Cold water reef

Mschmidt

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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.
 
TWSS

plank!
Batman Facepalm GIF by WE tv
 
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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.).
 
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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.. :thinking-face:
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.
 
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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.
 
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