You can collect cup coral? I am interested lol.

shameless plug: http://ficklewaters.com/temperate-coldwater-systems.html

I am starting a Temperate / Coldwater Group Buy. See the thread here: http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=252643

Thought this would be a good addition to the links page for Temperate resources.

Its an online publication of " Estuaries and Coasts"

Volume 1 / 1978 - Volume 33 / 2010

This journal has been published since 1960. Within these years, the journal was published as Chesapeake Science from 1960 to 1978 and published as Estuaries from 1978 to 2006.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/1559-2723/

Fully search-able and able to download most in a PDF. I easily found a ton of information on Eel grass in just a couple seconds.

What are the main basics for having a cold water tank? What is ideal as far as setup and equipment?

A well insulated tank, either very thick acrylic or dual pane glass.

A good dependable chiller.

Patience....

before anyone even considers a coldwater tank, they should have access to livestock. nothing's more depressing than designing a coldwater-specific system and not having anything to put in it!

for an easy rundown: http://ficklewaters.com/temperate-coldwater-biotopes/

I live in SoCal on the coast close to some really nice tidepool areas and shallow areas. Is it even legal to pluck these creatures from the coast? lol It would be super depressing to get in trouble for doing something I love hahah. Thanks for the info guys by the way..

The short answer for CA is no, its not legal for most things.

Read, read, and re-read your fish and game regulations. There are species you can take, but I dont know them specifically.

In Oregon, we have it pretty good. As long as its not a no collection area ie: marine garden, or research reserve, we can take 10 "unclassified marine invertebrates" per person per day. Makes for some good group collecting trips

if you look, you can regularly find temperate critters for sale at large retailers like liveaquaria.com.
then there are always unconventional means such as lab supply houses (such as gulfofme.com), ebay.com, or even your local fish market.

I just got started on a temperate tank myself about two months back and my advice is the same as aquatic engineers. That dfg regulations book should be your best friend. Also find out if these areas near you are protected waters or not because some places are strictly observe only. Another good place for you to look would be your local bait shops since some places carry live bait.

Yeeah my first post hahahahaha

Coldwater Marine Aquatics Facebook Link

Thought I would add this

If you want you can add me as a source of Pacific coldwater livestock.

I will fully licensed and permitted by the state of Oregon to harvest, transport, and sell native marine fish and ivertebrates as of January 1st 2012.

So if there is anyone who has a coldwater tank that is looking for something let me know.

PS, yes I can get you an Octopus

I just wanted to say thank you to Jeremai and everything he did here. He will be greatly missed, and I just wanted everyone to know how much he contributed to my own coldwater tanks just by gathering the resources here in this thread alone.

I remeber reading through this very post about Coldwater Resources when my lobster tank was still sitting dry in my garage.

Rest in Peace.