Setting up local tank

[jejton]

I went to the local beach today with the family and it happened to be low tide. There was lots of interesting wildlife in the water - killies, shrimp, hermit crabs, etc. - and I thought it would be nice to setup a small ( 10-20) gallon tank with LI Sound species but I know that my basement ( where everything gets kept ) is too warm. Is there a chiller that I could use on such a small tank that wouldnt cost too much to operate? I dont think fans would be enough as the ambient temp in the basement is in the high 70's most of the year and in the 80's right now.

 

[DontXtripNfall]

there are micro chillers.... i briefly read up on them at RC though so i don't remember..

 

[Domboski]

You would need more than a micro chiller to keep the tank between 65-70 degrees. Unfortunately there is no "cheap" way to do it. If the chiller is too small it will not shut off and you'll make a new best friend, Con Edison. You'll have to go large especially since it sounds like you need a temp drop of 10-15 degrees from room temp at times. The Killies (mumichogs) and grass shrimp can take the higher temps just fine. The hermits will die.

 

[jejton]

ok so you think i can put the killies and grass shrimp with my Indian mudskippers? the tank is kept at the ambient ( 78-82 depending on season ) and is already brackish. they are one of the smaller mudskippers and docile. What about the small true crabs we were finding in the water there as well ( 1-2" slightly green or yellow with spots). If I have a chance to go at low tide tomorrow I'll take some photos. I didnt find any 'pods though even though there was plenty of seaweed.

 

[Domboski]

ok so you think i can put the killies and grass shrimp with my Indian mudskippers? the tank is kept at the ambient ( 78-82 depending on season ) and is already brackish. they are one of the smaller mudskippers and docile. What about the small true crabs we were finding in the water there as well ( 1-2" slightly green or yellow with spots). If I have a chance to go at low tide tomorrow I'll take some photos. I didnt find any 'pods though even though there was plenty of seaweed.

You're taking a chance of parasite and bacterial transfer if not quarantined but in theory yes. I wouldn't take the chance though. Your mudskipper may end up dying. The Asian Shore Crabs you are referring to also do well in warmer waters. The pods you will find under rocks that are no longer covered by water at low tide.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

My buddy has this set up in his house ,but he lives on the water so he does water changes with the water from the bay. He's has blue claw crabs, flounder, strip bass, seaweed........ Its real cool looking, and he has it going all year. I know he has no chiller. And I know he has cheap ass filter and just going to the beach every so often might work for you do get fresh new water for a water change.

 

[Domboski]

My buddy has this set up in his house ,but he lives on the water so he does water changes with the water from the bay. He's has blue claw crabs, flounder, strip bass, seaweed........ Its real cool looking, and he has it going all year. I know he has no chiller. And I know he has cheap ass filter and just going to the beach every so often might work for you do get fresh new water for a water change.

Those particular fish you mentioned happen to be able to take the warmer water but also have laws against collection of them unless they are over a certain size: FISH http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/4015.html#12913, CRABS http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/4011.html

• Striped Bass 28" Minimum Size
• Summer flounder 20.5" Minimum Size
• Yellowtail Flounder 13" Minimum Size
• Winter Flounder 12" Minimum Size

"Blue crab size limits.
After June 1, 2006, no person shall possess or land any blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) with a carapace width less than four and one half inches in length for hard shell blue crabs, three and one half inches in length for soft shell blue crabs, and three inches in length for peeler or shedder blue crabs."

I'm not making any assumptions about your friends tank or the size of the species in it but thought best to post the regulations to avoid anyone getting into trouble especially readers of this thread.

 

[e.muehlbauer]

I would not put killies in with mudskippers...they are surprisingly aggressive and adaptable...they will live, but probably not the mudskipper. I'd set up the tank in the basement anyway, and only add those animals that will take the heat. Killies will do fine...just keep them at a minimum, and realize that males will lose breeding color, if they have them. Mud snails will do fine, and you can add them by the fistful. Shrimp will last awhile....hermits for a few weeks at most. Little mud crabs will do well, but they turn into big mudcrabs, (granted, that's still small, but they have strong claws...they are related to stone crabs)which will make the tank uninhabitable for anything in reach. Bank mussels (Geukensia demissus) will also do well for awhile, but only add 1 or 2, otherwise they'll starve. I used to keep a local tank during the summer, with only a corner filter, changing the water with saltmarsh creek water, then releasing everything at the end of the summer. I still keep a local 10 gal. tank in the city...with hermits...temp does drop into the low 60's in winter though. You may also want to consider setting the tank up now with all the invertebrates, but getting sailfin mollies instead of killies.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

By Law You Can't Eat The Fish If They Are Under That Size, But To Breed Them Its Ok.......

 

[JLAudio]

In the next month a lot of chillers will be for sale due to the cooling weather after september, it will be a good time to get a a small 1/15 or /20 hp chiller

 

[jejton]

You're taking a chance of parasite and bacterial transfer if not quarantined but in theory yes. I wouldn't take the chance though. Your mudskipper may end up dying. The Asian Shore Crabs you are referring to also do well in warmer waters. The pods you will find under rocks that are no longer covered by water at low tide.

Are those crabs non-native species?

 

[jejton]

By Law You Can't Eat The Fish If They Are Under That Size, But To Breed Them Its Ok.......

No, to catch and keep them is illegal. The officers could care less if you eat them, stuff them or wipe your a$$ with them. You'll still get fined.

 

[Bob 1000]

Guess what I just threw some local hermits in my reef,,, Oh yeah I just got a 1.5in Black tang also... Water quality plays a big role in the health of your fish... I'm so confident in mines that I'll pour some human Ammonia in my tank... And most of my fish cost over $150..

 

[Mr. Softy]

I went to the local beach today with the family and it happened to be low tide. There was lots of interesting wildlife in the water - killies, shrimp, hermit crabs, etc. - and I thought it would be nice to setup a small ( 10-20) gallon tank with LI Sound species but I know that my basement ( where everything gets kept ) is too warm. Is there a chiller that I could use on such a small tank that wouldnt cost too much to operate? I dont think fans would be enough as the ambient temp in the basement is in the high 70's most of the year and in the 80's right now.

My first tank was a 135gl dedicated completely to Long Island Sound goodies. I kept it for a little over a year without a chiller. No problems with temps occasionally touching 80 degrees. Temp was typically in the low to mid 70's. One night while collecting critters i almost bagged two squid. Those things are fast. Also picked up a net full of baby Spearing to feed the other fish and about 20 of them survived until i took the tank down. They ended up growing to about 2 1/2 inches and became fluke bait in the end. Some of the Killies were beautiful. If you are going to keep those Asian crabs, keep your eye on them. A couple of them escaped my tank and were roaming around my house. I found one crawling up my screen door. Thought it was a giant spider at first. Boy was i surprised when i realized what it was. Also found an eel in my hallway when i came home from work one afternoon. Good luck and keep a tight lid.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

Try the ells & spearing to start(its like damsels and a snow flake),get your levels good. If it does not work in your basement get rid of it. Basements are cool in the summer was is your hot ?

 

[Domboski]

Are those crabs non-native species?

Right. They are consider an invasive species.