My coldwater marine tank (Norway)

[bullfrog]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Seems like a great forum this!

Anyways, introducing my 180L (47 gallon) Juwel glass tank. Have no sump, so it looks a bit of a mess. It's been up and running for about 1,5 years now. My first ever saltwater tank, and my first tank at all for about 25 years... It's a coldwater tank exclusively filled with creatures from my own area (Hitra, Norway) that I've caught and picked myself. (I work as a crabfisherman, so I get a lot of interesting stuff in my traps during the season.) Here's a picture of the tank from a while ago.

I ran the thing without a chiller for a long time, and that worked fine enough for the most part, but got a TECO TK 500 chiller eventually that I'm very happy with. Now able to keep the temperature at 15-16C (59-61F), which is good enough.

Made a short video a while ago about the setup that you can see here:


Also made some videos of some of the inhabitants if you're interested in seeing that. They're posted below.

Think I'll keep it relatively short here.. If there's any questions, I'm happy to reply.

There's been a lot of stuff in (and out) of the tank since I first started it, so I'll finish up with a few (lot) of pictures.

 

[HumuhumuFan]

Incredible, thanks for sharing! It's great to see some really unique tanks.

 

[ScottJ]

Fantastic! What a wonderful creation!

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

One of the coolest tanks I've very seen.

 

[Bo.]

I really enjoy your tank! What is your maintenance on it like?

 

[FBAA]

Amazing!!! Very interesting critters.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Wow just wow that's absolutely breathtaking thank you for sharing. Your tank definitely shows theres more to the saltwater hobby than pretty sticks and colourful rock!

 

[Devaji]

nice! I was thinking about a cold water set up for a while. are you part of the FB group for cold water tanks?
fun to see something different.

 

[bullfrog]

Thanks for the nice feedback everyone! Much appreciated!

I really enjoy your tank! What is your maintenance on it like?

Not too bad. I'm lucky enough to live by the ocean, so I just change about 50L of water regularly. I guess about every other week on average. I've been having a bit of an issue with nitrates, so sometimes more often to keep that at bay. I am also having a bit of an issue with algae right now though, as two of my hobbies collided... Had a growlight for pepper plants too close to the tank that really made the algae boom.. Planning on introducing some sea hares soon to see if they will make a dent..

 

[bullfrog]

nice! I was thinking about a cold water set up for a while. are you part of the FB group for cold water tanks?
fun to see something different.

You should go for it! It's a lot of fun! I am, if you're thinking about "Coldwater marine aquarium owners"? It's a great resource for coldwater stuff!

 

[Devaji]

You should go for it! It's a lot of fun! I am, if you're thinking about "Coldwater marine aquarium owners"? It's a great resource for coldwater stuff!

yup that's the one. after doing some research I was surprised how expensive all the critters and corals where + one needed a think tank so I gave up on the idea....for now anyway.

 

[bullfrog]

yup that's the one. after doing some research I was surprised how expensive all the critters and corals where + one needed a think tank so I gave up on the idea....for now anyway.

I see! I have heard that there are pretty strict rules about "collecting" yourself many places, and with the low amount of people into this, I guess the prices will be high. I'm lucky that there are no restrictions here, except for endangered species etc. I'm doing fine with a regular glass tank, but I have relatively low humidity here, so have no issues except for on the hottest summer days..

 

[zalick]

Absolutely stunning!

 

[Tamberav]

Amazing! I have a cold water reef but it houses just nem's and a pair of catalina gobies. I can't get anything like what you have where I am. Your fish are so unique and entertaining!

 

[BeltedCoyote]

Such an awesome tank! Did you paint the back wall blue?

 

[laverda]

That is the best cold water set up I have seen!

 

[bullfrog]

Amazing! I have a cold water reef but it houses just nem's and a pair of catalina gobies. I can't get anything like what you have where I am. Your fish are so unique and entertaining!

Cool! Glad to see there's more of us with cold water tanks here! Catalina gobies are beautiful fish though! I'm curious, do you collect yourself, or buy?

 

[Alanna102499]

Really cool!

 

[Tamberav]

Cool! Glad to see there's more of us with cold water tanks here! Catalina gobies are beautiful fish though! I'm curious, do you collect yourself, or buy?

I wish! I am very far from the ocean so I have to buy.

 

[bullfrog]

Such an awesome tank! Did you paint the back wall blue?

Thanks! Nah, it's a "background poster" that was on the tank when I bought it. Thought it fit in pretty good, so I kept it.

That is the best cold water set up I have seen!

Thanks a lot for the kind words! Really appreciate it!