it hasn't even been a year since I sold my 30 gallon but the itch is back. I recently moved to facing the ocean and decided to make a tank based on the local beach life. it's an attempt at a room temperature tank. the only technology is lights and an air driven filter that doubles as a refugium. tank is 40x22x20 cm or something like 4.6 gallons. here is my inspiration. a combination of a sandy shore and a mangrove muddy biome. local water temperature ranges from 13 to 30c depending on the season. there are corals but i haven't found any that are still alive sadly. but I'm not in a rush. currently tank is home to a tiny sand goby. two hermit crabs. 6 narsisus snails. and my most recent addition some porcelain crabs I found off a washed up sea pen
wild pico
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- Thread starter xinyan
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Ron Reefman
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Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
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First let me say welcome to R2R!
Keeping a local tank is a very cool idea! I kept a 16 gallon tank with just a small powerhead and a HOB filter. Then I won a nano skimmer in a contest here at R2R! But I used th e small tank as a holding tank for all kinds of wildlife we would collect in the Florida Keys and off the beaches along the SW Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
I've collected shrimp, porcelain crabs, anemones, clams, serpent stars, urchins, sea hares and more off the beach and sand bars. There is more info about our collecting off the beach and while snorkeling (no scuba) in this link: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/snorkeling-collecting-discussion-group.412414/
We find the best beach collecting after storms that wash up bigger volumes of stuff onto the beach than normal.
Small porcelain crabs, young pistol shrimp and very young serpent stars are actually inside soft orange sponges!
If I can be of any help, just ask. BTW, what part of the world are you in? The bay in your photo looks like it has a lot of commercial or industrial development along the shoreline?
Good luck and have fun!
Keeping a local tank is a very cool idea! I kept a 16 gallon tank with just a small powerhead and a HOB filter. Then I won a nano skimmer in a contest here at R2R! But I used th e small tank as a holding tank for all kinds of wildlife we would collect in the Florida Keys and off the beaches along the SW Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
I've collected shrimp, porcelain crabs, anemones, clams, serpent stars, urchins, sea hares and more off the beach and sand bars. There is more info about our collecting off the beach and while snorkeling (no scuba) in this link: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/snorkeling-collecting-discussion-group.412414/
We find the best beach collecting after storms that wash up bigger volumes of stuff onto the beach than normal.
Small porcelain crabs, young pistol shrimp and very young serpent stars are actually inside soft orange sponges!
If I can be of any help, just ask. BTW, what part of the world are you in? The bay in your photo looks like it has a lot of commercial or industrial development along the shoreline?
Good luck and have fun!
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well I guess to update. I ended up moving .-. however the tank evolves with me. right now Im waiting on lights and a heater. I'm moving to a much colder city and decided I didn't want to go cold water. so this tank will just be tropical reef tank but with a few wild additions that I had found in my time here. this city is great to live in but the pay I get in Shanghai means I just about have to go there. it's too tempting and they had a LFS with really nice scollys. officially making the move in two days
new lights to come !
2x 3watt zetlight mini lights 1 blue led 2 white.
waiting on a 35 Watt controllable heater.
new lights to come !
2x 3watt zetlight mini lights 1 blue led 2 white.
waiting on a 35 Watt controllable heater.
Hi ! So you are living in China, greeting from your neighbor, Vietnam 
. I’m setting up something similar to yours but in a smaller scale (30*18*24) hopefully I can make it before Luna new year. Btw, the view from your home is just breathtaking !!!! Good luck on this project. Here is mine:
. I’m setting up something similar to yours but in a smaller scale (30*18*24) hopefully I can make it before Luna new year. Btw, the view from your home is just breathtaking !!!! Good luck on this project. Here is mine: 
hi! your tank looks like it will be amazing. I thought about going smaller but ended up somewhat large(for a pico reef). I look forward to your progress ! you still have time and pico can cycle very fast if you use live rock. good luckHi ! So you are living in China, greeting from your neighbor, Vietnam
Ron Reefman
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Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
Guys, keep the updates coming. I find these very small tanks fascinating!
