Collecting from the beach?

[OpenOcean33]

So I live in south Florida, about a five minute walk from the beach. I have collected some beautiful shells that my hermits now moved into. I was wondering has anyone else collected anything from the beach for their reef tank? I alway see macro algae floating around and other cool stuff id like to collect, However, I don't as I get nervous of introducing parasites or other unwanted things into my tank. However I always wondered what would happen if I took a scoop of wet sand and put it in for biodiversity. I was wondering if you do this and what your experiences were or are?

 

[wesman42]

So I live in south Florida, about a five minute walk from the beach. I have collected some beautiful shells that my hermits now moved into. I was wondering has anyone else collected anything from the beach for their reef tank? I alway see macro algae floating around and other cool stuff id like to collect, However, I don't as I get nervous of introducing parasites or other unwanted things into my tank. However I always wondered what would happen if I took a scoop of wet sand and put it in for biodiversity. I was wondering if you do this and what your experiences were or are?

Well, they package mud and sell it from Fiji, and it helped me suppress dinoflagellates. It did wonders for my biodiversity.

So honestly I think it's a splendid idea in theory, but it might not be legal. I'd double check the laws in your area before removing anything from it's natural habitat...including sand.

 

[OpenOcean33]

Well, they package mud and sell it from Fiji, and it helped me suppress dinoflagellates. It did wonders for my biodiversity.

So honestly I think it's a splendid idea in theory, but it might not be legal. I'd double check the laws in your area before removing anything from it's natural habitat...including sand.

I would have to look into the laws.. I know for shelling its no live shells .. obviously.. but not sure about the algae cause it just floats up the shore and drys out... Im in Florida so I would have to look into this.. However, we did have a huge red tide (dinoflagellate) out break last year .. actually it occurs every year but last year was just very bad that something that makes me a little nervous lol. The funny thing is I am fighting Dinos and using the sand was my exact thought lol. If there are no laws against I will have to maybe do an experiment in. breeder tank before adding it to the real tank.

 

[cracker]

I'm in North Florida& have gone thru the regulations carefully. It doesn't say anything about sand.
Are You on the east or west coast? If on the east,you most likely see Sargasso weed. Also no mention in the regs.
I fon the gulf side I don't know but no mention in the regs.
I think collecting sand for biodiversity is a great idea . I do the same . Youmay get some pods also if You collect some inland during "clean, high tide" sand would be better.

 

[OpenOcean33]

I'm in North Florida& have gone thru the regulations carefully. It doesn't say anything about sand.
Are You on the east or west coast? If on the east,you most likely see Sargasso weed. Also no mention in the regs.
I fon the gulf side I don't know but no mention in the regs.
I think collecting sand for biodiversity is a great idea . I do the same . Youmay get some pods also if You collect some inland during "clean, high tide" sand would be better.

I'm in south Florida in the west coast, I was at the beach today and saw everything from red, brown, and green macro alage.. I cant identify it personally and sand I thinkni found a good spot to collect if I decide to honestly it's only a cup full. But shells for my hermits was my mission I have olive shells, conch shells, alphabet shells everything lol they love the new shelss

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Does this help? https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-beachcomber.554/

You might get some other things if you scoop sand from where the waves wash up, you might get a mole crab and I'd be willing to bet you'd get an awful lot of coquina clams! also be wary of the larger things... During my last trip to Sanibel and Captiva I saw a 8-10 inch mantis shrimp swimming around the dock light and when I was going through a shrimp bucket my mother found a drift one of them was not like the others... I forgot you have pistol shrimp down there...

My hermit crab lives in a tiny fighting conch I found on Captiva beach, my brother is really into shelling so my crabs are spoiled for choice

 

[OpenOcean33]

Does this help? https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-beachcomber.554/

You might get some other things if you scoop sand from where the waves wash up, you might get a mole crab and I'd be willing to bet you'd get an awful lot of coquina clams! also be wary of the larger things... During my last trip to Sanibel and Captiva I saw a 8-10 inch mantis shrimp swimming around the dock light and when I was going through a shrimp bucket my mother found a drift one of them was not like the others... I forgot you have pistol shrimp down there...

My hermit crab lives in a tiny fighting conch I found on Captiva beach, my brother is really into shelling so my crabs are spoiled for choice

This looks like a great read thank you ! And captiva and sanibel is just around the corner from me.. I like to kyack the 10 thousand island alot of deserted beaches with great shelling and water appears a bit cleaner and nicer

 

[OpenOcean33]

This looks like a great read thank you ! And captiva and sanibel is just around the corner from me.. I like to kyack the 10 thousand island alot of deserted beaches with great shelling and water appears a bit cleaner and nicer

Oh an coquina clams are ever 2cm lol you can get thousands of those buggers. I didnt k ow we had mantis shrimp tho but makes scense they like mangrove areas

 

[cracker]

@OpenOcean 33 the 10 thousands would be an excellent place to collect sand !

 

[OpenOcean33]

@OpenOcean 33 the 10 thousands would be an excellent place to collect sand !

I feel like it's less polluted and untouched by people lol

 

[cracker]

I totally agree ! Did some fishing several times stayed in Ever Glades city. Very clean & pristine.

 

[chris85]

https://marsh-reef.org/index.php?threads/almost-that-time-of-year.50028/page-69#post-490336

https://www.reef2reef.com/posts/5872568/

 

[Paul B]

I have been doing that since I was born. Ok, since I could crawl. And I am ancient. I don't worry about parasites, they worry about me more.

 

[Steve1500]

What is the best way to transport a small amount of sand? I will be in FL next month and I would like to take a small amount with me? Can you get through TSA with a small plastic bag of sand and some seawater? I will be in the Largo/Clearwater area...any suggestions on where to collect?

 

[Dom]

I keep a tank of everything that is indigenous to my area. I will move snails and crabs from that tank to others, but not without a long QT period.

 

[link81]

i'll be taking the family down to florida next month. will have to look into the regs and figure out what i can and cannot take back with me. I'll be driving, so TSA wont be an issue. just need to convince the SO to let me bring a bucket down... lol

 

[OpenOcean33]

What is the best way to transport a small amount of sand? I will be in FL next month and I would like to take a small amount with me? Can you get through TSA with a small plastic bag of sand and some seawater? I will be in the Largo/Clearwater area...any suggestions on where to collect?

what's a small amount? it would probably have to be with in TSA fluid size restriction if its water... if its sand... a ziplock bag of wet sand maybe or mason jar but that may beak... I've never though of this before.

 

[OpenOcean33]

i'll be taking the family down to florida next month. will have to look into the regs and figure out what i can and cannot take back with me. I'll be driving, so TSA wont be an issue. just need to convince the SO to let me bring a bucket down... lol

Yeah if not just "accidentally" fill those bathing suit pockets with sand and throw it in the luggage lol

 

[cracker]

Ship a box to your self. in well tied
bag with sand & a little water.
@Steve1500 Any of the causeways to the beach would be a good place to collect some sand.
Once upon a time I used beach sand for a sand beds but Paul B inspired me to collect silty sand from inland waters for biodiversity.

 

[OpenOcean33]

Ship a box to your self. in well tied
bag with sand & a little water.
@Steve1500 Any of the causeways to the beach would be a good place to collect some sand.

Also I would like to add, try an area that's not near a big city, as not sure your location, you don't want all that pollution in your tank if your collecting water. Just my 2 cents on that one.