saltwater vs reef??
- Thread starter jnj0627
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
AquaRick
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hi there and welcome to the salty side. Are you considering between a FOWLR (Fish only with Live Rock) and a Reef?
EriksFish315
Aquarium Advice Addict
There's a fish only with live rock......and there's reef which is corals.
mrbee2828
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Yeah your question isn't quiet phrased right, but the literal answer to that would be "no difference". Rick phrased it the way you were thinking. Basically (and this is me learning here the last few months) is that a FOWLR tank doesn't have corals or inverts etc in it. Why a FOWLR? Lots of fish eat inverts and corals in the "real world" so you have to decide what you want in the tank.
The first question id "do you want to keep real coral" in the tank? The next question is what type of fish do you want to keep with the coral. If any of the fish on your wishlist aren't "reef safe" or "reef compatible" (which you can find out with a few simple Google searches) you have a decision to make.... would you rather have that fish or all the corals.
For example, I REEEEAALLLYYY wanted a Humu Picasso more than any other fish but I wanted a reef because of all the other life involved. So I decided to go reef because the triggers aren't reef friendly. Dr F&S has a nice overview of their fish to help you out Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Humu Picasso Triggerfish
The first question id "do you want to keep real coral" in the tank? The next question is what type of fish do you want to keep with the coral. If any of the fish on your wishlist aren't "reef safe" or "reef compatible" (which you can find out with a few simple Google searches) you have a decision to make.... would you rather have that fish or all the corals.
For example, I REEEEAALLLYYY wanted a Humu Picasso more than any other fish but I wanted a reef because of all the other life involved. So I decided to go reef because the triggers aren't reef friendly. Dr F&S has a nice overview of their fish to help you out Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Humu Picasso Triggerfish
Mpfaff77
Aquarium Advice Freak
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2011
- Messages
- 380
Mr bee I had a similar scenario when I started. I love clown triggers. Just blows my mind that is natural colors and spotting. Under the sea is a crazy place. Because of all the diversity in a reef is also why I sacrificed not getting a clown trigger.
Now I only have some saltwater themed shelving with a clown trigger on it. Coloring not exactly true to life but I knew what it was when I saw it. Actually got dragged to Peir 1 with the wife and saw it there.
Now I only have some saltwater themed shelving with a clown trigger on it. Coloring not exactly true to life but I knew what it was when I saw it. Actually got dragged to Peir 1 with the wife and saw it there.
mrbee2828
Aquarium Advice FINatic
well... only time will tell how I do in the SW world. If things go well who knows... maybe I'll build another tank and just do a fowlr and get that trigger I want hehee.For me tank size ends up trumping my decision. If setting up a 75 gallon tank a reef tank is what I would do. Start checking out the size on the on non reef compatible fish and a 75 gallon for me isn't what I would want.
BallinCrew10
Aquarium Advice FINatic
IMO, I would save yourself money in the long run and buy everything "reef capable". Alot of people that start with FOWLR eventually end up converting to reef, myself included. Look into it, decide what you want to keep and what it is or isn't compatible with. This is overlooked alot and ends with fish eating other fish, inverts, and coral. Take it slow and do alot of research. Enjoy!
