Puffer or reef tank

[Redbird5]

I'm trying to decide which direction I'd like to go, either with a FOWLR or a coral reef without a puffer. My experience with saltwater aquariums is all of 2 months. I have a nano aquarium with a clownfish, peppermint shrimp, snails and a mushroom coral and toadstool leather coral. My big aquarium is cycling and should be good in a few weeks.
I'm trying to figure out if I want a FOWLR aquarium or a reef aquarium.
From what I've read puffer can be like a wet dog. I'd maybe like an lemon peel angel or another dwarf angel species.

What are the pros and cons of each? Which is more expensive?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm trying to decide which direction I'd like to go, either with a FOWLR or a coral reef without a puffer. My experience with saltwater aquariums is all of 2 months. I have a nano aquarium with a clownfish, peppermint shrimp, snails and a mushroom coral and toadstool leather coral. My big aquarium is cycling and should be good in a few weeks.
I'm trying to figure out if I want a FOWLR aquarium or a reef aquarium.
From what I've read puffer can be like a wet dog. I'd maybe like an lemon peel angel or another dwarf angel species.

What are the pros and cons of each? Which is more expensive?

Puffer will offer limitations such as inverts, certain coral and need for larger tank in time. Reef will offer housing for coral, fish and inverts safely

 

[bluemon]

Technically you can do both. You just can't keep inverts like shrimp or clams with puffers, but they will play nice with most coral.

In terms of $$, FOWLR is technically cheaper as there is a "ceiling".

Once you have a fully stocked out tank in terms of fish, you are set.

With corals, there really is no ceiling. FOWLR is also much easier, with less parameters to worry about

 

[DrkNMighty]

What size are your two tanks?

 

[BryanM]

I might suggest youtubing puffer tanks.

But this is a personal decision that's really dependent on your desires.... At least you know they are quite different types of tanks.

 

[CHSUB]

How about, “Puffer in a Reef tank”? I had a trigger that was great in a reef, which is generally a no no….

 

[bluemon]

How about, “Puffer in a Reef tank”? I had a trigger that was great in a reef, which is generally a no no….

To be fair, there are plankton eating triggers that are generally a yes yes with inverts.

The sargassum trigger or the blue throat trigger play very nice with all inverts in my experience.

The other triggers I would not keep in a reef tank...

 

[KrisReef]

In general, a fish tank is a less time and money consuming hobby and many people find fish more enjoyable to keep vs slow growing mindless coral reefs.

If you want a wet dog don’t get a pet rock reef.

 

[bluemon]

In general, a fish tank is a less time and money consuming hobby and many people find fish more enjoyable to keep vs slow growing mindless coral reefs.

If you want a wet dog don’t get a pet rock reef.

My corals took offense to you calling them mindless :(

Can YOUR fish RTN at you if you look at them wrong? I think not.

 

[CHSUB]

To be fair, there are plankton eating triggers that are generally a yes yes with inverts.

The sargassum trigger or the blue throat trigger play very nice with all inverts in my experience.

The other triggers I would not keep in a reef tank...

Yes, Blue Throat….however he would munch on my CUC, but I didn’t mind because I collected my own. Probably similar to a puffer, but just a guess?

 

[bluemon]

Yes, Blue Throat….however he would munch on my CUC, but I didn’t mind because I collected my own. Probably similar to a puffer, but just a guess?

Huh, my blue throat never touches any inverts. And I’ve had three during my hobby. All peaceful

 

[PPBlimpy]

How big is the new tank?

I have had a porcupine puffer in my mixed reef for over a year. i still have hermits and snails. I keep him fed and fat. feed a medium raw shrimp every day. Every once in a while he gets a little neck clam.

My suggestion is to get the smallest/ youngest puffer you can and train him early, feed him before the rest of the fish because they are messy and the rest of the fish will clean up after him.

only tank mate that went missing since adding him was my cleaner shrimp

 

[KrisReef]

My corals took offense to you calling them mindless :(

Can YOUR fish RTN at you if you look at them wrong? I think not.

You have to teach fish how to rtn, but it can be done. :cool:

Corals also seem to lack a neural network but they do participate in chemical and stinging cell warfare. They are not totally uncivilized.:face-with-tears-of-joy: