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

Friendly · #1 09-06-2016, 09:31 PM

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...

Trigger Man · #2 09-06-2016, 10:41 PM

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.

Myka · #3 09-06-2016, 10:50 PM

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.

Friendly · #4 09-06-2016, 11:37 PM

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.

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

e46er · #5 09-07-2016, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Friendly

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.

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

FOWLR just stands for "fish only with live rock"

Friendly · #6 09-07-2016, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46er

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.