Starting Saltwater!

[NC122606]

Hello, I have just started into Saltwater and I am planning to set up a 180 Gallon SW tank. I have been researching the basic stuff and tons of fish! I do have a 29 Gallon FW tank with an ABF.
Now for some questions:

1. Reef or FOWLR? Should I do a Reef and not let this 180 go to waste or a FOWLR?
2. Suggest some fish for me!
3. Can you please inform me on Reef if you suggest it for me.
4. Please share all the info you can.

I really want a Walking Batfish (I know weird!) but I find them really cool!
Thank you! I look forward to being here!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R

Reef or fowlr are greatly going to vary depended on your personal goals. There are alot of fish that cannot be kept in a reef tank so if those are the fish you are interested in keeping fowlr would be your best bet. Unfortunately most reefers that I've encountered said they only wanted fowlr but every time the coral bug bites
What I would do is get your feet wet with a fowlr but plan ahead. Meaning get fish that are reef compatible should you choose to add coral down the road
Hope this helps and there are thousands of users who will be by to help

 

[BadFish619]

Welcome to R2R!
+1 in start fowlr and see how you adapt. Plus coral will do better in a more established tank down the road

 

[Mastiffsrule]

 

[Auquanut]

Welcome to the salty side. Sounds like you have a lot of decisions to make. We're here to help. Whatever you decide, just go slow. Research everything and ask a lot of questions. This hobby can be the most rewarding or most frustrating in the world. If you ask specific questions in the appropriate sections, you're more likely to get timely advice. You've definitely come to the right place.

 

[Sako338]

Welcome aboard, I am the least to advise much of anything on here. I am new and I am trying out a fowlr, then maybe a reef one day. I feel like it’s going well for me, I enjoy the hobby a lot already. Good luck, and there is a ton of support on R2R!

 

[LoneStarReef]

Welcome!! You will find tons of great advice here. If I were you, I would start with FOWLR and let your tank mature for a while. Don’t forget the sump. Very critical IMO. Be patient in the first year or so. You could see a lot of algae come and go. Don’t freak out. Just ride it out. However if you want to speed up the process, start out with as much live rock as you can possibly afford. Maybe use dry base rock and then fill out the rest with as much live as you can. You won’t regret it. And my personal advice is to go for the reef tank. So much more interesting to look at but a lot more work. Work that is worth it in my opinion.

Don’t forget: Keys to a successful reef tank are stability and patience. Enjoy!

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family and welcome to the hobby.

 

[Antics]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!! I agree with the idea of starting with a FOWLR setup and preparing for mixed reef in the future (whether or not you decide to ultimately move in that direction). The Batfish are amazing fish! I learned to appreciate the Polka-dot Batfish while doing research at the Rookery Bay National Estuary Research Reserve site. Similarly to the FOWLR/Reef decision, I would recommend that you learn the basic of keeping a saltwater tank and work toward establishing a mature tank while preparing to keep this amazing and unusual species!

 

[Hitman]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

 

[Careugh]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Emarley]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[WMR]

Welcome to R2R!!! As everybody else has said, FOWLR are good to start with, then go into reefing. There are a lot of fish out there for you. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEACH. And when when you’re done researching, research some more Everybody on here is willing to help with you with any issues or questions you might have, good luck

 

[Retro Reefer]

 

[Sako338]

I will add since I am a noob too, I went to amazon and bought the api master saltwater test kit on amazon reviews only. After getting on R2R I realized that a better test kit for me was the Salifert brand. I bought what I needed test by test. I find it’s easier to read and a little more user friendly. $26 out, I thought I would share...

 

[NC122606]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R

Reef or fowlr are greatly going to vary depended on your personal goals. There are alot of fish that cannot be kept in a reef tank so if those are the fish you are interested in keeping fowlr would be your best bet. Unfortunately most reefers that I've encountered said they only wanted fowlr but every time the coral bug bites
What I would do is get your feet wet with a fowlr but plan ahead. Meaning get fish that are reef compatible should you choose to add coral down the road
Hope this helps and there are thousands of users who will be by to help

Thank you! I did feel a reef would be better if I am keeping that kind of tank.

Welcome to R2R!
+1 in start fowlr and see how you adapt. Plus coral will do better in a more established tank down the road

I did not know that! Thanks!

Thank you!

Welcome to the salty side. Sounds like you have a lot of decisions to make. We're here to help. Whatever you decide, just go slow. Research everything and ask a lot of questions. This hobby can be the most rewarding or most frustrating in the world. If you ask specific questions in the appropriate sections, you're more likely to get timely advice. You've definitely come to the right place.

Definitely will have to research and will get help from this forum! Thanks!

Welcome aboard, I am the least to advise much of anything on here. I am new and I am trying out a fowlr, then maybe a reef one day. I feel like it’s going well for me, I enjoy the hobby a lot already. Good luck, and there is a ton of support on R2R!

Hopefully, you enjoy it!

Welcome!! You will find tons of great advice here. If I were you, I would start with FOWLR and let your tank mature for a while. Don’t forget the sump. Very critical IMO. Be patient in the first year or so. You could see a lot of algae come and go. Don’t freak out. Just ride it out. However if you want to speed up the process, start out with as much live rock as you can possibly afford. Maybe use dry base rock and then fill out the rest with as much live as you can. You won’t regret it. And my personal advice is to go for the reef tank. So much more interesting to look at but a lot more work. Work that is worth it in my opinion.

Don’t forget: Keys to a successful reef tank are stability and patience. Enjoy!

I thought I needed only that, thank you! This will help me! Cannot wait for patience...

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family and welcome to the hobby.

Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!

Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!!! I agree with the idea of starting with a FOWLR setup and preparing for mixed reef in the future (whether or not you decide to ultimately move in that direction). The Batfish are amazing fish! I learned to appreciate the Polka-dot Batfish while doing research at the Rookery Bay National Estuary Research Reserve site. Similarly to the FOWLR/Reef decision, I would recommend that you learn the basic of keeping a saltwater tank and work toward establishing a mature tank while preparing to keep this amazing and unusual species!

Thank you! I did get into them because of a video I watched of The King Of DIY and thought they are so cool! Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!!!

Thank you!

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!

Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!!!

Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!!!

Thank you!

Welcome to R2R!!! As everybody else has said, FOWLR are good to start with, then go into reefing. There are a lot of fish out there for you. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEACH. And when when you’re done researching, research some more Everybody on here is willing to help with you with any issues or questions you might have, good luck

Thank you! I will really research and come here!

Thank you!

I will add since I am a noob too, I went to amazon and bought the api master saltwater test kit on amazon reviews only. After getting on R2R I realized that a better test kit for me was the Salifert brand. I bought what I needed test by test. I find it’s easier to read and a little more user friendly. $26 out, I thought I would share...

Heard that API was not the best, thank you for the heads up and good luck. Thank you!

 

[Mr Fishface]

Welcome to R2R! Reef or fowlr is a tough call. You can always start with fowlr and later go to reef!