how much simpler can FOWLR be?
 

I'm considering a tank for larger fish because I really miss them. I'll only proceed if it's considerably cheaper and easier to run than a reef tank.

My plan was to simply make sure I have a really good skimmer and run bio-pellets to keep nitrates in check. No dosing, no gfo, maybe change 10% of my water each month or even every two. Just enough light to see my fish.

Is that scenario possible? It's the water change aspect that will make or break this plan. If I run the pellets could I get away with minimal water changes?

So the plan is coming together. I can't see it being very difficult and when you go to a store a see a cool coral you can't get it because you have a FOWLR that right there is a money saver :)

As far as water quality you are on the right track.
Lots of other things to think about is how much you feed.
How many fish.
The biggest of all is oxygen.
I would also run Carbon every once in a while so you water does not turn yellow.
Trust me on that one!

Thx Matt I was actually going to come in and pick your brain about it. Carbon doesn't count as it's cheap. It's salt and gfo that worry me.

come talk any time.
as far as salt goes.
Use coralife best bang for your buck
there are lots of different option as far as alternatives to gfo

Not sure if you really need a bio pellet reactor in a FOWLR. Before I got my upstairs tank all cleaned up (was a 10+ year running tank), nitrates were as high as 100 ppm, and almost never below 30. Fish didn't seem to mind, and even had a bunch of softies and some LPS that did fine as well.

If you have a good skimmer, socks (or big sponge like I do now), change larger amounts of water (20%+), and have good flow, I would think that should be good. And no dosing, or GFO, etc,... just lots of live rock.

If you guys are saying higher levels of phosphates and nitrates are ok for fish why would I need to do larger water changes?

I will have a ton of rock.

Well, water changes will help lower them, and since you won't be using GFO or bio pellets. Not saying you should do more often, just larger amounts. Just trying to keep it simple...

yes simple is good. but pellets would be far cheaper than water changes. just wondering if that practice will be ok?

I have 2 tanks, one upstairs with my SPS corals, and a downstairs tank with just softies and LPS. I used to change my upstairs tank, and use the waste water to change my downstairs tank. I never did anything else to it, no dosing, GFO, bio pellets, or even running carbon. And all was good with it . Fish and corals were all happy. I would check the parameters occasionally but they weren't far out. And I just used Instant Ocean (still do).

So am not sure if you have another "designer corals" tank, but if you do, you could do the same. Then you can change the water at the same time and amount as you do with your fancy coral tank, but no additional salt costs.

I can't do this now, though, as I only use one sump for both tanks, because I only have 1 chiller, which is needed for the summer. Next fall, though, I might go back to separate sumps and only using fresh SW in the upstairs tank.