Complete Shopping List Marine FOWLR SGD 1800 Guide: Beginner Reef
FOWLR — Fish Only With Live Rock — is the rational entry point into marine aquariums for first-time saltwater keepers in Singapore. Skipping coral cuts the lighting budget in half and removes most parameter chasing, while still letting you keep marine fish in proper biotope conditions. The complete shopping list fowlr below covers a 75cm marine setup at SGD 1800 with everything from tank to first fish. This cart from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park is the same build we set up for customers transitioning from freshwater who want marine fish without committing to full reef expense.
Tank and Stand: SGD 500
A 75cm marine-rated tank with overflow and small sump (75x45x50cm, roughly 150 litres) at SGD 380-450 from the aquarium tank range. Marine tanks need slightly thicker glass and quality silicone — verify rim and seal quality before buying second-hand. Add a small marine sump at SGD 80-120 (often included with marine-spec tanks). Stand: SGD 100-150 metal frame. Total SGD 500.
Skimmer: SGD 280
The Bubble Magus Curve 5 at SGD 280-340 from the protein skimmer range rates for tanks up to 250 litres — sized correctly for a 150-litre FOWLR with moderate stocking. The skimmer is non-negotiable in marine even for FOWLR — protein removal is what allows higher stocking density without nitrate spiral. Total SGD 280.
Lighting: SGD 100
FOWLR is the reason this build sits at SGD 1800 instead of SGD 2500 — you can use a basic blue/white marine LED at SGD 80-130 instead of a Kessil or AI Hydra. The fish do not need 250 PAR; they need decent visibility with marine-blue accents. Allocate SGD 100. If you upgrade to FOWLR-with-LPS later, swap to a proper reef LED at that point.
Powerhead: SGD 100
A single Jebao MOW-9 or similar variable-flow powerhead at SGD 80-120 provides display flow on a 75cm tank. Marine fish need 10-20x tank turnover for proper gas exchange. Avoid budget no-brand powerheads — bearing failure floods the tank and shorts electrics. Browse the wave maker range. Total SGD 100.
Auto Top-Off: SGD 150
Saltwater evaporation in Singapore averages 1-2 litres per day on a 150-litre tank. Manual top-off causes salinity drift, which stresses fish over weeks. The XP Aqua Duetto with dual sensors at SGD 140-180 is the safety standard. Pair with a 5-litre RO container as freshwater reservoir. Total SGD 150.
Salt and Rock: SGD 200
One bucket Tropic Marin Pro Reef or Red Sea Coral Pro at SGD 110-130 from the marine salt range mixes 200 litres for fill and 4-6 months of changes. Live rock or dry rock: 8-12kg at SGD 6-12/kg gives biological filtration and aesthetic structure. Aragonite sand: 9kg at SGD 30-50. Total SGD 200.
RODI and Test: SGD 250
RO/DI is mandatory — Singapore tap chloramine is fatal to marine livestock. A 4-stage RO/DI unit at SGD 200-280. Marine test kits — Salifert basic (Ca, Alk, pH, NO3, NO2, NH3) at SGD 100-130, or budget API saltwater master kit at SGD 60-80. A glass refractometer SGD 30-45. Browse the test kit range. Total SGD 250.
Heater, Conditioner and Food: SGD 80
A 100W marine-rated heater at SGD 30-45. Marine water conditioner (only for fresh tap during emergency) at SGD 15-25. Marine fish food (frozen mysis tray, marine flake, sinking pellets) at SGD 25-40. Total SGD 80.
Initial Livestock: SGD 140
Beginner FOWLR stocking: 1 pair of Ocellaris Clownfish (SGD 30-50 per pair), 1 Yellow-Tail Damsel (SGD 18-25), 1 Royal Gramma (SGD 50-70), and a basic CUC of 5 Nassarius snails and 3 hermit crabs (SGD 15-25). Stock gradually over 6-8 weeks after cycling. Total SGD 140.
Budget Summary: Where the SGD 1800 Goes
Tally: tank/stand SGD 500, skimmer SGD 280, light SGD 100, powerhead SGD 100, ATO SGD 150, salt/rock SGD 200, RODI/test SGD 250, heater/food SGD 80, livestock SGD 140 — total SGD 1800. Where to splurge: skimmer and ATO (failure costs livestock). Where to save: light (FOWLR doesn’t need reef-grade), use dry rock instead of live, defer RODI by buying water from local LFS at SGD 1.50/litre while saving. The big upgrade path: add a quality reef LED later (SGD 580-880) and shift to LPS-friendly mixed reef. Pair with stable salinity using a calibrated refractometer.
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Drop by Gensou Aquascaping — most walk-in questions get answered in under 10 minutes by someone who has set up hundreds of tanks.
5 Everton Park #01-34B, Singapore 080005 · Open daily 11am – 8pm
