Beach Trip

Tadpole1mil and I inherited a 55gal a few months ago. We've finally decided to make use of it's hollow shell. So, instead of spending $$$ on live sand and what might be expensive rocks we're going to the beach at the end of the week! We're gonna collect lots of sand and rocks and just let the tank do its thang for a while and see what happens. It'll make a good science experiment even if things go awry. For the meantime we'll have a 70gal fluval ;D and maybe a 40 gal whisper filter hang-on if needed. We WILL get a skimmer before we add any fish, don't worry.

Thoughts?

 

You do not want to use beach sand. The shoreline is natures skimmer, and it will be full of wastes.
I would make sure of local laws too before doing the rock. Here in the US, that's a quick ticket to the fed bin.

 

What beach were you planning on going to? What state? Coast?

 

New England area. Our sand DEFINITELY isn't imported. I seriously LOLed at that, but thanks for the concern. I knew someone would think it's illegal, but that's not an issue. Is there a way to "clean" up beach sand maybe? I think we want to try a ceph in the future so the tank will be running for a LOOONNNNGGG time before we do anything to make sure we have no copper traces.

Also, has anyone ever done this?

 

Think it's illegal? Yea, if you tried that down in florida, you'd be getting a free ride in a black and white if caught. Not to mention the pollutants in the sand. I would go buy some sand, aroganite sand at the LFS is generally fairly inexpensive.

 

For some reason I didnt think you were from the US. LOL, sorry.
You can try to rinse the sand really well, but it still may leach stuff. For the $1 or less decent sand costs anyways, I wouldn't risk it personally. Sand collection is ruled via local laws.
Rock, however, is not. That is federal. If you live in the US, it is illegal to take live rock. Period.

 

Then please arrest me now because my red eared slider tank is filled with rocks I've collected from the beach.

 

Are you talking like making live sand from sand I could get at home depot? Live sand around here isn't cheap and rock is just ridiculous.

Oh well, I'll keep everyone posted as to how it goes.

 

A lot of locals don't support taking things away from the ecosystem. When I see people taking things from the beach, I speak up (politely of course!). My father found a star fish in the Virgin Islands while snorkeling and was attempting to bring it ashore to show us (not to keep though). Before he got out of the water many locals, along we me :S, told him that it is against the law and might kill the poor little guy. He didn't mean harm, he just didn't know. Just my story and 2 cents. I'd ask you to not take things from the beach, for the sake of the ecosystem there and your aquarium.