Fowlr questions

[ZaneGreay]

I have a 125g that has south American cichlids and I'm kinda tired of the fresh water side of it so thinking of selling off the big guys to friends and setting up a 125 fowlr. Now my question is can I run it off of the fx6 I currently have and simply change out the media and sponges. I mainly want a porcupine puffer but it's just an idea

 

[Cory]

Yes as long as there isnt anything metal in it.

 

[ZaneGreay]

Yes as long as there isnt anything metal in it.

What do you mean isn't anything metal in it?

 

[Cory]

What do you mean isn't anything metal in it?

Nothing metal in contact with water. Sometimes there are parts that have metal. For example on a pool pump it comes with brass screws. Not good. Or maybe a metal media basket. No idea if fluval has anything metal though. Just a precautionary.

 

[ZaneGreay]

Nothing metal in contact with water. Sometimes there are parts that have metal. For example on a pool pump it comes with brass screws. Not good. Or maybe a metal media basket. No idea if fluval has anything metal though. Just a precautionary.

I don't believe it does the the only thing that in it the maybe metal is the heater

 

[Fishnut]

You can use that filter but I found it difficult to keep nitrates down as the filter media and sponges required 2X a week cleaning at least. I found it easier to use a hang on the back filter that I could easily swap out filter floss. This helped maintain lower nitrate levels. Go Packers

 

[ZaneGreay]

You can use that filter but I found it difficult to keep nitrates down as the filter media and sponges required 2X a week cleaning at least. I found it easier to use a hang on the back filter that I could easily swap out filter floss. This helped maintain lower nitrate levels. Go Packers

Really twice a week for an fx6 and a 125g?

 

[WVNed]

Forget the filter and get a skimmer. It's all you need. Marine tanks are nothing like freshwater tanks.
FOWLR is easy.
Just my opinion

You don't need the big lights either.

 

[ZaneGreay]

Forget the filter and get a skimmer. It's all you need. Marine tanks are nothing like freshwater tanks.
FOWLR is easy.
Just my opinion

You don't need the big lights either.

Yeah except to run a skimmer I need a sump and I'm trying to avoid that lol

 

[WVNed]

Yeah except to run a skimmer I need a sump and I'm trying to avoid that lol

Ya I've done that too. I even used canister filters but only with bio media in them.

a tank with no sump. It has a skimmer.
There are many ways to do this.

 

[WVNed]

I have read people have good results with these. I have no experience with them but think it is what I would look at for a simple FOWLR.
https://www.marinedepot.com/seachem-laboratories-tidal-power-filter
The tank above uses a Reef Octopus HOB skimmer. Not the prettiest thing but it worked. I still have it.

 

[Sashaka]

You can get a HOB skimmer and even set it up hanging inside the tank to prevent the occasional overflows. It happens with HOB skimmers from time to time, but it's fairly easy to use rock or other decor to hide most necessary equipment inside the tank. I run a 29 gal with a HOB skimmer, a tiny pellet reactor to help keep nitrates in check, and a double bio wheel HOB filter for added surface oxygenation. I have chunk cut from a block of Marine Pure and some Marine Pure balls as support for the lack of live rock. The HOB filer usually houses just filter floss to catch large particle waste, but I can add charcoal for water clarity or other media as desired. Since it's a FOWLR, you don't need expensive lights. What you use for the freshwater fish is probably fine.The aforementioned 29 gallon tank has been up and running about 10 years. It's never crashed.

 

[WVNed]

Quite honestly for my fowlr tanks I started drilling the tank and installed a simple drain with a standpipe.
I installed a skimmer and a heater in a second tank under it with no baffles or anything and used a small pump with a simple vinyl tubing return over the side.