My 90g tank is now has the drains and returns plumbed, so today is the water test.
After the 90g is operational I'll probably set up the 16g stand alone tank I had set up before and keep it on the same stand as the 90g tank. But the 16g will be for things I collect off the beach along the west coast of Florida or when snorkeling in the Florida Keys.
My 90g tank is now has the drains and returns plumbed, so today is the water test.
After the 90g is operational I'll probably set up the 16g stand alone tank I had set up before and keep it on the same stand as the 90g tank. But the 16g will be for things I collect off the beach along the west coast of Florida or when snorkeling in the Florida Keys.
looking forward to seeing that 16gallon super exciting living on the coast. I h I'mave good news and bad news . good news I got home nothing died while I was away. my two lights have shipped and I set one up to test coverage it's perfect. it's Christmas here though it isn't as celebrated here . now on for the not so fun stuff. I cought a strong cold probably last night but it hit me while on the train. I'm burning up. now on for the worse news. while I was away the light I had fell over on the tank. dending my perfect lid. here is a in progress picture. I'll set up second light later. still waiting on the heater and ato
Ron Reefman
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Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
MAC of SW Florida
Glad you are feeling better! That's a nice Christmas present!
My wife gave me a book. The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands. It's her way of telling me that she's willing to do a 10 day Road Scholar trip there the beginning of August! Eight days of sailing on a 45' catamaran and snorkeling stops on 6 of those days! Yea!
My wife gave me a book. The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands. It's her way of telling me that she's willing to do a 10 day Road Scholar trip there the beginning of August! Eight days of sailing on a 45' catamaran and snorkeling stops on 6 of those days! Yea!
I'm envious of your upcoming trip make sure to take many photos. I'm going to be super busy working all of next year and won't be able to go out and explore. however today I took my last walk on the beach. in the morning during low tide. I collect a cute red macro algae that washed up along with a few snails that I think may be nerites or similar either way they eat algae. I also came across swarms of blue soldier crabs will miss this beach. my photo vs stock image. it's sad I wasn't able to take a good photo they run fast and hide fast when I approach. all packed up for the train ride to Shanghai at noon
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Fascinating build thread! I have enjoyed collecting for many years - mainly in the southeastern US. The few times that I have been in China I remember wondering what fishes were in the water and wishing I had my collecting gear for sampling. The only time that I got to tag along with a local, they caught a bunch of freshwater loaches.
Glad you are ok now, those crabs are so fabulous !!I'm envious of your upcoming trip make sure to take many photos. I'm going to be super busy working all of next year and won't be able to go out and explore. however today I took my last walk on the beach. in the morning during low tide. I collect a cute red macro algae that washed up along with a few snails that I think may be nerites or similar either way they eat algae. I also came across swarms of blue soldier crabs will miss this beach. my photo vs stock image. it's sad I wasn't able to take a good photo they run fast and hide fast when I approach. all packed up for the train ride to Shanghai at noon
I have been super busy last few days and forgot to take a fts or show off the corals. be aware my camera isn't amazing. nor are my lights all blue. but it's nice this way. here is the tank enjoying some morning sunshine. enjoy c:
your tank is looking amazing！ yes we have the same auto top off. I got mine on taobao(淘宝). it's a great size for pico reefs. can't wait to see your reef tank thrive keep me updated! starting with live rock and sand will speed up cycling greatly. can also do the jar method of 100% waterchanges. then it's possible to stock corals.The tank is coming alive !!! Oh ! We have the same auto top off system
I went and got some expensive corals but I love their coloration. went to the best lfs in Shanghai. my tank is mainly LPS. as I like to watch corals eat. and don't care about SPS. it's a tiny colorful stick of static existence. LPS is like nom nom coral
El_Guapo13
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Nice tank. Sucks you had to leave the beach area, but at least you had fun while there. What critters did you take with you to your new place?
