Is anyone running a cold water setup? I was reading an article about them and I have to admit it sort of intrigues me. One thing that really got me was that the article states that lighting is not important to the cold water species. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this.
Cold Water Setup?
- Thread starter stephish
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Tomoko Schum
New member
Are you talking about fish only setup? How cold is cold? Corals must be out of question in "cold" water.
I know that an abortive migration happens every year in the middle to southern part of Japan, but most of the fish and corals die in the fall. They are just washed over to the northern parts by the strong Koroshio current that comes up from the far south.
However, I saw some picture of corals surviving in middle part of Japan, which is not considered tropical at all. Here's an English article featuring Kushimoto Marine Park there. You can see the pictures of some corals surviving in the park (outdoor) there. I used to live in Kobe which is not too far from there. The winter there is hardly considered warm. If this qualifies as cold water, I suppose it's doable. As far as light is concerned, I have no idea.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens210.htm
Tomoko
I know that an abortive migration happens every year in the middle to southern part of Japan, but most of the fish and corals die in the fall. They are just washed over to the northern parts by the strong Koroshio current that comes up from the far south.
However, I saw some picture of corals surviving in middle part of Japan, which is not considered tropical at all. Here's an English article featuring Kushimoto Marine Park there. You can see the pictures of some corals surviving in the park (outdoor) there. I used to live in Kobe which is not too far from there. The winter there is hardly considered warm. If this qualifies as cold water, I suppose it's doable. As far as light is concerned, I have no idea.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens210.htm
Tomoko
NicoleC
New member
There are plenty of temperate and cold water corals, but you won't find them for sale in the trade.
The only folks I have known who have run cold water setups have done so specifically for the divine Catalina Goby -- which, alas, you DO find in the trade sold as a tropical fish instead of the temperate fish that it is.
Lighting would or would not be an issue based on the specific species kept. The temperate waters off the coasts of CA for example get tons of sun, but the water is still pretty cold. Deep and very cold water corals like off the coast of Alaska need very little light.
A serious chiller, however, would not be an option!
The only folks I have known who have run cold water setups have done so specifically for the divine Catalina Goby -- which, alas, you DO find in the trade sold as a tropical fish instead of the temperate fish that it is.
Lighting would or would not be an issue based on the specific species kept. The temperate waters off the coasts of CA for example get tons of sun, but the water is still pretty cold. Deep and very cold water corals like off the coast of Alaska need very little light.
A serious chiller, however, would not be an option!
Tomoko Schum
New member
I normally think of deep sea corals when cold water corals is mentioned. I have seen a few pictures of pretty ones, but I'd imagine their temperature range (4 to 12 degrees C) along with their non-photo synthetic nature (requires feeding) makes it pretty difficult to keep in a home aquarium.
Inland sea of Japan (temperate water) has quite a few beautiful fish. Various gorgeously colored wrasses are common catch there. (They taste great, too
) Flasher wrasses are thrown back to sea since they are too small to eat. Small red rock fish that looks like Squirrel fish is common as well. In the Pacific side, we see schools of Apogons (cardinal fish such as blue eyes and yellow stripes, etc.) and other ornamental fish among some tropical ones that accidentally end up in the area. I suppose these colorful fish that live in temperate regions can tolerate a pretty low temperature and therefore they may be good candidates for a cold water aquarium. Then again, you may need a chiller to keep the water in low 70's.
Tomoko
Inland sea of Japan (temperate water) has quite a few beautiful fish. Various gorgeously colored wrasses are common catch there. (They taste great, too
) Flasher wrasses are thrown back to sea since they are too small to eat. Small red rock fish that looks like Squirrel fish is common as well. In the Pacific side, we see schools of Apogons (cardinal fish such as blue eyes and yellow stripes, etc.) and other ornamental fish among some tropical ones that accidentally end up in the area. I suppose these colorful fish that live in temperate regions can tolerate a pretty low temperature and therefore they may be good candidates for a cold water aquarium. Then again, you may need a chiller to keep the water in low 70's.Tomoko
NicoleC
New member
I don't think the true deep sea cold water corals can be casually kept for long. I think Ron Shimek kept a cold water tank for a while, since he does a lot with cold water anemones he may be a good resource for general questions about the viability of such a tank.
Occasionally you see old lobster tanks for sale, the ones used by grocery stores and restaurants. They aren't pretty, but they have big industrial chillers in them.
Occasionally you see old lobster tanks for sale, the ones used by grocery stores and restaurants. They aren't pretty, but they have big industrial chillers in them.
Steve Weast the owner of the Oregon Reef has a cold water setup, it is VERY nice, it has an average temp of 55 degrees and can be found here
http://oregonreef.com/sub_coldwater.htm
http://oregonreef.com/sub_coldwater.htm
Tomoko Schum
New member
Thank you for posting the link to Steve Weast's website. I completely overlooked his cold water tanks. I love the gorgonians in these tanks. A friend of mine in Japan has a thriving gorg tank that I love to have. To her husband dismay, it is plumbed into a sump of his mixed reef. :eek2: He cringes every time she talks about feeding her tank 
Tomoko
Tomoko
What i've read so far is an average temp of 45-55 F and the article lists a couple of sites that sell fish and corals. Sounds like the expense of this type of setup is in the tank, either very thick acrylic or double walled glass to keep the condensation to a minimum. Also talks about probes to keep the water temps down. Definitely sounds challenging!!
There's an outfit up in Maine that sells quite a few specimens and even has a list of what "season" they are available. Very interesting.
There's an outfit up in Maine that sells quite a few specimens and even has a list of what "season" they are available. Very interesting.
8BALL_99
New member
IMO the biggest killer is you can't really get livestock. Steve's tanks are nice, But if you haven't knoticed by looking at his reef tank he puts a ton of time and cash into his setup. So going that he did you can do it to might not be the case lol. From what I understand he goes diving often and has several friends that do the same.. I'm sure that helped him stock his tank.
It would be something different though. Maybe you could talk red lobster into selling you one of their holding tanks.. I'm pretty sure they keep them down around 55-60f
It would be something different though. Maybe you could talk red lobster into selling you one of their holding tanks
.. I'm pretty sure they keep them down around 55-60fYou must have read the FAMA article... too short, but cool to hear more about temperate stuff for a change. I must say, though, that I agree with a couple others who felt that the author kind of exaggerated the likelihood of condensation-- this rarely seems to be a problem, especially with acrylic tanks. Anyway, there is also an outfit on the West Coast that offers coldwater marines... www.foreshores.net. There are a couple of others overseas that you can search for, but I cannot remember the site names offhand. Temperate marine aquaria are certainly not known for being difficult to maintain, but you almost certainly will have to invest in a good chiller (instead of lighting?) and plan on heavy, regular feedings (which might take up more time but definitely is enjoyable). Best of luck...
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