Anybody Keeping a Temperate Tank?
 

Am considering setting up a 90 gal temperate tank to house captive bred pot bellied seahorses (H. abdominalis). One thing for sure is that we will need a chiller if we actually decide to set up this tank :eek:

Would like to know if anyone keeps a temperate tank and what kinds of snails, shrimp, macroalgae can withstand temps of 67-69 F? Will Fiji or other tropical LR be suitable for such a tank?

TIA.

Hello Beverly,
I think asking someone from Vancouver Island to go collecting at low tide for you might give you some interesting critters. They can box it up, and send it. most of the tidal zone species are very tolerant of high temperatures.
This would be a suitable set-up for Catalina Gobies (Lythrypnus dallias) as well. The live rock will be fine, as many marine algae. You will probably have reduced growth rate due to the lower temp. Most inverts with the exception of corals and anemones should tolerate this temp, but a little experimenting will be necessary.

You might think about live rock from the Florida area as the ocean temps are a little cooler especially in winter. I have found good information on cooler water setups to be pretty sparse at best so if you come across any good information sources please let me know.

I have been considering a cold water reef with pacific coast animals but the cost of the chiller has put this project off.

The chiller may be expensive but the animals are almost free if you travel to the coast.
One note to remember when designing a temperate tank is to use thicker glass or preferable acrylic to insulate the tank and reduce "sweating" condensation on the outside of the tank which can ruin the appearance of your display.

Van, my understanding is there are regulations regarding what you can take from local waters....I could be wrong, but I'd need to know before harvesting any critters.

That is correct Brad,
but I think a blind eye is turned to personal use collecting of small amounts. A fisheries officer may ask you to have a regular fishing license.

You don't see them arresting kids for bringing home shore crabs.
I believe that those regulations are more in place to prevent wholesale/commercial collection.
A local dive shop might have a better answer, and easier than trying to contact fisheries as they may just say no rather than actually look into it.

I have wanted to get into a tank like this too, but the wife has set the limit for one tank in this house. I agree right now. I would suspect you would want to insulate 3 sides of the tank and maybe get a double front to keep the heat out and the cool in and control the condensation on the glass. Let me know how you make out.

Lee

I'd be somewhat leery about putting "interesting critters" in with captive bred seahorses. Am currently trying to trap a few hitchhiker crabs out of my tropical 42 gal reef. Thanks for the thought, though :smile:

I've got a sub-tropical captive bred H. whitei tank going where temps stay about 73-74 F. When tank temps rise, I turn on the AC and pop several saltwater ice cubes into their tank to lower temps. Astrea, cerith and nassarius snails, as well as three peppermint shrimp, are doing very well at these temps.

But temperate temps are quite a bit lower, so I'm a little concerned to be without a good clean up crew. Wouldn't like to go to all that expense only to find that I couldn't have a clean up crew :eek:

Good point, Van. However, we have AC to keep ambient room temps low enough for our H. whitei tank which stays at about 73-74 F, occasionally up to 76 F. In this instance, where ambient room temps will stay relatively low compared to a non-AC ambient environment, do you think condensation would be much of a problem?

Where in Canada will I get Florida rock?


Here's info Google found for me (in order of usefulnes):

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cold.htm

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/reference/as11.asp
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/reference/as12.asp

http://aolsvc.petplace.aol.com/Artic...asp?artID=2411

http://www.vincentps.sa.edu.au/salt_water_aquariums.htm