Differences between reef and FO--besides the rocks and coral

[bkclay469]

I have been keeping reef tanks for about three years now. I have also been running a maitenance service for fresh and reef tanks. If I wanted to start servicing fish only tanks, what would be the difference between the reefs I have been keeping.
Would I have to monitor anything other than amonia, nitrite, PH, and nitrate? Is it neccesary to watch out for things like calcium, alkalinity? Should there be a skimmer?
As a rule of thumb, the larger the reef tank, the more stable it is. Is that the same with FO?
Sorry for so many questions, thanks in advance for any advice!

[Sandworm]

Larger is also better for these tanks as well.. Sometimes they can actually be harder requiring more maintence than a reef tank mainly because you don't have the LR and DSB to help rid the tank of unwanted toxins.

Monitoring the dKH levels is generally a must since the fish still require the same alkalinity they would in a reef. Some marine decorative plants require additional trace elements to survivie in a marine tank as well, such as Maidens Hair or Shaving Brush plants. Additionally, some plants for decorative use in a marine tank require calcium to grow properly such as the Mermaids Fan Plant. Also alot of the plants in marine tanks will require iron supplements.

Bottom line, know the tank your dealing with and what each tank requires based on its occupants, be-it plant or animals.

Yes, a skimmer would be fine in a FO system as well, since it will remove some of the unwanted toxins that can develope in any marine tank.

Without the benefit of some corals fish waste is actually harder to deal with. Personally I think its easier to deal with a reef tank over a non reef.. hehe