Nick Goody

I was down at the beach looking in the rockpools today with my son Connor, and was wondering if it would be possible to set up a little saltwater 5gal tank with sand from the beach, some live rock from the rockpools, and then maybe add a few of the little crabs and snails that live there? I know nothing of the requirements for SW, so any advice would be much appreiciated.

agsansoo

Sure, not a problem. Just with a tank that small, you will need to do weekly water changes to keep the water quality good. Also make sure you have a small powerhead for water movement.

aquarist48

Hello Nick. Sounds like you two had some fun on the beach today. Keep us posted on your progress!
Happy Halloween!
Ken

pepetj

It is perfectly doable. The species found in shore pools usually withstand variations in water parameters that most others won't tolerate. I've made some measurements of a few in the Caribbean basin shore pools (at a moment of isolation) and found both increased and decreased salinity as well as high levels of Nitrates (68-70ppm). I bet a good daylight lamp would suffice to keep micro-algae thriving, adding phyto and zoo plancton preparations should keep your Nano tank going.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

Nick Goody

Thats good to hear. So would I need the heater? The weathers very nice here in NZ buts it's not exactly tropical. And I assume that the rock will act as a filter?

pepetj

The rock and sand substrate become the mayor source of biological filtration. Water changers should take care of amino acids build-up.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

bradisfun

more more more
any updates
hve u started cycaling yet