Easier or just different?

[Gort]

Greetings, folks! Beg pardon if this question has been posed many times before. I have a 100-gal tank w center overflow plumbed to a reef-ready sump - filter socks, fuge chamber, skimmer, return pump and ATO chamber w/ Tunze Osmolator. Not wet as yet.

Aside from lighting, are FOWLR tank maintenance requirements much more arduous than those for a reef tank with softies?

 

[The_Paradox]

FOWLR is about the easiest set up you can have.

 

[jda]

You don't really have to do anything with the fuge or socks. If residual no3 and po4 rise, then you can use organic carbon to bring them back down without worrying about impact to corals. You also do not have to be as on-the-money with parameters - you want them competent, but usually water changes can handle replenishing most unless you have a ton of coralline growing. Even with a lot of coralline, you can just dump some baking soda and calcium chloride into the tank and not really worry too much.

Even saltwater fish are many times harder than African Cichlids. I recommend African Cichlids to people really want super-easy, colorful and fun fish.

 

[JC1977]

In general it’s much more straight forward than systems with coral but certain fish will require a certain degree of water quality. For instance if my nitrates start creeping up my emperor angel will start getting faded patchy spots. So yeah while easier to run than a reef don’t get complacent keep up on your maintenance.