
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	Still enjoy my FOWLR tank, but I did upgrade the tank to 220 gallons. [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by tthouston; 05/15/2018 at 01:29 PM.

05/15/2018, 02:42 PM	#12
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	What are you guys doing for lighting if keeping some softies? __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

05/15/2018, 05:17 PM	#13
d-man Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Diego, ca Posts: 2,732	I’m going to do a softy/angel dominant Reef for my next build. Of course tangs and wrasses as well but the focus will be angels. All for the same reason. Sps and mixed Reef is too stressful and I like Fish more. I’ll be centered around bandit angel pair, regal angel pair, goldflake, blueline, and emperor as my main angels. Few others hopefully include G. semifasciatus, Wantanabei, Colini, venustus, multifasiatus, and of course a flame. Leathers, sinularia, mushrooms and montipora dominant as the Coral selection Hopefully DT volume will be around 1000g My lighting will consist of 400wt halides and blue leds