European rock pool tank

[Alien Anna]

Hi Everyone,
when I was on holiday at the seaside, we explored some rock pools and I got to thinking, has anyone built a rock-pool tank? I was thinking it would be easy enough to get stock (sea-weed and invertebrates) but how would one similate tides? And what kind of lighting would it require? Presumably not as harsh as a tropical SW tank, since British weather is usually kind of grey?

I'm trying to think of interesting, yet cheap projects you see. My other idea is a blind cavefish species tank, like the one I saw in Bristol Zoo.

 

[EddieW]

To do the tides you could use a setup where your normal drain to sump is at the equivalent of high tide, and then have a lower level tube at low tide level. This should have some form of flow restriction so it doesn't drain to fast and an electrical valve so that it can be closed off for six hours out of every twelve.

The return pump from the sump would have to be adjusted such that the return rate from the sump to the tank is SLOWER than the rate water flows from the tank to the sump.

If the valve on the low tide tube is closed then the water will only return via the high tide tube. This would basically give you a max fill. After a period at high tide the electric valve would be opened. When the low tide tube is open water will return via that and slowly reduce the level until it reaches the low tide level.

After a period at low tide the electric vale would be closed and the water will gradually rise until it reaches high tide again and the cycle starts over.

You would need to make sure that both drain tubes are properly covered to make sure that any stock doesn't get sucked down and the sump would need to be large enough to hold the displaced water at low tide, but I don't see why something like this wouldn't work.

CAVEAT - I have never tried this and I am not a saltwater tank keeper so take my ideas with a healthy dose of care. Hopefully someone will jump in and let you know if this is wildly wrong.

Eddie

P.S. posted a very rough drawing in Non-fish photos

 

[EddieW]

Hi Anna,

Was searching on the net for something else and came across this page (pdf) - I remembered thsi thread and thought you might be interested.

It doesn't go for simulating tides, etc. I am seriously thinking about setting one up for my girlfriend's class as she teaches special needs kids and this would be an interesting project for them.

Cheers, Eddie

 

[Great Lakes]

Eddies idea is an interesting one. It would simulate high and low tides.

What it won't accomplish though is the surging of the waves. That is what is the most important to they health of tidal pools, large movemant of water back and forth. This can be done in two ways. first would be a surge device which alternates large volumes of water from opposing directions. This can be impractical at times because the device is generally located higher than the tank itself. The other is to use a wave timer that altrnates powerheads. This is more practical and cost effective, but does not move the larger volumes of water as does the surge system.

On lighting. home reef aquariums do have intense lighting, but even so, this is for corals that are found in 20 fottish of water. So in a tidepool, even in a lower light location, I would say it would still have to be fairly intense. Normal lighting would not be sufficient IMO.

I am sure feeding requirements would be interesting also. Shorelines and pools have a larger macro algae environment to feed on.