how much simpler can FOWLR be?

[matt_C]

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!

[lastlight]

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.

[matt_C]

Originally Posted by lastlight

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

[Reef Pilot]

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.

[lastlight]

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.

[Reef Pilot]

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...

[lastlight]

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