New Reef Tank, Help!

[scotty boy]

Hey folks,

Just new to the site, like ten mins ago. Currently have a 23 gallon freshwater tank. Want to change it and get a 75 gallon marine/reef tank.
I have been doing research ALL DAY on the internet, researching saltwater tanks, FOWLR, and Reef. Can someone explain the difference between a Reef and FOWLR? As far as i can tell it is only the coral and live rock that differ? but in what way?
Also, i know there is a LOT of equipment needed to start, protein skimmers, powerheads, pumps, sumps, lighting, coral etc etc etc.
Could someone give me pointers as to exactly what i would need and what size? for example how big a pump would i need, how big a powerhead? What type protein skimmer? you know what i mean dont you?

I have a lot of questions, so please forgive my ignorance. Also, are a sump and refugium the same thing?

All advice is greatly appreciated in advance.

 

[bae1994]

fowlr means fish-only-with-live-rock

and reef is fish invertibrates corals and such

sump and refugium is a different thing but you have a refuiuem in the sump

for a 75 gallon youd want around 20-40 gallon sump

youd need enough power heads to turn the tank over 25 times per hour so you would need enough powerheads that equate to 1875 gallons per hour

with a reef you would need

a skimmer
good lighting dependant on the corals you wish to keep soft corals sps etc
powerheads
preferably a uv
a heater

hower you dont have to have a sump

you could have a sumpless tank and run a berlin system were the live rock is your filter and the powerheads provides the flow this is what alot of people use but if your going this route id suggest reading this

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/285718-seffies-journey-to-the-salty-side-part-two/

or this

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/282326-the-indecisive-journal-of-trods-5-footer/page__p__2346215__fromsearch__1&#entry2346215

for fish only you wouldnt need strong lighting but the other equipment stays the same

 

[-Nemo-]

Just to elaborate a bit more...

A sump is the tank below the main tank, it's main point is to increase water volume although it also can house equipment (like heaters and filters) and improve water quality. A refugium would be a section within the sump and that's where things like macroalgae would be growing.

As stated, not necessary, but definitely recommended.


Also, UV is definitely not necessary and personally I decided not to have one after reading mixed articles about them.


A 75G is a great sized tank to start with, I currently have a 29G but my 75G is currently cycling. I have a link in my signature if you're interested just because the tank size is the same. I would also recommend going through other marine journals, you'll learn a lot from them.


Welcome to TFF

 

[scotty boy]

Yeah Bae, i knew that FOWLR stood for that buddy, but i didnt understand the difference between live rock and coral, i thought they were the same thing???

What exactly do poewerheads do, pump the water in to the sump?

Nemo, what i intended doing was getting a return sump as well as coral, thus, (I think) making it easier to maintain Would i still need pumps in addition to a skimmer?

So instead of having unsightly heaters and filters in the display tank, i put them in the sump, thus saving space? but it still does the same job, as the water is pumped in to it, and filtered and returned to the tank? would this be right?

What size pump would i need? or does the powerhead do this job? I knew i had to get strong lighting for coral, whatever type i got, soft or hard.

I am getting there, but the more info the better.

Thanks

 

[bae1994]

hi powerheads are just pumps in the tank that move water for the corals like the seas current and to push water around and in the rock like sea current too

and there not to push water into the sump

what happens is you have an overflow (wier) and a return pump in the sump so the water in the sump is pumped up into the tank making the tank level rise over the wier a glass box in the corner with the top the same level as the water level and through the hole in the tank base and back into the sump

corals are living things like the saltwater version of plants

and the rock is just very porouse rock that loads of bacteria and tiny animals live in thus making it alive

and yep you would need pumps as well as the skimmer

as the pumps do as above and a skimmer extracts impurities and protien from food and fish poo from the water collum

and uv isnt a neccesity but i like to run them just incase for algea and parasites

hope this helps if not then i give up

 

[scotty boy]

Thanks for the input, starting to get to understand the dynamics of a saltwater tank.

What would you peeps suggest, a FOWLR or Reef? i thought a reef was easier to maintain?
What type/make of pump would i need for a 75 gallon tank?

Thinking of getting one from the LFS, and it has a built in filter (wet/dry) will this be ok? in addition to the Skimmer and Pump?

size and make of pump would be great advice guys!!!!

Thanks in advance

 

[-Nemo-]

Technically a reef is more "difficult" to maintain, although still go for it even if you just stick with soft corals. I think live rock looks too naked without lots of corals covering it.

Size of the pump depends on how much water flow you want going through. Personally on my 75, I have a 950 gph magdrive pump connected to a wave maker (although with head loss it is more like 750 gph). The rest of the flow in my tank comes from powerheads.

The only problem you might have with an all in one tank (tank with built in filtration), is find a way to connect it to a sump successfully.

 

[seffieuk]

to TFF and the salty side, its great to have you on board

Seffie x