When I get my next tank I am thinking about doing a FOWLR. There are some fish that I would like to have that are not reef safe.
Thoughts? Does anyone else have a FOWLR TANK? If so I woud love to see pics. Thanks
I’ve never had a FOWLR specifically, I’ve always added corals 
Usually the first thing that pops into my mind with FOWLR is the fish may be messy eaters and a clean up crew is difficult to keep with lots of non-reef safe fish. If it were me, filtration would be of the highest importance and if Bryant’s presentation about ATS is true, then I would more than likely look into making one of those if at all possible. Secondly, the larger the tank, the better since most of the more aggressive fish can get large, unless you’re planning on keeping frog, leaf fish then you may be able to keep it smaller.
What fish are you planning on keeping?
The clean up crew crossed my mind as well. The tank will be at least 180 gallons. I am really shooting for 200 to 250 gals. There are triggers and some angels that I like. I have also come across some wrasses and thinking about a puffer as well. Just thoughts for now.
Just remember that some wrasses and triggers like to move rock around looking for food under them. They can move BIG rocks too once the fish get some size to them. I know they will also blow or squirt water into the sand to stir it up to see if they can get food items out of it. I guess you can try to employ some tangs in there for grazing the rock but I couldn’t really suggest an invert clean up crew.
Something that size I would look into the ATS or a very large skimmer and lots of live rock as your main filtration.
The best FOWLR tank I’ve seen was out in CA and the notable fish were a flounder and beautiful parrotfish.
The clean up crew is going to be the biggest issue. Most non-“Reef safe” fish aren’t not safe because they eat corals, but rather everything else in the tank.
I have a beautiful prange tail puffer that won’t go anywhere near polyps - but I can’t keep snails to save my life.
I have a gorgeous melanarus wrasse - won’t go near coral - but loves to pull hermit crabs out fo their shells for an early morning snack.
One of the 2 ate my shrimp.