Advice On 6' Freshwater Tank Setup

[andywg]

Since you've done SW before and will have everything you need, have you considered doing a FOWLR?

That size tank would allow for some very nice fish in there and without doing a reef you no longer need to worry about Metal Halides or expensive dosing and the like. Once all the bits are bought a FOWLR costs about the same to run as a FW tank but just with the cost of occasional water changes.

That size tank could easily house 1, and maybe a small "pride" of large lionfish. IF not you can look at groupers and such, or even come down in size and keep a large number of smaller fish (such as a shoal of tangs).

 

[markreefer]

Since you've done SW before and will have everything you need, have you considered doing a FOWLR?

That size tank would allow for some very nice fish in there and without doing a reef you no longer need to worry about Metal Halides or expensive dosing and the like. Once all the bits are bought a FOWLR costs about the same to run as a FW tank but just with the cost of occasional water changes.

That size tank could easily house 1, and maybe a small "pride" of large lionfish. IF not you can look at groupers and such, or even come down in size and keep a large number of smaller fish (such as a shoal of tangs).

Yes thanks I have, but having spent an Absolute fortune on my reef tank which was a failure and poor value for money, I want to set up something with minimal expense (live rock is not cheap). I suspect that the main problem with the reef was that I was using Ocean Rock. The tank would never support Hard Corals at all and after extensive research I never resolved the problem. I finally decided to close it down and dump the Ocean Rock, and restart with high quality live rock. However, due to ever increasing running costs, the expense of new lighting which would consume less energy and a good show of Live Rock costing £6-800 I decided against it.

I feel that a planted freshwater tank will give a better view than just rock and fish.

 

[OldMan47]

I am a big fan of having just tons of small fish in a big tank. You end up with schooling actions and groups of fish moving around that look great but you don't have a lot of money tied up in single fish. That is something you probably understand well if you spent time on the dark side. A nice sized single discus can start looking a lot like a tang when you price it at the LFS so unless you are ready to step into big expense again, the more modest fish might make a better choice.

 

[markreefer]

I am a big fan of having just tons of small fish in a big tank. You end up with schooling actions and groups of fish moving around that look great but you don't have a lot of money tied up in single fish. That is something you probably understand well if you spent time on the dark side. A nice sized single discus can start looking a lot like a tang when you price it at the LFS so unless you are ready to step into big expense again, the more modest fish might make a better choice.

I have to say I am with you on that