Questions & answers.

[NemCrazy]

There isn't much info out there on temperate aquaria. So in this thread ask away. I may know the answer or not know the answer. But I can find it out or there may be someone looking at the thread who knows.

 

[user 26995]

Okay, question....
Considering my pico...display area is 6.5"D x 12"W x 10.5"H
The anemone species will be really little. I am looking at going with moonglow anemone's. Moonglows are a sand dweller. And waratah nems, which look to be more of a rock nem.
How much different is the substrate and rocks for these animals than the typical reef rock we use. Should it be a smoother rock? Smoother sand?

 

[NemCrazy]

Moonglows remind me of my LTA they will bury in sand and lay open. I have some in my big tank also and that's peagravel. They seem to tuck into the cracks of rocks and caves. The next couple of nights are low tide go out out to the beach near you and look in the sand near the water line and you will see many of the laying open just like that. For moonglows I would go with sand. I am sure having a mixed substrate would suit them just fine. Waratah's do like rock. Ive heard they split in captivty also. But I dont know the how's or why's on that. Most temperate rock is fairly smooth faced stone. The rough wall in my big tank has zero nems attached to it though with the exception some aggregating and small plumous anemones. And you don't have to worry about live rock because bio filtration is very slow and very inefficient in cold water. The warmer the water the quicker it gets. A sand bed is more likely to do good. Mechanical and chemical is where it's at though. If it weren't for a huge bag of chemi pure in my media basket my water parameters would not be good at all. I run biowheels in my 45 and 20 and use chemipure and or zeocarb. So I would say sand with smooth faced rock. I got my rock for the 45 from the side of the road at a road construction site lol. I just scrubbed it with hot water and treated the water with prime.

 

[user 26995]

I have pea gravel and 1" smooth rock in my back yard I can use. I think I may need to go with a bigger tank than the pico and with HOB filtration. If the chiller will handle the 20 gal, I will probably go with it.

So tell me more about your filtration on your 20.

 

[NemCrazy]

I have a 3" sand bed in that one. It used to be my bta tank before I upgraded. I left sand and an inch of water in it and put it in my basement where it sat for 3 months. Then I got the idea to check the parameters after seeing a bristle worm wiggling it's head out of the sand. Things were good so I used the water from a water change to fill it and threw of 2 biowheel 20's. I also have macros and mussels in there each helps a little. It's my most stable tank it has a large population of amphipods and copepods. So I don't even feed it. Some of my macros have died back due to various crabs and plankton eating them I may resupply it with macros this week when I hit the coast

 

[user 26995]

I will need to get new lighting for it. All I have right now is a two bulb T5 unit, I think I still have it anyway. I would like to go at least 4 bulb t5.

 

[NemCrazy]

No need for that much light. Two bulbs will do the trick. They are photosynthetic but don't have near the requirements lightwise. I have two T5HO over my big tank and they love it I have other lights to fill in the light without adding par or heat. Is your twenty glass because sweating might be an issue. If you stock it with tolerant nems like your planning chilling it to the mid sixties would help but it would still sweat a bit. Acrylic is great the thicker the better.

Oh and I forgot I have a couple pics from a few months ago

 

[TJL]

Great thread Paul, you really have me thinking on building a Temperate-Water Reeftank now... will contact you down the road for more info I'm sure.

Cheers, Todd

 

[NemCrazy]

I'd be glad to help Todd

 

[user 26995]

The 20 is glass, however I keep my house at about 65 degrees. Do you think sweating would still be a problem.

What temp are you keeping your tank at?

 

[NemCrazy]

Well my 20 is in the basement sitting on concrete and is at 64 or so. And no visible sweating. So if your house is kept at 65 it should be fine. During the summer it was a tough time for my tanks and had sweating. My 45 is sitting at 60 which is great. But it sweats a bit. To bad it's nearly empty. Allright now you have me going I'm cleaning the 20 so I can put in a fresh batch of macros after my trip. Haha love this hobby

 

[C.M.A. Josh]

:boink: please add any you want to our site so we have a huge Q and A on our site!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | COLDWATER MARINE AQUATICS

Great club cant wait to sponsor!

 

[NemCrazy]

Good deal Josh. For everyone just checking out the site, the guys from Coldwater marine are two of the most knowledgable and accessible people in the hobby. It's great to have you here.

 

[1guydude]

Protein skimming? Will the tank sweat during summer in my house?
57def F? Or colder?
I've been scuba twice here. Am I to expect the same scene. Aqueon 8s r kool but I would prefer a bit larger. Specially if I use a cooler as a sump. Stand would look like a petistool.
How do I join coldwater?
Thxs
-d

 

[1guydude]

Protein skimming? Will the tank sweat during summer in my house?
57def F? Or colder?
I've been scuba twice here. Am I to expect the same scene. Aqueon 8s r kool but I would prefer a bit larger. Specially if I use a cooler as a sump. Stand would look like a petistool.
How do I join coldwater?
Thxs
-d

 

[NemCrazy]

Good questions. That aqueon only began to sweat at the bob Moore when it was super packed and humid. So I imagine it might sweat a few days a year. But I don't anticipate it I would imagine a fan pointed at it would dissipate it. And with the aqueon tank you could plumb that chiller into the sump overflow area. Going bigger would be better of course but your 1/15th chiller would not be enough to get a bigger tank into the 50's. I was bringing up the aqueon 8 because you could start now for cheap. I'm a big fan of cooler sumps personally And your Coldwater already lol

 

[1guydude]

Yaaaa. K and skimming? Maybe ill look at those nano acrylics at the psas meet. I best get on that chiller! Maybe a 1/5hp b better.
I'm thinking this will go in my lil girls room... shhhh

 

[Eileen60]

This makes me want to setup a temperate aquarium.

 

[NemCrazy]

It is such fun off shoot of reefing. I really hope you try it. And some of us have discovered a nano setup that puts you well on your way to it, with the aqueon nano cubes and the Chill solutions thermo electric chillers. Let me know I'd love to help.

 

[1guydude]

K question about these thermo probe ice chiller things. Says it needs a controller!
Any suggestions?
-d