From FOWLR to Reef Tank

[Big Rev]

Hello,'
First-time poster. I've had fish only tanks off and on for more than 40 years and I have a 265 FOWLR that I want to add/convert to fish and coral tank. The one problem I have is Queenie.

He/She is an 8" Queen Angel that I'm afraid will eat the corals I put into the tank for lunch. When I purchased Queenie a year and a half ago I was convinced I was going to stay with a FOWLR tank. I now want corals in the tank also. I plan on starting with Monti caps on each of the peaks in the tank. What other corals do you think she might avoid? Suggestions would be very helpful. However, I'm determined to do this and ask for advice towards achieving my goal. Thanks in advance...

 

[Ron Reefman]

Lets start with a welcome to Reef2Reef!

This clown is feeling what any coral you put in the tank is likely to feel! ;Hilarious;Hilarious

OK, I've never had a Queen Angel and I have no idea just how serious a threat it may be to your coral. All I can say is, I wouldn't do it.

But we can call for some extra help but doing this... #reefsquad

 

[xxkenny90xx]

You might get lucky with sps but that's a gamble. Lps and softies will probably be on the menu. If it was me I would only add cheap coral that I don't mind too much if it gets eaten. And make sure the angel is full at all times!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

It’s a great looking angel. It is always a give and take turning one into a reef. Either way your first decision to join was the right one. #WelcometoR2R

 

[redfishbluefish]

Welcome to R2R @Big Rev . I'm not going to be able to answer your question because I'm not familiar with the preferred corals angles like to munch on. Let's give a shout out to the #reefsquad .

 

[GoVols]

OK, I've never had a Queen Angel and I have no idea just how serious a threat it may be to your coral. All I can say is, I wouldn't do it.

Ron,
I would not either, may be a Regal angel, but Regal's love zoas.

@Big Rev

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef!!

 

[SPR1968]

It all depends on the fish, and although I don’t have a Queen, I have a full blown reef with an Emperor, Blueface, Regal and others and non of the bother the corals ‘yet’ . The Emperor could do some serious damage though if he wanted!

You might just have to try and see what happens, and worst case if ‘queenie’ is a coral killer and you want a reef, maybe re home her. Or alternatively buy another much bigger tank, and set that up as a reef! Lol

Welcome to R2R as well!

 

[Reesj]

Start off with soem cheap SPS frags and give it a go. Most LPS will definitly be eaten.

 

[Big Rev]

It all depends on the fish, and although I don’t have a Queen, I have a full blown reef with an Emperor, Blueface, Regal and others and non of the bother the corals ‘yet’ . The Emperor could do some serious damage though if he wanted!

You might just have to try and see what happens, and worst case if ‘queenie’ is a coral killer and you want a reef, maybe re home her. Or alternatively buy another much bigger tank, and set that up as a reef! Lol

Welcome to R2R as well!

These are amazing tanks and exactly what I want to achieve. What water parameters are you trying to maintain? I'd like to compare mine to yours since you obviously know what you're doing!

 

[SPR1968]

These are amazing tanks and exactly what I want to achieve. What water parameters are you trying to maintain? I'd like to compare mine to yours since you obviously know what you're doing!

Lol, I don’t know about that!

I test both systems every Sunday, but apart from alkalinity I don’t necessarily test all parameters on both tanks every week but unless your confident in what your doing I would recommend weekly tests to everyone

Target parameters (I don’t chase numbers though) in my S650 which is about 4 years old are:

Salinity 35ppt
Alkalinity 8-8.5 dKH
Calcium 430-460
Magnesium 1380-1420 (I keep this higher due to its interaction with the other elements)
Phosphate 0.03ppm or less
Nitrate 15- 20ppm (but it’s not budged from 20 in years)

My new system which is now about 4 months old has similar parameters although I’m still trying to increase nitrate levels up.

 

[Big Rev]

I see that I have a lot of "Prep" work to do as far as water chemistry goes. My readings as of this past Saturday are:
Salinity 34ppt
Alkalinity 12.4 dKH
Calcium 465
Magnesium 1500
Phosphate 0.10 ppm
Nitrate 95 ppm