Noob Needs Gulf of Mexico Reef Biotope Advice

[MLHoenig]

I'm hoping to be able to replicate a south Texas/northern Mexico reef of some sort.

Working on a deal for a 55g tank...and considering the region in/around South Padre Island (my favorite deep-sea fishing spot)

Noobish questions:

1) Is it reasonable, if an aquarist is just getting started, to visit someplace related to a region which one is planning to replicate and bring home some sand & water?

2) What are some good resources (books, websites, et cetera) to learn about the Gulf Coast flora & fauna?

I'm planning on a slow build...can't break the double retiree family's fixed budget, and we started our NanoCube 29g back in early February.

Thanks in advance!

MLH

 

[Sniperhank]

Normally collecting things from the shore comes covered in toxins...and is illegal.
To get started I would read up from whatever Texas' forestry equivalent would be for the area.
A build like this can be as simple or as difficult depending on what is going into it.


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[MLHoenig]

Normally collecting things from the shore comes covered in toxins...and is illegal.
To get started I would read up from whatever Texas' forestry equivalent would be for the area.
A build like this can be as simple or as difficult depending on what is going into it.

Being a noob, I'm not sure yet what critters I want to put in the tank, other than a "local" reef and colorful fish. Clean-up crew, of course...

Keeping it simple at first, since noobishness doesn't really allow for setting up too complex a biotope.

Probably have to locate a LFS down near SPI, I suppose...

 

[MLHoenig]

Found a pretty good deal on craigslist:

2-3yo 75g w/10g sump with bioballs, 48" LED light (Marineland? Will know tomorrow), return pump, durso drain, all piping & plumbing, for $200, here in Omaha.

Will be looking at it, and probably buying it tomrrow (4/17/15)

Good deal or not? Sounds good to me...

 

[Sniperhank]

Not a bad deal for a FOWLR setup. That light won't support anything photosynthetic, but don't think you were planning that type of reef environment.

 

[MLHoenig]

I plan on upgrading the light as soon as I can afford to...

Late June or mid-July, most likely, since it has to be cycled first...


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[MLHoenig]

Well, it's now drying out in my garage.

Soon as I sell my soon-to-be-on Omaha craigslist 37g tropical setup, this baby's gonna be moved indoors and beginning a few months of pre-cycling -- water only, with whatever's needed for Cu removal. It was a QT for the guy I bought it from...

My aquarium guy says it won't be a problem, but I'm gonna make sure, since I have plenty of time to get into the cycle; budgets just get in the way sometimes...

Hope to have the cycle started by Independence Day...

 

[Sniperhank]

Copper can't leach into glass or silicone. Sand and rock are another matter though.

 

[MLHoenig]

Thanks sniperhank!

Yeah; the more I read, the better I feel about having bought the setup.



Unfortunately, I miscalculated my wife's response; while she's not against the switch from midsize tropical to large marine, I pulled the trigger too quickly for our original plan.



We were going to wait until July or so, but I felt that this kind of deal doesn't come around very often...

<edit> Fell through; not sure why </edit> The small tropical didn't even last one day on craigslist... I have a buyer coming over today (4/19) to pick it up for $75...probably could have sold it for $100 but want to get the space ready for the big guy! <edit> Buyer said only that she's not gonna make it today </edit>