FO Forum

[j1wood]

I am just starting to consider switching over to a SW tank. From what I have read thus far, the consensus is to start w/ FO. This forum seems great, however, definitely geared more toward reef tanks. Can anyone suggest a similiar forum that would focus more on FO setups and stocking advise??

[steve1s]

I don't know where to begin... 8)

Not sure where you got the idea that FO is the best place to start into salt water, but it is not true. You can easily gear yourself towards a reef set up, just go slow.

Learning as much as possible before you even spend a single dime is the best approach to the hobby. There are many available resources on this forum and the internet. As well as many here that would be glad to help you on your way.

Try starting here (http://www.reeflounge.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1) and read the sticky posts. There are many great articles that can help you on your way to acheiving the set up that best suites you and your needs. Even if you still decide on an FO or FOWLR set up, the great people at ReefLounge will still be able to offer you alot of assistance... :wink:

Best of luck and...
http://members.shaw.ca/steve-s/welcome.gif

Cheers
Steve

[j1wood]

I was leaning toward FO first due to the expense of starting a reef tank in my 135g tank. I know that I eventually want to maintain a reef tank, but I was hoping to eventually transition to it. From reading some posts, it looks like you can't slowly add LR until you have enough. Do you have any suggestions as to how to get started with a reef tank, but spread the initial costs out over time?? On the other hand, I intended to purchase a wet/dry to accommodate a FO tank, but posts suggest that wet/dry is not a good option for reef tanks. As you can understand, there is a lot for me to figure out and any advise would be great. Thanks

[AWestphal]

Hope this Helps

I started first with a fo system then to fowlr and now going to a reef. Please heed my warning, you are wasting the time and money to go from fo to Reef. Another thought to ponder is this, when my tank was first started I could not keep a fish alive in it, not even damsels but my condy lived, my arrow crab lived, my sea urchin lived, my snails and hermits lived, also my feather duster and mushrooms lived. Fish are not always easier than inverts.

fo system is not always easier it is just different. I heard people say that reef's without fish are easier because less of a bioload to manage. Do know for sure if this is true.

Let me explain something to you. Certain products are geared towards one type of tank more than the other and generally fo products are cheaper, so you buy that. Well 6 months down the road you are sick of it and replace it with a reef geared product. Now you basically paid twice for the same thing and now you have one lying around the house. Do you see my point? I have a basement full of fish tanks not in use, different filtration methods, heaters, protein skimmers, crushed coral, dead coral decorations, etc...I am having trouble selling this stuff or finding someone who just wants it.

This is what I would recommend... plan your sump and refuge, purchase stuff for that. Then purchase your pumps. Then purchase your heater and protein skimmer.Then purchase your basic pc lighting and test kits for pH, alk., ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Now you are ready to setup so you need to start purchasing sand and lr or wait on the lr and start the cycle with just sand(would need to be seeded). Once you have the sand and some lr you can begin cycling your tank. While you are cycling purchase MH lighting(needed for clams or SPS), note you may need to purchase fans at this time depending on a kit or not. Down the road you will need a Calcium test kit and Calcium supplement for certain corals. Also test kits and additives for trace elements. This may take you time but then you have all the time in the world to research reef tanks and specimens. Most reef specimens need a tank to be somewhat mature about 6 months while others need a fully mature tank at 1 year at the earliest. Trust me don't mess up like me and not research. It is great you are already visiting reeflounge.

You are better off slowly buying the products for a reef if that is what you want to end up doing then going fo or fowlr!!!

Any disagreements with my thoughts please don't hesitate to say so.

Happy Reefing!!!

[j1wood]

Thanks for the detailed response. I am starting to be convinced to go reef, but may have to postpone it several months to a year.

[AWestphal]

Ya it is not fun to have to wait but honestly it will save you headaches in the long run.

Good Luck

[phistio]

keep in mind, that it really can be done on a shoe string budget!!!

with a little patience you can build a reef for minimal costs. live sand, and live rock are a big part of the initial cost for setting up a reef. however, regular southdown playsand can be colonized into live sand, and several different types of rock are suitable for use in the aqaurium. and there you have it! you can save a ton of money by aqauculturing you're own stock! :wink:

[dochoot]

I am also in the research phase of setting up a tank. I initially was going to go FO but am now convinced that FOWLR is the way to go in the long for myself. Much of this site is geared towards reef but there are a lot of knowledgeable people to help you out. I am lucky that I won't be able to start my new tank for a year (long story) so I am forced to not rush into anything and be patient.

[severnija]

I would personally suggest to go for a FOWLR to start off with. The live rock actually helps out a lot and makes maintence/waterchanges fewer.

and i see absolutely NO reason at all why you have to add all your live rock at once. to cycle your tank i would suggest buying some....doesn't have to be cured for a cycle, but it does help.

then if you want to add more 3 months down the track just make sure that it's fully cured BEFORE you add it to your tank and only add a piece or two at a time. that's the real important thing. if it's not cured you can cause an ammonia spike and kill any fish you ahve in there, but i am constantly brining home a new peice of LR that i found on a dive that i thought was cool and adding it to my FOWLR

and making it a FOWLR as long as you get reef compatable fish makes it much easier to switch to a reef later on if you decide that's what you want.

you will need lighting on it, but not as much as for a reef, but when you have some spare cash, put it in a 'reef bank' and when you have saved up enough go and buy another light, till you have enough to support reef, if you decide that you do want reef.

i personally LOVE my FOWLR and would never in a million years change it to a reef i just like some of the fish that aren't reef safe, and like they way they interact with each other. but i love reef tanks as well, and am now setting up a reef tank.