Started a tank straight from the ocean

Sorry if I offended some of you, as I was not aware of any such law. Laws like that vary from state to state and I have not found anything here saying not to take from the beach. This is South Carolina and I really don't think that its a big deal. Living in a state that flies a confederate flag on the state building, I'm sure they could care less if I take a hermit crab from the beach. Laws like that are set in place so people dont do stupid things such as putting a marine hermit crab in a land crab tank with a bowl of fresh water to drink. I am not doing anything to harm these creatures so I wouldn't get to upset about what I'm doing. Also, the animals that I have were RESCUED from dying. There has been a epedemic here of sea life and that is partly why I started this tank. Every animal I found was barely alive and usually laying in a pile of dead starfish or clams when I find them.

Please read the article here:

http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/12/23/2711228/thousands-of-dead-starfish-wash.html

 

Glade to see georgia isnt the only state still with a confederate flag and I agree that they wont care IMO abd iv seen a LFS do alot worse to saltwater animals so as long as you try and do everything possiable tp keep them healthy i dont see a problem

 

Thanks for the info. I will give it a try during high tide to try to get the beneficial bacteria.

 

"somewhat porous" isn't exactly what we refer to as LR in this hobby. That's why I worded it that way. Sure bacteria will live on the surface of the rock, but it's nice porous rock that holds the majority of the bacteria within. Somewhat porus rock may not have enough bacteria to keep your tank stable.

Getting water straight from the ocean isn't the problem with your method of collection. It's WHERE you collect it from. Shallow water is notorious for being tainted with pollutants. It's literally miles out where people usually collect it to maintain a tank long term and safely.

I've kept a local collected biotope tank for a number of years. This is while I lived in Texas as California does not allow such collections in my current area.



----------------
Sent from Tapatalk, so please forgive grammar and spelling

 

You should be ok because ur inverts u listed don't produce much waste....I have a 20 gallon tank I set up froom tide pool critters and beach sand...I did use base rock similar to marco rock.and I used an old skimmer and power head....but u shud be good

 

I am going to say the major part of the ocean doesnt fall under state law that is why the US Coast Guard Patrols it . Im interested in your project just to see how it turns out but dont get caught taking rocks or anything else like that out

 

I started a couple bio-type tanks by collecting with the local fish and game when they do their count also through the marine biology department at the University. I would look into those options as well.

The fines for collection can be very steep and they will enforce it for even empty shells and rocks. Reviewing the local Fish and Game regulations a must. Fish and Games also knows the areas where people collect because of it's easy access and they watch those areas pretty heavily.

Good Luck and happy hunting.

 

The crabs are going to want to eat meaty foods, not just algae.

 

i have seen articles about this in aquarium magazine, only the guy did a tide pool aquarium, it was quite neat he had pumps to pump water in for high tide and drains to drain it for low tide both on timers, the tank was full of algae and rock anemones, very few fish. also i hear octopuses do quite good in such a tank as this is their natural habitat. he had the tank under halides, and the algae was much more colorful than coral imo it was a beautiful tank.

 

as for collection..... what they dont know wont hurt em...... just kidding check the regulations just to play it safe