Cold water reef

[Mschmidt]

Before I figure out how to add a heater to my .5 gallon tank, I want to know from the hive mind what "cold water" inverts would work well in a tank that small. Right now it is at 65 degrees, up to probably 70 during the day. summers will warm up more, mid 70s in the house.

So, what do you have for me?

Pics and gifs of the tank itself.

 

[rmorris_14]

a Lobster!

 

[Mschmidt]

a Lobster!

will it fit?

 

[TokenReefer]

I would consider temperate rather than cold fwiw

 

[rmorris_14]

will it fit?

TWSS

plank!

 

[Mschmidt]

I would consider temperate rather than cold fwiw

Thanks. I don't know where the lines are drawn.

 

[Mschmidt]

TWSS

plank!

 

[rmorris_14]

Thanks. I don't know where the lines are drawn.

maybe that should have been your first question......


ok ok ok Ill behave now hopefully you get some quality responses.

 

[Mschmidt]

maybe that should have been your first question......

Fair point

ok ok ok Ill behave now

Will you though? Or will you just take it somewhere else?

hopefullyly you get some quality responses.
Me too.

 

[rmorris_14]

Will you though? Or will you just take it somewhere else?

 

[rmorris_14]

could be worth looking joining and checking it out if you have FB

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[Bucs20fan]

A small cold water nem would be LEGIT.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thanks. I don't know where the lines are drawn.

The lines get pretty fuzzy depending on the location and specimens involved (some specimens handle tropical to temperate, some temperate to cold, some just tropical, just temperate, or just cold). Regardless, though, there are some cool little shrimp, crabs, hermits, snails, chitons, limpets, and anemones that could all work (as well as some cool corals), and I know one company that sells coldwater micro brittle stars too. If you're up for dosing, you could also do inverts like clams, oysters, mussels, etc. and barnacles.

Some examples you can look:
- Dwarf Teardrop Crab (Pelia tumida); decorates itself with sponges, so it generally looks bigger than it really is.
- Flatback Mud Crab (Eurypanopeus depressus); typically found with oysters and hyroids.
- Broken-back Shrimp (Heptacarpus palpator); omnivorous scavenger.
- Grass Shrimp (Hippolyte clarki); feeds on algae and pods.
- Rough Limpet (Collisella scabra); generalist herbivore.
- Volcano Limpet (Fissurella volcano); feeds mainly on diatoms, cyanoprokaryota, and Pyropia spp. (nori).
- Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea); feeds on algae (it likes Ulva spp.).

 

[907_Reefer]

Following along, been thinking about doing a small cold water tank with nems from our local AK beaches..

 

[Mschmidt]

The lines get pretty fuzzy depending on the location and specimens involved (some specimens handle tropical to temperate, some temperate to cold, some just tropical, just temperate, or just cold). Regardless, though, there are some cool little shrimp, crabs, hermits, snails, chitons, limpets, and anemones that could all work (as well as some cool corals), and I know one company that sells coldwater micro brittle stars too. If you're up for dosing, you could also do inverts like clams, oysters, mussels, etc. and barnacles.

Some examples you can look:
- Dwarf Teardrop Crab (Pelia tumida); decorates itself with sponges, so it generally looks bigger than it really is.
- Flatback Mud Crab (Eurypanopeus depressus); typically found with oysters and hyroids.
- Broken-back Shrimp (Heptacarpus palpator); omnivorous scavenger.
- Grass Shrimp (Hippolyte clarki); feeds on algae and pods.
- Rough Limpet (Collisella scabra); generalist herbivore.
- Volcano Limpet (Fissurella volcano); feeds mainly on diatoms, cyanoprokaryota, and Pyropia spp. (nori).
- Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea); feeds on algae (it likes Ulva spp.).

huge help! thank you. I will do some research. I have some limpets in my big tank, not sure the flavor though.

Following along, been thinking about doing a small cold water tank with nems from our local AK beaches..

That would be cool! I'd follow that for sure.

Also, that reminds me that there is likely something in the Puget Sound that my inlaws may be able to bring out for me.

 

[dennis romano]

Years ago, I did a 5 gallon coldwater tank. Brought home small hermits and a rock covered in mussels and barnacles from the Jersey Shore. Did well for quite a while.

 

[Mschmidt]

Years ago, I did a 5 gallon coldwater tank. Brought home small hermits and a rock covered in mussels and barnacles from the Jersey Shore. Did well for quite a while.

so what I'm hearing is I need a trip to the beach.

 

[dennis romano]

so what I'm hearing is I need a trip to the beach.

Yep. Bring a couple of five gallon buckets and a dip net. Find a tide pool at low tide and have fun.