Reefing in Costa Rica?

[David H Dennis]

So here I am in Costa Rica, an American citizen with a new partner, a new house and a new life.

But when I thought of getting a tank, I was expecting to do it when I returned to the United States, with all the ultra-sophisticated dedicated stores you guys have. You know, where you say the word “Radeon!” and their eyes light up, knowing they have truly caught a big fiscal fish on the line.

Here in Costa Rica, I live in a beautiful little house with a killer ocean view. But if I say “Radeon!” to the one fairly close store brave enough to carry salt water tanks, they say “Huh?“. You can use our [brand I have never heard of]. They are very good! Just as good as this ... what are you saying, Radar?

I look up Copepods on their site and they have a little bottle that contains ancient remnants of dead copepods.

Understandably, that just doesn’t inspire confidence.

Hmmm ....

Now you have to understand I am a high-tech guy. Got the MacBook Pro, the iPhone, the iPad, the Philips Hue lights. So of course I am drawn to the Radeon™ and Vortech™ Internet-controlled automated gear like a moth to flame. Despite alarming import duties that probably nearly double the already sky-high price.

But I’m not sure if anyone here has the slightest idea what a reef tank is. Being in Uvita, where the beach is, instead of San Jose, where all the stores of any sophistication are, is a huge disadvantage. I don’t really want to buy my fish and corals from San Jose, which is four hours away on a road with insane drivers and frequent delays.

I’m thinking of getting back in the hobby after many years out of it. I’m interested in at least a somewhat large tank, maybe in the 60-180 gallon range. That big range is mainly because I have a small house and am not sure exactly how much space I can muster up.

I’m still in early stages of my research but considering my location and ability to get equipment I would say a tank with soft corals and fish would be best. I like watching the fish and inverts swim and do interesting things in the tank. I’d really like anthias but think they might need a bigger tank and a supply of copepods I could rely on. I’m leaving most of the fish selection open because a lot depends on what is available locally.

I was wondering if anyone has suggestions as to how to proceed.

Are there any members in Costa Rica who would be willing to help me understand what’s up and how to get started here?

Is there any way to tell anything about the quality of unknown brands?

Are there any reefing stores anywhere in Costa Rica that can be recommended?

If someone wants to sell me a tank, how could I check it to see whether it would be a total catastrophe? Or will it automatically become one if I want to move it?

Am I better off because I won’t hear the pitch for incredibly expensive products like Radeon™, etc, that I would just overpay for in my insane lust for something I can program with my iPhone? Yes, I know I would be very guilty of this. Just consider aforementioned Philips Hue lights for proof.

Finally, just to give this post some eye candy I enclose the view from my house .

Thank you for any ideas, and I hope my post at least entertained you for the time you spent reading it .

 

[AlexStinson]

I am making a big assumption here, but I bet that off brand equipment is just a local branding of the 'chinese black box' lights that people get off amazon here.

Other than that all I can say is a love the eye candy included. I spent some time in costa rica and loved it.

 

[Chrisfish]

Just curious, does amazon ship there

 

[David H Dennis]

Just curious, does amazon ship there

Yes, they do. But coverage is spotty. Nobody’s willing to sell me Radion lights through Amazon, for example. To indulge your curiosity, send me something you use and is likely to ship here through Amazon and I’ll look up the duties for you. I warn you that I don’t think you will like the result ... but it would be interesting to know.

Okay, I thought for a moment and told myself, well, an Eheim heater would be cheap enough to use in Costa Rica and universal enough it would be likely to ship. Turns out I am right. A 300 watt Eheim Jager heater would sell for $29.99 plus “$38.16 shipping and import fees deposit to Costa Rica”. AmazonGlobal shipping is $20.68 and estimated import duties $17.48. They even have a $4.50 coupon, so it would go for $24.99. Plus $38.16, or a total of $63.15. Estimated ship time as of today, October 1, is October 15-November 17.

I shudder to imagine the final cost of a $795 Radion light ... Double it is a first approximation, but it’s likely to be more.

 

[David H Dennis]

I am making a big assumption here, but I bet that off brand equipment is just a local branding of the 'chinese black box' lights that people get off amazon here.

Other than that all I can say is a love the eye candy included. I spent some time in costa rica and loved it.

Glad you liked the eye candy! So many people show off their beautiful reefs I had to come up with something .

Truth is, in terms of cost-effectiveness, I should probably learn how to scuba dive instead ... would be a lot cheaper and probably more successful. But having a cool aquarium is on my bucket list, and with a Costa Rican girlfriend I doubt that I’m going to leave here, ever.

