going from reef to fowlr -- suggestions?

Tsunami · 11/15/2007, 08:20 AM

Recently I've been toying with the idea of turning my 90 gal reef into just a fish only with live rock. Would like to lower electric bill and currently am running 2 halides and 2 110 vhos. would probably just run 4- 40 watt normals.
I still want to keep as nice of a tank as possible and am looking for any suggestions.
current livestock includes: naso, hippo, coral beauty, 2 clowns, and cleaner wrasse.
What would you do to keep this tank colorfull and still interesting?
Also, what fish would you add that now would not have to be reef safe?
If you have any pics of such a tank I'd be very interested at seeing them.
thanks

DrBegalke · 11/15/2007, 08:50 AM

i'd add a trigger, they are some of my fav. fish.

although the trigger, naso, and hippo will all outgrow a 90.

how long have you had the cleaner wrasse?

joeychitwood · 11/15/2007, 09:43 AM

I've had a FOWLR tank, and I found that once the tank was stocked with healthy fish that live for years, there wasn't much I could do to maintain my interest in the tank. You can't continue to add fish like you can with corals. Other than changing the aquascaping, there isn't much to do with the tank, and I found that it became quite boring.

A reef tank, on the other hand, can be constantly tweaked with new corals, inverts, lights, etc., not to mention the excitement of balancing on the edge of the razor blade with the ever-present possibility of total disaster always a few hours away.

Tsunami · 11/15/2007, 09:52 AM

yeah, that's what I'm concerned with- having it become boring.
maybe some lower light corals by running a couple of 110's with 2 40's. Just looking for different possibilities and ideas.
Cleaner wrasse has been in tank for about 2 1/2 years. eats flake and just about anything else I throw in there.

11/15/2007, 08:20 AM	#1
Tsunami Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 427	going from reef to fowlr -- suggestions? Recently I've been toying with the idea of turning my 90 gal reef into just a fish only with live rock. Would like to lower electric bill and currently am running 2 halides and 2 110 vhos. would probably just run 4- 40 watt normals. I still want to keep as nice of a tank as possible and am looking for any suggestions. current livestock includes: naso, hippo, coral beauty, 2 clowns, and cleaner wrasse. What would you do to keep this tank colorfull and still interesting? Also, what fish would you add that now would not have to be reef safe? If you have any pics of such a tank I'd be very interested at seeing them. thanks

11/15/2007, 08:50 AM	#2
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	i'd add a trigger, they are some of my fav. fish. although the trigger, naso, and hippo will all outgrow a 90. how long have you had the cleaner wrasse? __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

11/15/2007, 09:43 AM	#3
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	I've had a FOWLR tank, and I found that once the tank was stocked with healthy fish that live for years, there wasn't much I could do to maintain my interest in the tank. You can't continue to add fish like you can with corals. Other than changing the aquascaping, there isn't much to do with the tank, and I found that it became quite boring. A reef tank, on the other hand, can be constantly tweaked with new corals, inverts, lights, etc., not to mention the excitement of balancing on the edge of the razor blade with the ever-present possibility of total disaster always a few hours away.

11/15/2007, 09:52 AM	#4
Tsunami Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 427	yeah, that's what I'm concerned with- having it become boring. maybe some lower light corals by running a couple of 110's with 2 40's. Just looking for different possibilities and ideas. Cleaner wrasse has been in tank for about 2 1/2 years. eats flake and just about anything else I throw in there.