Andrew_Murphy
07-31-2007, 10:55 PM
In all the research I've been doing into reef systems I've been noticing that there is a very fine line between an Fish & Invert/FOWLR tank and a reef. Can someone clarify the difference I'm very confused
daayda3
07-31-2007, 10:56 PM
FOWLR: fish only with live rock... no coral
REEF: Live rock, fish (most of the times) and coral
Andrew_Murphy
07-31-2007, 10:58 PM
FOWLR: fish only with live rock... no coral
REEF: Live rock, fish (most of the times) and coral
So if I intend on starting a FOWLR tank and a coral hitches a ride on my LR then my tank becomes a reef?
emonemo420
07-31-2007, 10:59 PM
i also wondered that...i have a colt and a few mushrooms...does that mean i have a reef tank?
Slappy*McFish
07-31-2007, 11:01 PM
No. You have a FOWLR with a few cool hitchikers.
Andrew_Murphy
07-31-2007, 11:05 PM
So what corals/plant-like inverts are good for a start up FOWLR(w/ invert) tank.
Subliminal
08-01-2007, 6:46 AM
FOWLR= fish ONLY with live rock
Reef is more of a whole ecosystem. You have light which is substituting for the sun, you have plants, animals, fish, etc...
But, mainly the main difference is in the lighting, and the chemicals. In a fish only setup, you can leave salinity lower, you can have all sorts of fluctuations in your water, and chances are, your fish aren't going to care.
In a reef you want as much light as you can stomach, and you want to keep everything as stable as possible.
Reefs usually have clean up crews, which are found on coral reefs, such as snails, hermits, etc...
Reefs usually have refugiums for denitrification and also for pod growth.
Really, ideally, a reef can ALMOST be it's own self-sustaining ecosystem. If you have good pod growth, good algae growth, and the right kind of animals, they can darn near grow and feed themselves.
Of course, husbandry is still needed...