How many of you would keep a Fish Only with Live Rock (FOWLR) tank?

Would keep a Fish Only with Live Rock (FOWLR) tank?

  • Yes! I've got one going now! (Bonus points if you share your FOWLR with us!)

    Votes: 83 21.1%
  • Nope. It's just not for me.

    Votes: 108 27.4%
  • I'm thinking about it.

    Votes: 50 12.7%
  • Yes, I'd consider it, but only as a 2nd tank. Reefing is my 1st love!

    Votes: 145 36.8%
  • What's a FOWLR??

    Votes: 8 2.0%

  • Total voters
    394

DirkCourage

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Don’t tell my fish, but I’m usually more interested in what the corals and inverts are getting up to.

I like a reef that feels and looks like a rich ecosystem.
 

Feet4Fish

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Easiest and best tank I have ever had!!
 

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Jedi1199

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My 180 is a FOWLR tank and I love it. It is really a tank intended for more aggressive and less "reef safe" fish.

Currently I have:
1 Picasso Trigger
1 Clown Trigger
1 Flame angel
1 Scopas Tang
1 3 Stripe Damsel
2 Domino Damsels
1 6 line Wrasse

I will post pictures tomorrow...
 

Appoloreefer

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Hey guys, I've really been enjoying flowing the threads in our new FOWLR forum, and it's even got me thinking that I might consider running a FOWLR myself one of these days. After all, there are lots of good arguments for why these tanks are really cool! So what about you?

1) Would you ever consider keeping a Fish Only tank?
2) What are some reasons you would or wouldn't consider it?


By the way, if you haven't yet, be sure to check out the new FOWLR forum here on Reef2Reef!

Here is @kados FOWLR tank. I really dig that scape and that collection of fish!
20210831_200547.jpg
A few years ago I had a FOWLR but when I upgraded to a 125 I went soft corals only with fish.
 

Appoloreefer

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Hey guys, I've really been enjoying flowing the threads in our new FOWLR forum, and it's even got me thinking that I might consider running a FOWLR myself one of these days. After all, there are lots of good arguments for why these tanks are really cool! So what about you?

1) Would you ever consider keeping a Fish Only tank?
2) What are some reasons you would or wouldn't consider it?


By the way, if you haven't yet, be sure to check out the new FOWLR forum here on Reef2Reef!

Here is @kados FOWLR tank. I really dig that scape and that collection of fish!
20210831_200547.jpg
A few years ago I had a FOWLR but when I upgraded to a 125 I went soft corals only with fish.
 

Appoloreefer

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Hey guys, I've really been enjoying flowing the threads in our new FOWLR forum, and it's even got me thinking that I might consider running a FOWLR myself one of these days. After all, there are lots of good arguments for why these tanks are really cool! So what about you?

1) Would you ever consider keeping a Fish Only tank?
2) What are some reasons you would or wouldn't consider it?


By the way, if you haven't yet, be sure to check out the new FOWLR forum here on Reef2Reef!

Here is @kados FOWLR tank. I really dig that scape and that collection of fish!
20210831_200547.jpg
A few years ago I had a FOWLR but when I upgraded to a 125 I went soft corals only with fish.
 

Appoloreefer

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The only reason I want one is to keep fish that can't go in reef tanks. Lion fish, eels, sharks, harlequin tusk stuff like that. But I do worry that it would get poring for me without the inverts and corals.
I had a reef tank with a snowflake eel in it and there were never any issues. I kept him fed so maybe that is why
 

McPuff

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Here is my FOWLR. 1700gal. Its been running for about 4 yrs now. Recently installed a biopellet reactor to try and work down the nitrates. Lost several fish about 1 1/2 yrs ago from an ick outbreak. Its been treated with copper and seems good since then. I am hesitant to add new fish since this group has been together for quite a while now - not sure how they will treat newcomers;Chicken. I'll have to do it at some point though - probably a batch of 1/2 a dozen.
Wow, do you have a thread in the Monster tanks section? If not, please create one!

How big is that French angel? Looks terrific!
 

susanpoythr

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Nice. I am starting up my own FOWLR and this is definitely inspiring. How is the Harlequin Tusk with the Starfish? I want to add a star to my own tank but am afraid the Tusk will bother it.
My starfish is always in the rocks. I saw him yesterday. It’s always an event when he comes out.
 

Bruce60

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Had both a reef and a FOWLR in a home I had built back 15-20 years ago down in TN. The reef was a 190 gallon pie-wedge shaped tank and the FOWLR was a 290 bowfront. Don't have many images from back then. The rocks on the right side of the FOWLR tank matched-up with the left side of an adjacent reef tank. It gave the illusion of the reef falling off into the open sea. Used the FOWLR for puffers, eel, fox face, etc. Even tried a soft coral or two to enhance the illusion of a single tank.
IMG_0328.JPG

Feeding time for the eel...
IMG_0359.JPG

Here's an image where the two tanks met behind in the tank servicing room (can't find one from the front). Reef on left of Tunze controllers and FOWLR on right. Back then I called the FOWLR a Predator tank.
IMG_0357.JPG

Here is one image I found of a portion of the reef.
IMG_0346.JPG

Found an image of the structure built around the tanks during construction of the home. Gives you an idea of the relationships and the fish service room behind.
pic11942.jpg
 
Last edited:

itselenababe

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The only time I’ve had a fowlr and genuinely enjoyed it was when the “rock” was large fake coral reef structures from petsmart lol

it’d make sense if it was a predatory tank but it’s too boring to look at for me personally
 

Belgian Anthias

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It is just about providing space. Why using so called "life rock" in a fish only tank? Real " alive rock" will be harvested in no time. (ref: MB Anthias 2019) Fish will grow fast, the bioload will increase fast, the carrying capacity must be able to follow growth. How the carrying capacity can be managed in a FOWLER tank? I prefer a good bio-filter which gives me the means to manage the carrying capacity and nutrient export rate as desired , at all times.
 

Fredinva

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Certain fish I wanted would only work in a fowlr, thus I added a 125 Fowler, coral and lil fishies stay in the 32 Fiji- cube.
 

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A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 66 37.3%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 59 33.3%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 14.1%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 27 15.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
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