Saltwater FOWLR Set Up

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

Hey! I am getting ready to start my first saltwater aquarium. I plan to do a FOWLR set up. I have been doing a lot of research but I have some questions hopefully someone can help me out with. I will be using a 133 gallon tank. First question is, is it necessary to use both a protein skimmer and a filter or is the protein skimmer alone OK? Also, what type of protein skimmer is the best? What type of live rock would be best? The rest of my questions are about fish compatibility, a lot of websites are all conflicting. I know I want a blue spotted puffer fish but am still unsure of what I will put with it. I've read puffer fish go best by themselves, not with other puffer fish, is this correct? Can a blue spotted puffer live with a lion fish? Can a blue spotted puffer live with clownfish? Can clown triggerfish live with clownfish? What corals should I use if I am considering puffer fish with triggerfish? Thanks!

Kershaw · Apr 3, 2016

Do you have a sump for your tank? Protein skimmer will be neccecery. you can run a filter sock. But there are allot of people that don't.

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

Kershaw said:
Do you have a sump for your tank? Protein skimmer will be neccecery. you can run a filter sock. But there are allot of people that don't.

No, is in sump the way I should go? I'm just trying to figure out what kind of equipment I need to get right now. I'm just now learning about all of this, probably won't go to purchase anything for a couple weeks. I have only done freshwater aquariums before. How does in sump work exactly?

glb · Apr 3, 2016

You drill a hole in your display tank and plumb it down to the sump, with a return pump that will bring the water back to the display tank. In the sump, you can put all your equipment. I'd say a skimmer is essential. A filter sock is more a preference. Some people swear by them. Others think they are a pain. The great thing about sumps is that everything is hidden and easier to work on. Ask a lot of questions here. This is a great group of people who really want to help you out!!!!

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

glb said:
You drill a hole in your display tank and plumb it down to the sump, with a return pump that will bring the water back to the display tank. In the sump, you can put all your equipment. I'd say a slimmer is essential. A filter sock is more a preference. Some people swear by them. Others think they are a pain. The great thing about sumps is that everything is hidden and easier to work on. Ask a lot of questions here. This is a great group of people who really want to help you out!!!!

Ohhh ok I understand. How big should your sump tank be?
That's great to know because I am sure I will have a lot more questions!!

Kershaw · Apr 3, 2016

i use a 40gal breeder for a sump on a 125. But that's about the biggest I can fit. Other wise I would have gone a little bigger.

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

Do I have to do a sump? I am looking into how you set it up but I am wondering if this is too advanced for me. Anyone on here ever do that for their first saltwater aquarium and if so was it pretty easy to learn? What are the benefits of a sump rather than external equipment or hang over equipment? Is this something I should be able to do by myself?

Kershaw · Apr 3, 2016

1 Water volume
2 if skimmer overflows it over flows in sump not on floor
3 skimmer size
4 All equipment is hidden
Is a sump needed? No, but it is recommended yes,

twilliard · Apr 3, 2016

Welcome to R2R!
Sumps are a learning process. Are they required.. no are they useful yes.
You will have to learn the dynamics of sumps.
Here is a simple design layout of a sump (omitting dimensions)
https://www.google.com/search?q=aqu...=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=3BVRilxgIePxHM:
My sump is 40 gallons and my display is 46 gallons.
All my equipment is in the sump to free up the looks of the main tank.

glb · Apr 3, 2016

rylie221 said:
Do I have to do a sump? I am looking into how you set it up but I am wondering if this is too advanced for me. Anyone on here ever do that for their first saltwater aquarium and if so was it pretty easy to learn? What are the benefits of a sump rather than external equipment or hang over equipment? Is this something I should be able to do by myself?

If you do a lot of research first you can definitely do it. Hang on equipment doesn't look too hot hanging behind the tank and it's harder to work on. You can do it without a sump but I think you'd be much happier in the long run if you use one. As far as benefits, it's so much easier to do maintenance. Water changes are easy because you don't have to lift a heavy jug of water to the tank. You have more flexibility when it comes to equipment. You can always have someone else drill your tank if you're not comfortable with that. The 'newcomers' forum is a great place to get info and ask all your questions. Sumps do have plumbing (pipes/hoses) to deal with, so in that sense you could say they're more complicated. But on a tank that size, you won't be sorry.

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

Kershaw said:
1 Water volume
2 if skimmer overflows it over flows in sump not on floor
3 skimmer size
4 All equipment is hidden
Is a sump needed? No, but it is recommended yes,

What size sump tank should I use for 133 gal aquarium? You said you use 40gal for 125 but would have went a little bigger.

Kershaw · Apr 3, 2016

Largest one you can fit in your stand. I have never used, but they do make hang on the back over flows so you don't have to drill. Again I have no experience with them.

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

glb said:
If you do a lot of research first you can definitely do it. Hang on equipment doesn't look too hot hanging behind the tank and it's harder to work on. You can do it without a sump but I think you'd be much happier in the long run if you use one. As far as benefits, it's so much easier to do maintenance. Water changes are easy because you don't have to lift a heavy jug of water to the tank. You have more flexibility when it comes to equipment. You can always have someone else drill your tank if you're not comfortable with that. The 'newcomers' forum is a great place to get info and ask all your questions. Sumps do have plumbing (pipes/hoses) to deal with, so in that sense you could say they're more complicated. But on a tank that size, you won't be sorry.

Ok, I think I will look more into this. Seems like the good way to go. I am not sure what my stand will accommodate as far as the size of the sump tank. What should be the minimum size sump tank for 133 gal aquarium?

glb · Apr 3, 2016

Kershaw said:
Largest one you can fit in your stand. I have never used, but they do make hang on the back over flows so you don't have to drill. Again I have no experience with them.

I've heard hang on overflows can fail pretty easily but some people use them. You can always have a glass shop drill your tank if you don't want to do it. Plus, a drilled tank doesn't have any equipment in sight.

glb · Apr 3, 2016

rylie221 said:
Ok, I think I will look more into this. Seems like the good way to go. I am not sure what my stand will accommodate as far as the size of the sump tank. What should be the minimum size sump tank for 133 gal aquarium?

I'd guess 40g.

Kershaw · Apr 3, 2016

I would say 30 to 40. A 40 breeder only has about 20-25 gallons of water in it. When used as a sump.

rylie221 · Apr 3, 2016

Thanks guys!

ndz98 · Apr 3, 2016

Welcome to r2r!

Diesel · Apr 3, 2016

I suggest to read a lot about how to setup a saltwater tank.
Write down the questions you have afterwards.
You mentioned FOWLR and than you mentioned if you can keep curtain corals with fish, if your going to hold corals some fish don't work.
Most fish live together without corals.
Again read a lot.