Starting Myself a FOWLR Tank

[aweibeler]

Okay so, three days ago I made the decision to start a FOWLR tank and get rid of my freshwater tank. However, I have a few questions that I just can't seem to find or I find many different answers too. Hoping to get to the bottom of a few of them.

For starters I'll tell you what I have now and please keep in mind my budget is rolling and by that I mean I'm kinda doing this tank paycheck to paycheck.

Anyways, my setup is a Cascade 110g filter and I have a 55g tank. Along with that I have a powerhead (I know I need one more) my heater, and light. Inside the tank for now I have some live sand for my substrate and I couldn't afford a lot of Live rock as it's 6 dollars a pound. So I have 15 pounds in there now but I am getting around 30-40 not this week but next. Also I do NOT plan on getting a protein skimmer for now as much as anyone recommends it. My LFS is a very renowned one and has told me not to fully worry until my bioload becomes bigger.

Some of my questions are:
1. While I'm cycling this tank, do I need to change my filter floss a lot? Someone told me too but I figured it'd be better to keep it so bacteria builds up in it?

2. I had Chemi Pure inside my filter for my FW, should I keep that in for beneficial bacteria?

3. Should I do any water changes during this cycle? If so how much should I do?


UPDATE: I just pushed on my filters top button to get flow going and my spray bar started putting out a ton of salt and now tank is very clowdy again, is this bad or a sign that i need to change floss?

Please don't come down on this post! I am a totally new person to saltwater but my fascination to these fish are beyond most! Just need a helping hand and some tips if anyone has something they wish they knew when they started!

[aweibeler]

Also as of now my fish plans are a Lunar Wrasse, Flame Angelfish, maybe a goby to help clean because I hear they clean well, and a clownfish

[Andy]

no water changes are needed wile the tank is cycling you wait until ammonia nitrites and nitrates are at 0 then do a big water change at least 25%(this may take 2 weeks to 2 months) with such little amount of LR your readings will not be high when they spike unless ur planning the raw shrimp trick which isnt ideal but works!. If the filter floss is filthy change it as this may affect your readings and will give you a clearer take on when the tank is fully cycled.
I would get more live rock asap as you want the majority if not all your LR when you first start as adding more later on down the line will just start a mini cycle again.

What filter have you got is it a hangon filter?

clownfish are good hardy fish.
flame angelfish look excellent but bear in mind they are known for picking at corals if you wish to venture down that road.
sandsifting gobys are great if you have live sand, i have a blue cheek and he keeps substrate clean as a whistle.

if your budget is tite leave the skimmer for now but it will be a neccessity when you get fish and make sure its a good one, i would research which one and see any comments coz some make loud noise.

All the best bud

[Doogle]

Cycle your tank using the deli shrimp method and live rock will help too. If you've had the chemi-pure awhile you may want new media anyway, as for reusing it I don't see why not but I'm not 100% sure but i do know the good bacteria isnt the same bacteria you need as it isnt saltwater bacteria, freshwater has different bio bacteria than saltwater so it wont help your tank cycle. Let your filter gain bio bacteria, you never want to clean all your media at once as if you lose all your bio bacteria you can have an ammonia spike and have a mini cycle. No need for water changes during cycling but as your ammonia and the nitrites drop and nitrates rise a water change or two can speed up the process a little but you only need to do one after everything is zero and you have nitrates to get rid of.
You can use any rock like lace or tufa rock , or rock like Bulk Reef Supply Eco Rock for good base rock or cheaper and it will eventually seed and become like live rock.
Skimmer isn't necessary for fowler tanks. Good adsorption media in your canister filter or hob media reactor is fine.
As or your canister blowing stuff in the tank, it happens sometimes. Did you have it turned off for while? You should clean them regularly( the pads, not the bio media/only in sections ) keep an eye on it while it cycles and see if it continues and why.

[nanoreefing4fun]

to ReefSanctuary, a real Sanctuary of reef forums, with lots of very nice members 

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[aweibeler]

Thank you everyone for the information! I have an update for alll!


So far, it's been very promising signs of a quick cycle. Everything has spiked and come down, water has become very clear. I have purchased more live rock and an additional powerhead. Everything for now is testing okay and I'm hoping to add a fish in about a week if everything tests right.
As for the cloudiness coming out of my filter. It was just some unsettled salt because it wasn't mixed very well because I figured the tank would be flowing for awhile before anything was in it so I wasn't too worried on mixing it. My next step before my fish are in is getting rid of my spray bar. I feel as if that might be a little better visually and less cleaning.
*****Also, does anyone think that adding a baby clown and a 3/4in lunar wrasse at the same time a bad idea or too much of a load for my filter? As of now that is my plan for this upcoming week if my tank cycles in time


Any thoughts from anyone? I'll snap a picture soon with my Iphone and get it up here/new tank section!