to FOWLR or not to FOWLR, that is the quesetion!
 

do people just do FOLWR tanks for the filtration to let them have SW fish, or is there more to it than that?

I'd hate to be thought of as a lazy reefer... :rolleyes:

I have done both reef and fowlr. For me my last tank was basically fowlr with a few softies. I chose this route as I liked the extra movement you get from the fish swimming around and going in and out of the rock formations. I also like the added bonus of the live rock filtering the system.

Live rocks are also (usually) easier to maintain than fake rock/coral formations. Long-term, I think live rock looks much better since the fake formations are difficult to keep clean and the cheaper ones (that are still fairly pricey) often lose paint over time. However, if you have to treat fish only tank with medications such as copper, it's easier to do this if the rock is acrylic rather than live rock. There are benefits to both, but personally I'd pick live rock over fake formations any day. You can still treat the tanks with medication if they have live rock - you just can't ever use that rock for a reef tank, EVER.

well, I'm thinking of a pico or nano reef...but I believe a FOWLR is different? or is it an old term that has cross-over into reef keeping now?

I fully intend to have live rock...but I'm also thinking of simple coral's as well. however, I wanted to offset this with finding out more about what's meant for FOWLR vs reef, if anything. :confused:

edit - don't you need live rock to host corals? even softies?

FOWLR just stands for "fish only with live rock"

aye. what is the advantage of this? lower/simpler maintenance or is there more to it? I've seen photo's on here of said FOLWR tanks but they have softies on them.

less cost, easier to maintain, softies can probably do ok with just water changes for supplements where most of the time when a " reef" is referred to has SPS and LPS or both and need some form of supplements whether its a ca reactor, 2 part dosing ect.... much stronger lighting, more flow. much tighter margin for swings in anything. much smaller list of fish you can have since lots of fish nip at corals

thank you. :)

your answer cleared up my confusion.

edit - nutz, no 'like' button? :(

The main issue with my reef tank is many of the fish I really like the looks of are coral nippers!

I do intend to keep it simple...mostly softies, nothing that requires a lot of work to care and maintain.

decided that I will likely go with something larger than my Spec V, so I can have the added filtration capability and such...something like the new Evo 12 or an AIO tank that's up into the 20 gal capacity or so.

reading a book right now on nano fish and invert's that are good and the combinations to avoid. :)