looking for advise on a FOWLR

[bdevillier19]

So I have a co worker who is setting up a fish tank on his breakfast bar and decided he wanted to do a salt tank rather than a drab freshwater tank. So do to his countertop dimensions I talked him into a 20 long. He doesn't want to do corals (yet, but we all know how that goes) so it looks like he'll be going the fowlr route. So my questions are what does the salinity need to be for a few fish and a handful of crabs and snails? And due to his tank location everything will need to be HOB and on one end of the tank so it can be peninsula style. I have given him an ac50 to start the cycle, a nano 425 power head, and an ATO. Do you think the ac70 would be better? And looking at the ac110 it doesn't look like it will fit on the short side of the tank. Also what would you recommend for a skimmer if any. I did tell him to plan on a 3-4 gallon water change every week to 2 weeks. I have my 20 long as a mixed reef with a sump but doing a 20 long fowlr is throwing me off a bit because I feel like I'm going overkill due to the reef mentality. Any opinions and advise are appreciated. Thanks

[BRADYBUNCH7]

well the salinity does not change depending on species in the tank it is based on the evaporation of water...

[bdevillier19]

Im aware of that hense the ato, but I thought I read some where that a fowlr could be ran at a lower salinity than a reef.

[eTrain]

One of my LFS runs the salinity in their fish system low. I think its 1.015 but I'm not sure. I was told it was to help fight disease. I have never had any problems with any of their stock though.

[bdevillier19]

well after talking to my friend he is going to be buying premade saltwater from the LFS so that takes care of that dilemma. he figures its easier than buying all the stuff needed to make his own water. the plan behind all of this is to get him a saltwater tank that doesnt require tons of work or money. all he wants is colorful fish.

[CrazyCarl]

I have never ran a fowlr either, but from everything I have read, fish are pretty tolerant of nitrates and phosphates, but you still have to be careful since you don't want algae build up. I would go with the ac70, the powerhead is fine (could probably even go with the 240). . If you are looking for a good HOB skimmer, I would recommend the aquamaxx hob-1. The aqua-c remora has decent reviews, for a slightly cheaper option.

[Snow_Phoenix]

I run a 12G FOWLR with dual HOBs (one functions as a mini fuge and the other holds filter media) and a salinity of 1.023.

[bdevillier19]

Thanks crazy and shadow. That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm trying to keep things simple for him due to this being his first salt tank. I do have a mini 115 skimmer if need be but it works average at best.

[Snow_Phoenix]

Thanks crazy and shadow. That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm trying to keep things simple for him due to this being his first salt tank. I do have a mini 115 skimmer if need be but it works average at best.

 

The reason I keep the salinity higher than most of the other folk who run FOWLRs is because in the event something upsets my main tank, I can quickly save key pieces of coral and immediately transfer them to the 12G. Also, if you're planning on going reef sometime (which most people eventually do), it's best you keep the salinity as close to 1.025 from the start - otherwise you'll have to reacclimate all your livestock (fish and CUC) to the new salinity levels over few weeks (exposing them to high salinity can cause too much stress or shock).

[bdevillier19]

Yeah I think its easier just to keep salinity at 1.025 from the get go, not to mention he will be buying saltwater pre made from one of our LFS so that's what he'll be getting anyways. He says he doesn't want corals but I told him that it'll happen sooner or later.

[kylhcky]

is he using a sand bed or going bare bottom?

[bdevillier19]

He'll be running a shallow sand bed

[joy13]

Try to talk him into fish that are reef safe so that when the day comes he wants coral it will be a lot simpler.

[bdevillier19]

Yeah that's the plan. He was wanting a dwarf lion but I talked him out of it. So far he wants a pair of snowflake clowns, some sort of goby, and possibly a royal grama

[1.0reef]

Dwarf lionfish and smaller scorpionfish species would be great IMO, interesting, and coral safe, in some cases even Cleaner shrimp safe. Plus if well fed, likely won't eat snails or crabs.

[bdevillier19]

Dwarf lionfish and smaller scorpionfish species would be great IMO, interesting, and coral safe, in some cases even Cleaner shrimp safe. Plus if well fed, likely won't eat snails or crabs.

Well that's good to know. Would a dwarf lion be OK with clowns?

[1.0reef]

Well that's good to know. Would a dwarf lion be OK with clowns?

Depends, if the clowns are larger (2-4in) and the lionfish is still a juvie it should work, if the Lion(s) are well fed I think it'll be fine.

Leaf-fish are IMO cooler and slightly smaller than dwarf fuzzy lionfish, and most people are intrigued by them.

[Partially Submerged]

well after talking to my friend he is going to be buying premade saltwater from the LFS so that takes care of that dilemma. he figures its easier than buying all the stuff needed to make his own water. the plan behind all of this is to get him a saltwater tank that doesnt require tons of work or money. all he wants is colorful fish.

 

Yeah, those brutal 5 minutes it takes to prepare new water...

[bdevillier19]

 

Yeah, those brutal 5 minutes it takes to prepare new water...

Yeah I tried explaining to him that its not that bad but he sees I'm always doing something with my tank so he figures its a 24/7 deal. He just doesn't understand that I just can't leave things alone.