temperate tank?

moonstream

moonstream

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Nov 5, 2007
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Jayne
I am thinking about setting up an about 29g tank in the summer that houses some of the temperate species that live in the water near my house. I know I need to look at legalization, but other then that, I am thinking that it would be cool!

I was thinking I would take some sand, some rocks, and get a few of the inverts and maybe some of the fish that live there. here are some of the things that are common to come across their.
Spider decorator crab
Small shrimp
Silverside minnows
Snappers
free flaoting seaweed
Small shore crabs
Sea Weed attached to rock

I am thinking I would use 4 75 watt 10K bulbs, and maybe drill the tank for a sump. I plan to use a skimmer, and I will be not be using a heater in hopes to keep the tank somewhat the same temp. as it is outside. thoughts?
 
Should work, but things will definitely outgrow it. As long as you don't use any medications or introduce anything foreign--all natural materials and native fish (RO/DI water is fine, though), you can put stuff back. Otherwise, you'll have to find a place to put those fish once they outgrow the tank.
 
Can't stress enough the "legality" aspect of it... just make sure you look into it and try and get something in writing just to cover your butt. Last thing you want is a game warden giving you a $10k fine for taking an endangered species by mistake.

As for temp in the tank, I would still recommend a heater if it is needed. Research the water temps for your area. Water gains and loses heat much slower than air so while it may range from 40-90 degrees in your yard, it may only be 60-65 at all times in the water. Just an example.
 
Grins said:
Not sure where you live but some temperate tanks need chillers.
Click to expand...

Well, and it being outside will present some bad stability issues. It won't be big enough to take serious advantage of the features Ace25 mentioned. Water has a high specific heat, but such a small amount will be difficult to control. It won't stay nearly that stable. The tank temp itself could range all over the place--the extremes would obviously be stressful, even to tough temperate species. Most temperate seas don't get that cold or hot (and certainly not for long if they do) and they certainly don't fluctuate that much. Honestly, I just noticed the "outside" part of this--I think indoors with a small chilling unit would be the safest deal and would provide the most success.
 
For more info you can google some of David Wrobel's articles (http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquarium...id=3793&search), get his book The Temperate Reef Aquarium, or get Roland Anderson's book (very good) Aquarium Husbandry of Pacific Northwest Marine Invertebrates, or peruse the husbandry info on www.foreshores.net. There's also a good thread on AC: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...ight=coldwater
and some cool info I just found somewhere:
oxylebi.jpg
A juvenile painted greenling, Oxylebius pictus , about an inch (2.5 cm) resting on the oral disc of the strawberry anemone, Urticina lofotensis , in the cool waters of an inlet on Vancouver Island.
Numerous other fishes live in close proximity to sea anemones throughout the world's oceans, but until recently it was thought the Indo-Pacific host anemones harbored the only true "anemonefish" mutualism, where the fish was immune to the host's stinging capabilities. Recent work has shown that in the cool waters of the NE Pacific, there is another true anemonefish (Elliott, 1992). This fish is Oxylebius pictus , the convict fish or painted greenling, of the Pacific Coast of North America. The host anemones in this case are found in the genus Urticina . The fish is mostly found with the strawberry anemone, Urticina lofotensis , but occasionally with other species such as the fish-eating anemone, Urticina piscivora , as well. These anemones lack zooxanthellae altogether and are often predatory on fish, and they possess quite virulent stings. The sting of Urticina piscivora is sufficiently potent to cause long-lasting necrotic lesions on humans.
oxy2.jpg
An adult painted greenling, Oxylebius pictus , resting around the base of the strawberry anemone, Urticina lofotensis at night. The fish is about 5 inches (12.5 cm) long.
 
as much as I would like to be able to do this project, I think I have my hands full with my current tanks, and those I am planning.

so far I have a
29g convict cichlid tank
20g FW tank
20g w/ 20g fuge SW reef

and am planning
10-20g shell dwelling cichlid tank
2.5-5.5g nano reef
2.5g SW fish bowl reef

thanks for the help tho!
 
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