First FOWLR CUC

[Euphyllia97]

Hi guys!

Cycling my first Fowlr tank (150gal) ever (week 4). I’m used to the setting up of reef tanks. But as I have decided to go FOWLR due to lack of time at home. I now have the luxury position of being able to go for cool non reef-safe inverts.

I don’t want to keep a lobster, but I am looking for suggestions on cool inverts with nice personalities (reef of non-reef safe). I was thinking about an urchin (long spine) and some kind of starfish (when my tank is mature). I love the look of Linckia, but I didn’t enter the hobby to kill animals.
would love to have a bigger type of crab, any suggestions from the experienced FOWLR-keepers?

Planned stock to keep in mind
Regal angelfish
Raccoon butterfly
Blue tang
Thalassoma Lunare or Melanurus

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi guys!

Cycling my first Fowlr tank (150gal) ever (week 4). I’m used to the setting up of reef tanks. But as I have decided to go FOWLR due to lack of time at home. I now have the luxury position of being able to go for cool non reef-safe inverts.

I don’t want to keep a lobster, but I am looking for suggestions on cool inverts with nice personalities (reef of non-reef safe). I was thinking about an urchin (long spine) and some kind of starfish (when my tank is mature). I love the look of Linckia, but I didn’t enter the hobby to kill animals.
would love to have a bigger type of crab, any suggestions from the experienced FOWLR-keepers?

Planned stock to keep in mind
Regal angelfish
Raccoon butterfly
Blue tang
Thalassoma Lunare or Melanurus

Just remember that "FOWLR" is supposed to mean "fish only". One of the main benefits of that sort of system is that if/when the fish get sick, you can more easily treat the tank, than if there were invertebrates present. If you add invertebrates, you lose that benefit. Then, there is the tendency to say, "well, I have a few invertebrates, so I'm going to try these soft corals, etc. Eventually, you end up with a sort of hybrid tank. I prefer to set up tanks for only fish....

With the Regal angel, beware of those coming from SE Asia, they often don't feed well. Being in Europe, you probably will see more of these from the Red Sea and East Africa and those do better in aquariums.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Just remember that "FOWLR" is supposed to mean "fish only". One of the main benefits of that sort of system is that if/when the fish get sick, you can more easily treat the tank, than if there were invertebrates present. If you add invertebrates, you lose that benefit. Then, there is the tendency to say, "well, I have a few invertebrates, so I'm going to try these soft corals, etc. Eventually, you end up with a sort of hybrid tank. I prefer to set up tanks for only fish....

With the Regal angel, beware of those coming from SE Asia, they often don't feed well. Being in Europe, you probably will see more of these from the Red Sea and East Africa and those do better in aquariums.

It will be a red sea species for me :)

I have successfully kept a reef tank with acro’s so I’m not completely new to the care for corals/fish. The reason I’m going FOWLR is because I am a long haul pilot and don’t want to ask my wife to do maintenance work and check parameters and dosings every couple of days.

So actually I don’t really mind having a hybrid. If you can call it that with a limited amount of inverts :)

I’m familiar with QT and have a tank setup especially for that.

So really looking for suggestions on what species could be possible :)