Rock from beach

[Linehand83]

So a buddy of mine went to Florida around the Fort Lauderdale Miami area and I told him if he sees any nice rocks to bring some back for me. He brought me an entire 30 gallon tote full and I was curious if people think it would be safe to clean cure and put in my reef tank

 

[Linehand83]

Note all of this was beach find

 

[fish farmer]

If this was collected off a Florida beach it was illegal to collect.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

They look like nice rocks, I would use 'em.

 

[CryptoNautical]

If this was collected off a Florida beach it was illegal to collect.

+1

 

[Linehand83]

Not all of this was beach find, most of larger ones were purchased. Frags were beach fi

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Sorry had to edit

Regardless of legalities, you have the rock now. Yes, clean it off and use it!

 

[Linehand83]

If this was collected off a Florida beach it was illegal to collect.

This is good info for me next time I go to FL. True honesty I didn’t know, I I very much dout he did either…. That being said from a non native to FL.

 

[legionofdoon]

Just make sure it's limestone and not some conglomerate that might have metal in it.

 

[legionofdoon]

None of that looks like beach rock from here.

 

[Linehand83]

Just make sure it's limestone and not some conglomerate that might have metal in it.

My plan is to cure and test water, one piece had rusty tenge to side I didn’t use it.

 

[rocket098]

Those look just like the rocks you will find on beaches throughout the Caribbean. its All good rock but prior to dumping it in your tank set up a small tank powerhead and skimmer. Let that run for a month and you will have great rock for use. You may need to dose some Lanthium depending on po4 absorbed in rock. Otherwise you can hang a light and let the algae grow and consume it. After that you are good to go.

 

[legionofdoon]

Those look just like the rocks you will find on beaches throughout the Caribbean. its All good rock but prior to dumping it in your tank set up a small tank powerhead and skimmer. Let that run for a month and you will have great rock for use. You may need to dose some Lanthium depending on po4 absorbed in rock. Otherwise you can hang a light and let the algae grow and consume it. After that you are good to go.

I humbly disagree. That looks like mined rock to me. The limestone on the beach are more yellowish and typically have some type of life growing on them. It looks bleached as if it was being used for landscaping or decorative construction. Except the four or so pieces directly on the right side of the heater. We also get a lot of natural silica conglomerate on our beaches it will have a grainy appearance and I'm not sure if it will cause diatoms or not.

 

[Linehand83]

Thank you for everybody’s great reply so far my plan is it’s in a tote with fresh make up water and salt. There is a heater. There is a power head in there just quite can’t see it. Lol. Most of the rock has a slight fossilized. Dead coral base look. I will let it run for a couple to three weeks and there is a local shop that can do a full scale water analysis for me and tell me exactly what’s in the water. I just do the basics and it’s worth it for me to take it to them once in a while and pay the three dollars to have them run the full panel.

 

[Linehand83]

Thank you

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Illegal as H, even if it was collected well above the Mean High Tide Line. Years ago you could collect Sea Life Growing on Trash, Glass, Plastic, pieces of old concrete etc. Don’t know if that is even legal now. A little off subject, about ten years ago a Maryland couple picked up a pair of Baby Sea Turtles. Raised them in their home , while steadily increasing the size of their enclosure. Finally they got too big for them. Called the Baltimore Aquarium, they said they would pick them up. Needless to say the Feds came along and they went out in handcuffs. Never did hear what finally happened to the couple.

 

[Jmcg89]

If this was collected off a Florida beach it was illegal to collect.

Everyone says this but I can't find anything that says ita illegal if the rock was dry. Florida's website says can not harvest live rock. If the rock is dry above the tide line how it is considered live rock? Maybe I'm missing somthing

 

[Jmcg89]

Illegal as H, even if it was collected well above the Mean High Tide Line. Years ago you could collect Sea Life Growing on Trash, Glass, Plastic, pieces of old concrete etc. Don’t know if that is even legal now. A little off subject, about ten years ago a Maryland couple picked up a pair of Baby Sea Turtles. Raised them in their home , while steadily increasing the size of their enclosure. Finally they got too big for them. Called the Baltimore Aquarium, they said they would pick them up. Needless to say the Feds came along and they went out in handcuffs. Never did hear what finally happened to the couple.

Where does it say this is illegal in florida?

 

[GARRIGA]

Looks more like rock from a construction site. Good all the same. Better than taking live rock off the beach and getting busted by the Po Po plus don't know of any beaches with rocks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Everyone says this but I can't find anything that says ita illegal if the rock was dry. Florida's website says can not harvest live rock. If the rock is dry above the tide line how it is considered live rock? Maybe I'm missing somthing

I don’t know about any specific location in Florida, but in the town I used to live in (Rockport, MA), town laws forbid removing rocks or sand from beaches, and they post signs to that effect in some places.