Who had a FO tank first, and who started with a reef?

[fishygurl]

Now, before anyone starts out with the: reefs are not recommended for beginners thing, I know. I plan to start with FOWLR, but i was just curious as to who started out with a reef, and what there experiences were.

How did you decide which to start with?

For those who started with a reef, do you regret doing so?

For those who started with a reef, what mistakes did you make because of that decision?

For those who started with FO, do you feel that you could have started with a reef?

 

[melosu58]

I started 10 yrs ago with my reef tank. It was hard at first but eventually we made it. The most important thing I did was I went slowly. That is the best advice I can give. I would add only one at a time and wait for the bioload to biuld up. Started with a 55 and went to a 125. That`s where I am today. You can view my tank in my sig. where it says "view my tank". It`s been a 10 yr project.

 

[fishygurl]

That's the impression I'm starting to get. That its possible to start out with a reef as long as you start slow and do a lot of planning. I'm still treating a reef aquarium as a possibility, but i need to find out a bit more about it. I do have experience with freshwater, and that appears to help a bit.

 

[Nikkiheartsfish]

Reef is only as difficult as you make it You can start out simply, relatively easily, and very inexpensively with various polyps/zoos, mushrooms. Just take it slow!

 

[Devilishturtles]

I started with freshwater then went to reef. You can definitley start with a reef tank with no freshwater experience, it's all in the setup and how well you prepare for things.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Reef is only as difficult as you make it You can start out simply, relatively easily, and very inexpensively with various polyps/zoos, mushrooms. Just take it slow!

Bingo!

I have no freshwater experience. My tank was FOWLR for about 3 months! Then some zoanthids. Then a maze brain (platygyra). Then another fish. Then a fungia. Then 3 chromis. You get the idea...

Take it slow, and know exactly what your water parameters are along the way, and it's absolutely no problem - as long as you stick with fairly easy, low maintenance corals. Don't make your first purchase a bunch of acroporas or goniporas or something that is really fussy.

With my experience, I really don't see any difference in tank maintenance or attitude between FOWLR and Reef. Either way, you want to keep the water as good as you can get it.