Ditto what Oriongirl said -- go with dry base rock.... you may want to 'seed' it with some of you local rock - especially if the local rock has some nice coraline algae like mine does...
Thats what I did for my temperate marine tank - a little local granite-based rock to introduce some temperate coraline, and lots of dry base rock -- plus a nice deep sand bed to keep worms and other 'critters' multiplying.
Also, add a good size skimmer if you can -- most protein skimmers will work exceptionally well in colder water (I get many more bubbles in my Berlin skimmer on my temp tank than my reef tank, using the same pump)...
I also try to collect from areas where there is a bit more seasonal temp variation -- usually coastal rather than deep waters, so the animals are more likely to handle temps in the 60's to low 70's...
I posted a small article on this here:
http://communitytank.aaquaria.com/articles/nativemarine.htm
Some of it won't apply to your setup - different fish - but the same basic concepts/techniques will work...
condensation can be a royal pain - some of the local public aquariums go for double-paned glass to fight it...
One trick if you are chilling the tank - you may be able to find cheap sheets of styrofoam insulation at a homeimprovement store or lumber yard - you can silicone it to the tank back and sides to help reduce temp change... also try to use pumps and lighting that won't add extra waste heat (ie external pumps rather than powerheads, lighting with vent fans...)
I put my native marine tank in the basement to help keep it cool and stable year round - at most it hits about 70 degrees...
Thats what I did for my temperate marine tank - a little local granite-based rock to introduce some temperate coraline, and lots of dry base rock -- plus a nice deep sand bed to keep worms and other 'critters' multiplying.
Also, add a good size skimmer if you can -- most protein skimmers will work exceptionally well in colder water (I get many more bubbles in my Berlin skimmer on my temp tank than my reef tank, using the same pump)...
I also try to collect from areas where there is a bit more seasonal temp variation -- usually coastal rather than deep waters, so the animals are more likely to handle temps in the 60's to low 70's...
I posted a small article on this here:
http://communitytank.aaquaria.com/articles/nativemarine.htm
Some of it won't apply to your setup - different fish - but the same basic concepts/techniques will work...
condensation can be a royal pain - some of the local public aquariums go for double-paned glass to fight it...
One trick if you are chilling the tank - you may be able to find cheap sheets of styrofoam insulation at a homeimprovement store or lumber yard - you can silicone it to the tank back and sides to help reduce temp change... also try to use pumps and lighting that won't add extra waste heat (ie external pumps rather than powerheads, lighting with vent fans...)
I put my native marine tank in the basement to help keep it cool and stable year round - at most it hits about 70 degrees...
