I'm seriously considering starting a FOWLF or FOWLR Reef tank later in the spring, once I have a chance to build a custom tank. I originally was thinking aroun 25 gal, but after carful mesurements, will be about 45 gal.
First of all, I currently have a 10 gal FW tank that is acting as quarantine for some cherry barbs, but this tank will be empty by next weekend (I hope). Would it be a good idea to use this tank to start, so that I'll have some live rock ready, and some live sand cultured by the time I'm ready to set up the new custom tank? I realize that I'll still have to cycle the other tank if I follow this route, but would assume that having a start would be a good idea.
If I start using the 10 gal as a SW tank, should I also start building up the cleanup crew at this point? I know I wouldn't start with any fish until the new tank is stable.
And one last question, for the moment. I've been reading a lot about the cycling process in SW, but still seem to have some holes in my knowledge. My understanding is that the dead organic matter on the LR will decay, giving ammonia, and the ammonia->nitrite->nitrate cycle will follow like in FW. However I haven't seen much info on nitrate. Is there another step in SW that will consume the nitrate? Anything I've read seems to indicate that protine skimming is the main mechanical filtration, and water changes while being important, don't seem to be as frequent in SW.
I'm norrmally the kind of guy who learns best by doing something, but my LFS's don't stock anything for SW, so everything will have to be ordered, which means I need to know exactally what I want before I start.
Thanks for all answers, opinions, comments, and for just generally filling in holes in my knowledge.
First of all, I currently have a 10 gal FW tank that is acting as quarantine for some cherry barbs, but this tank will be empty by next weekend (I hope). Would it be a good idea to use this tank to start, so that I'll have some live rock ready, and some live sand cultured by the time I'm ready to set up the new custom tank? I realize that I'll still have to cycle the other tank if I follow this route, but would assume that having a start would be a good idea.
If I start using the 10 gal as a SW tank, should I also start building up the cleanup crew at this point? I know I wouldn't start with any fish until the new tank is stable.
And one last question, for the moment. I've been reading a lot about the cycling process in SW, but still seem to have some holes in my knowledge. My understanding is that the dead organic matter on the LR will decay, giving ammonia, and the ammonia->nitrite->nitrate cycle will follow like in FW. However I haven't seen much info on nitrate. Is there another step in SW that will consume the nitrate? Anything I've read seems to indicate that protine skimming is the main mechanical filtration, and water changes while being important, don't seem to be as frequent in SW.
I'm norrmally the kind of guy who learns best by doing something, but my LFS's don't stock anything for SW, so everything will have to be ordered, which means I need to know exactally what I want before I start.
Thanks for all answers, opinions, comments, and for just generally filling in holes in my knowledge.
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