Reef or not

[cerick305]

I set up a 125 gal and 30 gal refugium. I put in 100lb of dry life rock. Water test shows everything is fine. I went to fish store and talked to guy about where to start. I left with two clown fish, they love the huge tank. The fish guy said I’m limited to the fish type since it’s a reef tank and my set up is for reefs. Is that true? Do I even need to put in reefs if I don’t want to? What is limiting my set up to reefs? Also if I decide to go reef route, it would only be a few not gobs of reefs.

 

[Swoody]

You may be limited but it’s not because of a reef tank possibly more because of tank size but even then that’s a good size tank and you can do a lot with it. I started with 135 gallon tank and I stayed with FOWL R for a year before I upgraded and bought a new 255 gallon tank which is a mixed Reef tank and still adding fish to the mix. As far as being limited to fish because it’s a reef or going to be a reef....man you could put so much in there you don’t have room for it!!! obviously he’s a little bit limited on his reefing knowledge.

 

[Dennis McGrath]

That's a decent size tank for fish and corals. I wish I had a tank that size.

 

[tiggs]

I'm guessing what the guy at the fish store probably meant was you're limited to non-aggressive / reef-safe fish if you plan on the going the reef route. With that being said, I've seen long term successful community reefs with lion fish, eels, non reef-safe wrasses/butterflies, etc, but that's more of the exception than the norm. Typically, having aggressive fish in a reef will stress out your more peaceful fish and turn deadly for any inverts.

I'm assuming that's what he probably meant. If not, then I'm not sure lol. If you don't want to go the reef route, you can definitely start off with a FOWLR if you want.

 

[Flippers4pups]

6' 125 here. Never limited, well at some point soon I'll be fragging like crazy! Lol

In all seriousness, some fish will be limiting. Larger tangs, dwarf angel's may nip corals......etc. Given enough time, corals will get big, but that's where the fragging comes into play! Lol

 

[Jesterrace]

I set up a 125 gal and 30 gal refugium. I put in 100lb of dry life rock. Water test shows everything is fine. I went to fish store and talked to guy about where to start. I left with two clown fish, they love the huge tank. The fish guy said I’m limited to the fish type since it’s a reef tank and my set up is for reefs. Is that true? Do I even need to put in reefs if I don’t want to? What is limiting my set up to reefs? Also if I decide to go reef route, it would only be a few not gobs of reefs.

I think we need to clarify that generally speaking "Reef" refers to whether or not your tank has corals and inverts (ie Snails, Crabs, Shrimp). Certain fish are considered "reef safe" which means they won't bother the aforementioned and others can bother either corals or inverts and some are almost guaranteed to. So the question is do you have corals and inverts in your tank?