corals/live rock or fish only Please help!:)

Hey guys I was wondering what would be the smartest choice...

My end goal is to have a reef tank with live rock, corals and fish.

I am trying to figure out if it would be easier and less costly to start with either an only live rock and corals tank OR an only fish tank and then eventually add the other.
For example start with only fish and overtime add corals to the tank to make it a reef tank or vise versa.

I am also new to the whole chemistry part of keeping a reef tank and so just thinking about it is overwhelming haha but if you guys have another ideas about how I could make starting the aquarium less costly,stressful ect. that would be great!

 

If you set up a FOWLR first it's likely less stressful, however, you need to be mindful of getting livestock that will be reef-friendly down the line. It will save you money in the long run if you get "reef equipment" at first tho, as you won't want to replace lighting, the pump, etc. You don't need to get all the reef bells and whistles (powerheads, reactors, etc), but do buy equipment that will cross-over.

Set it up as a FOWLR, and once you get the hang of it, you can slowly add a few hardy softies, and later move on to more difficult species if you like.

I strongly recommend do a LOT of reading and research on your own, as it really helps more than being "spoon fed". It also gives you a knowledge base to ask better questions regarding things you need help on.

You should get:

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner

Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques by Jay Hemdal

Here's a good article on QT types /setup (QT is important!):

Quarantine! It's a Life Sentence, not a Death Sentence

HTH

 

Great information. I would add that if you go fowlr, you will wanna avoid alot of species that get parasites easy. Damsels, clowns, and gobies are easy fish to keep. Getting an ich infestation can turn u away from the hobby fast.