🐟
Saltwater Aquarium
FOWLR (Fish-Only With Live Rock)
A saltwater tank without corals - just fish, invertebrates, and live rock. Simpler than a reef but still full of marine life.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tank Size: 40g+ Recommended: 90g Budget: $800-$8,000 Setup Time: 60 days
📖 Overview
FOWLR is the entry point to saltwater aquariums. It skips the demanding requirements of coral (specific lighting, alkalinity, calcium, phosphate control) while still delivering the color and personality of marine fish. Live rock provides biological filtration and hiding places. Because coral is absent, aggressive/large fish that would harm corals are welcome - triggerfish, puffers, groupers, lionfish.
💧 Essential Parameters
Temperature: 76-80 F. Salinity: 1.020-1.025 SG. pH: 8.0-8.4. Nitrate: under 40 ppm.
⚙️ Key Equipment
Sump or large HOB filter, protein skimmer, powerheads, RODI water, heater, LED (basic full-spectrum sufficient).
🐟 Stocking Recommendations
Triggerfish, puffers, groupers, lionfish, tangs (in adequate size tanks), snowflake eels, larger wrasses. Add invertebrates like snails and hermits sparingly - many aggressive fish prey on them.