First saltwater aquarium

[Aqua 59]

Hi everyone. I will be setting up my first saltwater aquarium soon. I was thinking about getting some coquina clams, periwinkles, and some other inverts. I will be starting my aquarium with natural seawater, sand, plants, live rock, and creatures from a rocky beach called Kure Beach. I do have some questions, though:

• How big of a tank do I need for periwinkles, coquina clams, and maybe some corals and anemones? For my nano reef tank, would a 10-gallon work?
• Does anybody have experience or ideas on good saltwater filters that don't cost too much but are relatively good?
• What animals could I collect in this location besides those already listed? What fish live in tide pools?
• Do you know any places where it's legal to collect interesting corals (no permit), somewhere on the NC coast?
• If I managed to get some saltwater hermit crabs, would they bother any other soft-bodied creatures?

I won't be going till summer, but I want to get everything sorted out before I make the trip so I'm not like "what do I do now?" with my first saltwater tank. I know that anemones are not for un-established tanks but I figured since I'm using natural seawater it would be fine.
Is there anything else I should know?
Thank you.

Jess

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi everyone. I will be setting up my first saltwater aquarium soon. I was thinking about getting some coquina clams, periwinkles, and some other inverts. I will be starting my aquarium with natural seawater, sand, plants, live rock, and creatures from a rocky beach called Kure Beach. I do have some questions, though:

• How big of a tank do I need for periwinkles, coquina clams, and maybe some corals and anemones? For my nano reef tank, would a 10-gallon work?
• Does anybody have experience or ideas on good saltwater filters that don't cost too much but are relatively good?
• What animals could I collect in this location besides those already listed? What fish live in tide pools?
• Do you know any places where it's legal to collect interesting corals (no permit), somewhere on the NC coast?
• If I managed to get some saltwater hermit crabs, would they bother any other soft-bodied creatures?

I won't be going till summer, but I want to get everything sorted out before I make the trip so I'm not like "what do I do now?" with my first saltwater tank. I know that anemones are not for un-established tanks but I figured since I'm using natural seawater it would be fine.
Is there anything else I should know?
Thank you.

Jess

I'm not a expert on natural caught fish and inverts. I'm sure there's laws on that.

#reefsquad?

 

[Aqua 59]

Okay, thanks! What do you think about a nano tank?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Okay, thanks! What do you think about a nano tank?

I think it would be difficult to keep the animals you listed in a such a small tank. Requirements for feeding them would be the biggest.

 

[jabberwock]

I would not use natural seawater. There are too many possibilities for unwanted pathogens and contaminants.

 

[Aqua 59]

Okay, so what size tank would you recommend?

 

[Aqua 59]

Would a 29-gallon work? And what filter?
Thanks.

 

[jabberwock]

29 is a good size. Big enough to help with stability, but small enough to not be overwhelming. I have an all in one tank. It is a 32 gallon biocube. So the filter and pump and lights all come with the tank and are integrated.

 

[jabberwock]

Nano tanks are cool, but are more difficult to manage because of their small water volume.

 

[cracker]

hello Aqua, Go online & look for NC fish & game regulations . You will find all the info You want on what's legal to collect .

 

[lapin]

If you are picking your periwinkles, coquina clams and tiny crabs at the tide pools, ask someone at the pier. There maybe regulations depending on if its a park or protected area. For these little critters you can use natural sea water. Pick up a few rocks off the same beach if allowed. If you change the water often, you might not have to feed the clams as much. They are filter feeders and require stuff in the water column to eat. You will need to supply some algae and pods for your critters to eat. Rocks are prob covered with the stuff they normally eat.

 

[Aqua 59]

Okay, thanks. Do you know what corals would be on in the shallows of a rocky beach?