What’s the one fish that would sway you to do FOWLR?

[albie]

We are currently cycling our 60 gallon AIO tank with some live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. We were originally planning to stock with fish, but keep our options open regarding coral down the road. But fish are our first priority. So before we gradually stock our tank with only reef safe options - is there anything, in your opinion, that we would really be missing out on if we went the reef safe route? Persuade us otherwise!

Current vague plan for stocking: 5 threadfin cardinalfish, 2 ocellaris clownfish, flame angelfish (I know already a little borderline on reef safe!), Midas blenny and a goby of some sort. Nothing is set in stone.

 

[littlefoxx]

For me its the large angels and butterflies. Rather have those in my tank than corals which is why my 300 gallon is FOWLR and my little boicube is a reef

 

[PharmrJohn]

A Cowfish. But I'd have to turn my entire living room into an aquarium to handle the size (maybe a slight overstatement)! As patient as my wife is on the subject, I don't think that would fly.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Lionfish for me, I’ve always wanted one.

 

[Slocke]

I’ve got 3!
Two for their beauty

One for it’s personality

@Fishfreak2009 show off those butterflies?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I’ve got 3!
Two for their beauty

One for it’s personality

@Fishfreak2009 show off those butterflies?

All of these are definitely worth it!

 

[Devaji]

I am finely doing a large -ish fowlr in a 200/275 peninsula stocking now with angels and butterflies.

some day i'll have a 500+ for the large angels like queen, emp. blue face, all the butterflies, dwarf angels large and small wrasses and the tangs i cant keep in the so called large tanks. oh and yeah a cow fish and box fish too.

60 is a nice tank for corals and small fish most of the FOWLR fish get pretty big sadly.

in that size tank I would do wrasses and a dart fish.

 

[Devaji]

here is mine current tank pic more butterflies to come.

 

[2Sweet68]

Just completed an 800 gallon FOWLR tank build. I have too many favorites which is why I went FOWLR!

 

[Cichlid Dad]

This guy

 

[shcrimps]

might be a stupid question but depending on the fish, why don’t people put macros in tanks like this? i haven’t really seen any tanks setup with non reef safe fish and in place a bunch of cool macro algae

 

[Devaji]

Just completed an 800 gallon FOWLR tank build. I have too many favorites which is why I went FOWLR!

we need a build thread man. cant just come in here and say that. we want to see this bad boy!!

 

[JC1977]

Large angels and triggers and my harlequin tusk were reasons for going FOWLR with my 360 gallon. If you have a FOWLR and don’t have a Tusk you’re missing out definitely one of my favorites!

 

[OrionN]

60 gal AIO tank. All lot of the fish rec above would out grow a 60 gal tank.
There is no reason why reef safe fish cannot be in ROWLR tanks.
My recommendation is a harem of Dwarf Angels and several Flasher wrasses, small Fairy wrasses.
All of these fish are exceptionally beautiful fish, easy to keep. Some can be expensive. Radiant is a poor shipper but if you get him healthy he is very hardy.
Either Flame Angel

Or Flameback

Eightline Flasher Wrasse

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse

Lubbock Fairy wrasse

Naoko Fairy

Diamond Tail Flasher

Yellowfin Flasher

Or Radiant Wrasse

 

[Flame2hawk]

Angels, H.Tusk and M. Idol

 

[JoJosReef]

might be a stupid question but depending on the fish, why don’t people put macros in tanks like this? i haven’t really seen any tanks setup with non reef safe fish and in place a bunch of cool macro algae

I was just thinking the same thing. Surely there's some combination of corals and macros and anemones that could be grown in a tank with angels, butterflies and such. Tangs will probably decimate any but the most calcareous macros, which are less exciting but better than nothing.

 

[VintageReefer]

Porcupine puffer. Always wanted one

Also…some form of ray. Doesn’t matter what type. Always dreamed of having a ray tank one day.

 

[Flame2hawk]

I love angels and cant dream of having an aquarium without them. That’s why I have 3 FOWLR’s. I’m deciding whether to experiment with some softies to see if angels will be ok with them as I see some FOWLR hobbyist have success with anemone and torches. Thoughts?

 

[kevgib67]

I would love to have a banana eel with a couple lion fish, porcupine fish and a trigger fish to name a few.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Lionfish for me, I’ve always wanted one.

edit: sound warning below lol awful music


One of my favourite tanks ever