collecting reef creatures

[jeffkruse2000]

I live up here in Washington St and collect my own animals from Puget Sound. I loose about one out of ten from the collection process. It's a great way to have a fish tank. Be smart and do research on the animals you want before you collect them and you will be very successful.

See pictures of my tank at http://www.seanet.com/~katrinakruse/

 

[JustinW]

Jeff, that is a really neat setup. I have read some good information on keeping and setting up a cold water SW aquarium. Perhaps some day I will do it. Being a diver, it is certainly easy to collect creatures. Ring topped snails and keyhole limpets would be interesting to keep.

 

[Snowbear]

Wow, Jeff - that's a pretty cool setup. I have 2 75 and 1 55 gal tanks I want to eventually set up as a cool water reef once I get my house built. Stocked with local stuff of course . Plan is to set up one of the tanks as a refugium, one as the main display tank and the 55 gal as a sump. I will most likely need a chiller, but here it won't be that difficult to keep it cool most of the year.

 

[archman]

Ugh, Chillers. I got my department to pony up for one after our lab's 12-year old unit died, and was shocked at their cost. Small wonder cold tanks aren't that common for hobbyists.

 

[Snowbear]

Actually, since at most I will only need to cool a few degrees, I'll probably combine a beer fridge and DIY chiller

 

[jeffkruse2000]

Chillers have come down in price. I have seen some new ones go for $600. A chiller realy is the best way to go. http://www.aquatictech.com/chillers.html I never bought from them but they have good prices.

 

[archman]

Chillers have come down in price. I have seen some new ones go for $600. A chiller realy is the best way to go. http://www.aquatictech.com/chillers.html I never bought from them but they have good prices.

That's coming down in price?! Geez, now I feel great for purchasing ours for only $450. The things are still one of the single most costly components in an aquarium system, actually in my lab it IS the most expensive, by a a factor of three. Of course, I'm a tightwad.

It's all that bloody titanium that's keeping the things expensive, I'd hazard.

 

[JustinW]

I got my chiller for $350 but this place has it for $399,
http://petsolutions.com/Polar+Bear+C-25+Chiller-I-16971399-I-C-1044-C-.aspx

this one is for tanks under 60 gallons, but i'm sure the math could work for a larger tank too, just depends on what the temperature draw down is supposed to be. The arctica Chillers seem to be the better product now

 

[archman]

I got my chiller for $350 but this place has it for $399,
http://petsolutions.com/Polar+Bear+C-25+Chiller-I-16971399-I-C-1044-C-.aspx

That looks like the one we bought last year. The petstore we buy from always jacks up prices 15-20%. Unfortunately I found it to be underpowered... couldn't get a 30 gallon tank to 45 degrees. I felt jipped. Next time I'll order the next size up.

 

[jeffkruse2000]

1/4 HP should be the min for a cold water tank. 1/3 HP is better but it depends on the size of the tank, insulation, air temp around the tank, ect.