FOWLR planned- CUC???

likemike99

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 3, 2010
Messages
70
Reaction score
16
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have had many reef tanks with clean up crews. I am forgoing the coral this time in favor of fish. 180 gal. I plan on angels, butterflies, tangs... so I know they are mostly not safe for CUC's. what do FOWLR people do for their clean up crews? how to keep the substrate clean. I was thinking a blenny to clean the sand but beyond that all my past experience and options would get eaten (crabs and snails). suggestions?
 

AydenLincoln

Pufferfish lover!
View Badges
Joined
Mar 27, 2022
Messages
5,457
Reaction score
7,968
Location
Easton
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
For me it’s not a huge issue. It doesn’t get dirty like my reef tank does. But if you want a fish to help keep it clean I’d recommend a melanurus wrasse or another type that burrows in the sand.
 
OP
OP
likemike99

likemike99

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 3, 2010
Messages
70
Reaction score
16
Location
NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
For me it’s not a huge issue. It doesn’t get dirty like my reef tank does. But if you want a fish to help keep it clean I’d recommend a melanurus wrasse or another type that burrows in the sand.
not being sarcastic, but a reef tank with less feeding has less bottom debris than a fowlr tank with lots of feeding?, multiple times a day? is it just getting used to how much your fish need to eat each day? I am hoping to add some coral or softies at some point. I am hoping that while well fed they will not feel the need to go after coral. I am not sure of the timing but my logic is that if I get them on a feeding schedule and everything is fine for a while to add the coral slowly and they will not mind. I have seen some great reef tanks with "non reef safe" fish and all is thriving but I have not heard anyone detailing how they do it
 

AydenLincoln

Pufferfish lover!
View Badges
Joined
Mar 27, 2022
Messages
5,457
Reaction score
7,968
Location
Easton
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
not being sarcastic, but a reef tank with less feeding has less bottom debris than a fowlr tank with lots of feeding?, multiple times a day? is it just getting used to how much your fish need to eat each day? I am hoping to add some coral or softies at some point. I am hoping that while well fed they will not feel the need to go after coral. I am not sure of the timing but my logic is that if I get them on a feeding schedule and everything is fine for a while to add the coral slowly and they will not mind. I have seen some great reef tanks with "non reef safe" fish and all is thriving but I have not heard anyone detailing how they do it
Detritus and nutrients will vary greatly in different tanks. For me the way I look at it and the reason I believe my fowlr tank is a lot cleaner than my reef tank despite have a pufferfish who poops a lot…is that I have a much simpler ecosystem with less organisms and no organisms like coral to alter the water chemistry and no cuc or hitchhikers creating detritus it’s also a lot bigger than my reef tank which is a nano. And my lighting schedule is significantly less than my reef tank. My reef tank has a set schedule where my lights are on for 8 hours a day and my fowlr tank has them on for between 1-3 hours and only if I turn them on which I do daily. So this helps keep algae and other organisms which thrive on light to a minimum/nonexistent. Honestly…I don’t recommend putting a non-reef safe fish in a reef but some people get lucky. As corals/inverts are part of these fishes natural diets. But fish are like people in the sense that their personalities/interests will vary.
 

Devaji

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 27, 2016
Messages
7,675
Reaction score
7,035
Location
Jackson Hole, WY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have angels 4-dwarfs 1 large will have a cpl Butterflies, wrasses & a tang
I like large conchs- tiger and fighting etc. to stir the sand bed.
also like the sand burrowing snails like the Nassarius vibex

also thing a nice ATS helps too.
 

Devaji

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 27, 2016
Messages
7,675
Reaction score
7,035
Location
Jackson Hole, WY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Detritus and nutrients will vary greatly in different tanks. For me the way I look at it and the reason I believe my fowlr tank is a lot cleaner than my reef tank despite have a pufferfish who poops a lot…is that I have a much simpler ecosystem with less organisms and no organisms like coral to alter the water chemistry and no cuc or hitchhikers creating detritus it’s also a lot bigger than my reef tank which is a nano. And my lighting schedule is significantly less than my reef tank. My reef tank has a set schedule where my lights are on for 8 hours a day and my fowlr tank has them on for between 1-3 hours and only if I turn them on which I do daily. So this helps keep algae and other organisms which thrive on light to a minimum/nonexistent. Honestly…I don’t recommend putting a non-reef safe fish in a reef but some people get lucky. As corals/inverts are part of these fishes natural diets. But fish are like people in the sense that their personalities/interests will vary.
crazy I like my FOLWR lights on 10hrs a day but just low-ish
 

HAVE YOU EVER KEPT A RARE/UNCOMMON FISH, CORAL, OR INVERT? SHOW IT OFF IN THE THREAD!

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top