Rock Pool Aquarium......

[jordank]

Liverock really doesn't have any upkeep. Just rinse it in saltwater in a bucket before you add it to the aquarium. . Sorry I know what youmean by rockpools now. Great Idea. Invertebre tanks are pretty sweet. Do you have any fish stores by you? If so they should have a wavemaker.

 

[mogurnda]

The places I would look at first here in the US would be Flordia Pets and Gulf Specimen. I probably overstated that they specialize, but they carry a lot of oddball marine inverts.

The hardier species would be the crabs, shrimp, and some snails. You have to be careful with crabs, some species will start to dismantle and eat their tankmates.

Sorry about the jargon. I wanted to go to bed and used shorthand, and figured you would ask if it didn't make sense. Here's a little more info.

A good starting size would be 4 feet or longer (I'm going to be lazy and shift back to SAE measures). In general, for access and circulation, it's better to go with a wide, rather than a deep, tank. That's especially true if you want to keep photosynthetic species, like corals or macroalgae (aka seaweed), because deep water will reduce the light to creatures in the lower parts.

Another generality is to have enough circulation to turn the tank over 10-20 times per hour. That would mean pumps giving a combined output of 500 to 1000 gallons per hour (gph).

But you don't want the current to be a steady, narrow stream. Instread, it should be irregular and turbulent. That's what wavemakers do. There are several kinds.

*The SCWD, which attaches to the output of an external pump and alternates the water to two outlets. If you put the nozzles from the outlets in different parts of the tank, it generates nice surgy water movement.

*The SeaSwirl, which takes the output of an external pump and rotates it through 90 degress, giving a sweeping motion. Requires being plugged in, but is very reliable.

*The Hydor hooks up to powerheads or outlets in the tank, and rotates the water stream. I have one in my basement, but I haven't tried it yet.

*Then there are boxes that you plug powerheads into, which alternates their activity and gives surge. Never used them, but I think they're fine.

More than you wanted to know?

Live rock is easy to keep. Depending on the source, it can be expensive, but as far as I am concerned it is essential for a stable, healthy marine system. You can keep a SW tank without it, but it is just harder.

 

[NonSequitur]

Liverock really doesn't have any upkeep. Just rinse it in saltwater in a bucket before you add it to the aquarium. .

Ah. Although I've read in some books from some library that live rock is quite difficult to upkeep; I do know that gloves are essential if handling them as creatures may be lodged in and hitching a ride.

How does live rock survive the trip from the store or from it's natural environment? Does there need to be suitable protection and "comfort" for the live rock? Does it require oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc?

Sorry I know what youmean by rockpools now. Great Idea. Invertebre tanks are pretty sweet. Do you have any fish stores by you? If so they should have a wavemaker.

Heh. Thanks!

I believe I do have a pet store nearby and of course there's the perennial aquariums (that sell fish and such, not those exhibits). However, I am pretty sure they don't stock marine life. I must check though. I will ask them about the wavemaker.

Thanks!

 

[NonSequitur]

The places I would look at first here in the US would be Flordia Pets and Gulf Specimen. I probably overstated that they specialize, but they carry a lot of oddball marine inverts.

Thanks a lot! That will certainly get me started.

What keywords do you suggest that may help me find information Down Under?

The hardier species would be the crabs, shrimp, and some snails. You have to be careful with crabs, some species will start to dismantle and eat their tankmates.

That's where research comes in. Thanks!

If I stock all of the animals mentioned above in the same tank (after research) will they coexist peacefully? i.e. if I want to capture a certain rock pool and find that all animals mentioned above are in the same rock pool. Would I be able to mix creatures from adjacent rock pools?

Sorry about the jargon. I wanted to go to bed and used shorthand, and figured you would ask if it didn't make sense. Here's a little more info.

No worries, mate!

A good starting size would be 4 feet or longer (I'm going to be lazy and shift back to SAE measures). In general, for access and circulation, it's better to go with a wide, rather than a deep, tank. That's especially true if you want to keep photosynthetic species, like corals or macroalgae (aka seaweed), because deep water will reduce the light to creatures in the lower parts.

Ah. 4 feet does sound awfully small though.

Another generality is to have enough circulation to turn the tank over 10-20 times per hour. That would mean pumps giving a combined output of 500 to 1000 gallons per hour (gph).

To simulate tide flows, I gather? Will there also need to be something that simulates high and low tides? I want it to be as close to natural as possible.

But you don't want the current to be a steady, narrow stream. Instread, it should be irregular and turbulent. That's what wavemakers do. There are several kinds.

*The SCWD, which attaches to the output of an external pump and alternates the water to two outlets. If you put the nozzles from the outlets in different parts of the tank, it generates nice surgy water movement.

*The SeaSwirl, which takes the output of an external pump and rotates it through 90 degress, giving a sweeping motion. Requires being plugged in, but is very reliable.

*The Hydor hooks up to powerheads or outlets in the tank, and rotates the water stream. I have one in my basement, but I haven't tried it yet.

*Then there are boxes that you plug powerheads into, which alternates their activity and gives surge. Never used them, but I think they're fine.

Holy! Thanks!

What do you recommend? Any particular ones that you fancy?

More than you wanted to know?

That was beyond my widest expectations! Thanks!

Live rock is easy to keep. Depending on the source, it can be expensive, but as far as I am concerned it is essential for a stable, healthy marine system. You can keep a SW tank without it, but it is just harder.

Where will one procure live rock? Will aquariums (the shops) stock them? How much for a bunch of them? I may need to do so research on what rock pools actually look like below water. Heh.

Thanks!

 

[mogurnda]

Where will one procure live rock? Will aquariums (the shops) stock them? How much for a bunch of them?

I assume your local stores will have them, or you can order it on the web. No idea what it will cost there.

What keywords do you suggest that may help me find information Down Under?

I'm afraid your guess is as good as mine. you might try looking for marine invertebrate collectors, marine specimens, or something like that.

If I stock all of the animals mentioned above in the same tank (after research) will they coexist peacefully? i.e. if I want to capture a certain rock pool and find that all animals mentioned above are in the same rock pool. Would I be able to mix creatures from adjacent rock pools?

That very much depends. Some species coexist very nicely in the wild, where there's lots of room to escape, or other factors, but will not coexist in a tank. Best suggestion I can make is to start putting together a list and researching and posting about compatibility.

Ah. 4 feet does sound awfully small though.

I should be so lucky.

Any particular ones that you fancy?

I have used SCWDs and SeaSwirls. They produce different effects, but I like both. SeaSwirls have been more reliable for me, because SCWDs tend to jam after a while. There is another product, called OceansMotions, that is supposed to take the SCWD idea and use a motor drive to make it more reliable.

 

[Gealcath]

Remember just because some fish/inverts live in the same area as other fish/inverts, it doesnt mean non of them are natural preditors on some native sea life there, which is why its important to first identify what you want and then research them