 

[AlexStinson]

Glad you liked the eye candy! So many people show off their beautiful reefs I had to come up with something .

Truth is, in terms of cost-effectiveness, I should probably learn how to scuba dive instead ... would be a lot cheaper and probably more successful. But having a cool aquarium is on my bucket list, and with a Costa Rican girlfriend I doubt that I’m going to leave here, ever.

I would absolutely urge you to get scuba certified. I got my certification while stationed in Hawaii and it only cost $125 or something astoundingly inexpensive for a cert that lasts a lifetime. I'm sure costa rica would likely be close to the same price. That way you can collect some of your own livestock.

 

[Fishy4L]

Hello, are you still in Costa Rica? I’ve been here about a year I’m thinking about getting back into the hobby but going the nano route to start. I want to start with two 20 gallons. Glass is really expensive here I think when I get a big one I’ll have someone here build it but I’ve found some cheap 20 gallons. I’m going to start two maybe keep one for quarantine. Run them for a year 6 months if I can’t wait then try to breed gobies pistol shrimp that’s the plan. I’m going to start culturing plankton copepods everything I can. I want to get to know the Costa Rican reef community or start it I hear San Jose has aquarium stores I haven’t started anything yet maybe a month of two I’m going to bring back filters from the US. I’m not fluent in Spanish and want to make sure I don’t have to wait another year to get the fish. I don’t know how to direct message just joined this forum.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Hello, are you still in Costa Rica? I’ve been here about a year I’m thinking about getting back into the hobby but going the nano route to start. I want to start with two 20 gallons. Glass is really expensive here I think when I get a big one I’ll have someone here build it but I’ve found some cheap 20 gallons. I’m going to start two maybe keep one for quarantine. Run them for a year 6 months if I can’t wait then try to breed gobies pistol shrimp that’s the plan. I’m going to start culturing plankton copepods everything I can. I want to get to know the Costa Rican reef community or start it I hear San Jose has aquarium stores I haven’t started anything yet maybe a month of two I’m going to bring back filters from the US. I’m not fluent in Spanish and want to make sure I don’t have to wait another year to get the fish. I don’t know how to direct message just joined this forum.

As far as copepods are concerned just get some wild live rock if it's legal there and it'll most likely have hitchhiker pods on it for you to start a culture...here in BKK we're pretty limited in that aspect as well but real live rock can take care of a lot in that regard

 

[1ocean]

Yes, they do. But coverage is spotty. Nobody’s willing to sell me Radion lights through Amazon, for example. To indulge your curiosity, send me something you use and is likely to ship here through Amazon and I’ll look up the duties for you. I warn you that I don’t think you will like the result ... but it would be interesting to know.

Okay, I thought for a moment and told myself, well, an Eheim heater would be cheap enough to use in Costa Rica and universal enough it would be likely to ship. Turns out I am right. A 300 watt Eheim Jager heater would sell for $29.99 plus “$38.16 shipping and import fees deposit to Costa Rica”. AmazonGlobal shipping is $20.68 and estimated import duties $17.48. They even have a $4.50 coupon, so it would go for $24.99. Plus $38.16, or a total of $63.15. Estimated ship time as of today, October 1, is October 15-November 17.

I shudder to imagine the final cost of a $795 Radion light ... Double it is a first approximation, but it’s likely to be more.

perhaps finding some used radions on line? or invite someone from the US and tell them they can come visit. and bring you new radions in there luggage? haha

 

[Fishy4L]

As far as copepods are concerned just get some wild live rock if it's legal there and it'll most likely have hitchhiker pods on it for you to start a culture...here in BKK we're pretty limited in that aspect as well but real live rock can take care of a lot in that regard

Thank you. Once I start I might have to quarantine some live rock. I’m starting very small and very slow I got one of those Aphrodite worms in the past almost drove me insane I knew I saw it. Started out tiny could barely see it knew it was eating my coral when I broke the dank down it was big beautiful but that’s what ended my coral days. I had it in my tank for at least a year before I broke it down.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Thank you. Once I start I might have to quarantine some live rock. I’m starting very small and very slow I got one of those Aphrodite worms in the past almost drove me insane I knew I saw it. Started out tiny could barely see it knew it was eating my coral when I broke the dank down it was big beautiful but that’s what ended my coral days. I had it in my tank for at least a year before I broke it down.

I think that's pretty rare (not trying to belittle your concerns of course though) so I would go ahead with the live rock and maybe after QT that tank can become your pod culture tank