OK guys... need some help again. So I am in the process of learning about saltwater aquariums, I have only ever done freshwater. I will not be ready to begin this until the end of the month so I am trying to study up so I know what I am doing at that point. So pretty much through all of my reading thus far, this is what I have discovered I want...
I have read that there are 3 types of saltwater aquariums: fish only, fish only with live rock, or reef tank. My ultimate goal is to have pufferfish which I have learned are not good reef fish so I have decided to do a FOWLR set up. The reason I decided not to do a fish only is because I read that live rock acts as a biological filter and helps makes the aquarium easier to maintain. I also read that the microorganisms living within the rock provide good bacterias that are good for the fish and water. I have learned through here on another thread I created that a sump tank set up is the best way for me to go. So, I went into a local fish store today and spoke with who I think was the owner. He seemed very knowledgable. Am I understanding something wrong? Because when he asked me what kind of tank and I said "Fish only with live rock", he replied so a "reef tank"? And I said "no, isn't there a difference between a fish only with live rock and reef tank?" He told me that there is no point in having live rock if you don't use it to do a reef tank. He also told me I would not need to use a sump tank that bio balls or something like that would be better? I haven't heard of a bio ball system up until this point. What is he talking about? I just told him I needed to do more research but I felt like I must not be understanding something correctly because he contradicted everything I had read about this. Ultimately, my question is this: I have a 133 gal tank that I want to do a saltwater aquarium with that will be able to accommodate a blue spotted pufferfish, along with various others (angel fish, triggerfish, anthias, etc.). What exactly do I need for this and what would be the best way to do it?
I have read that there are 3 types of saltwater aquariums: fish only, fish only with live rock, or reef tank. My ultimate goal is to have pufferfish which I have learned are not good reef fish so I have decided to do a FOWLR set up. The reason I decided not to do a fish only is because I read that live rock acts as a biological filter and helps makes the aquarium easier to maintain. I also read that the microorganisms living within the rock provide good bacterias that are good for the fish and water. I have learned through here on another thread I created that a sump tank set up is the best way for me to go. So, I went into a local fish store today and spoke with who I think was the owner. He seemed very knowledgable. Am I understanding something wrong? Because when he asked me what kind of tank and I said "Fish only with live rock", he replied so a "reef tank"? And I said "no, isn't there a difference between a fish only with live rock and reef tank?" He told me that there is no point in having live rock if you don't use it to do a reef tank. He also told me I would not need to use a sump tank that bio balls or something like that would be better? I haven't heard of a bio ball system up until this point. What is he talking about? I just told him I needed to do more research but I felt like I must not be understanding something correctly because he contradicted everything I had read about this. Ultimately, my question is this: I have a 133 gal tank that I want to do a saltwater aquarium with that will be able to accommodate a blue spotted pufferfish, along with various others (angel fish, triggerfish, anthias, etc.). What exactly do I need for this and what would be the best way to do it?
