Seaweed

[Charlie_11278]

I thought of something bizarre, what if you get seaweed from the beach and put in your tank?

DISCLAIMER:I'm just curious and don't plan on doing this [emoji16]

 

[DFR]

Seaweed is just a common name encompassing all macroalgaes so it’ll act as a form of nutrient export.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Charlie, I live just off the Gulf of Mexico and I bring home algae every once and awhile when we do a beach walk. Some of it the tangs and other herbivores go crazy for and some they won't even touch. And some of it will barely grow in the tank (or refugium) and some of it grows like a weed. Some of it is easy to remove and keep under control and some of it attaches to rocks as it spreads and can be a huge PITA to remove... go ahead, ask me how I know. LOL!

You might want to take a look at the Snorkeling & Collecting thread linked in my signature below. Over the last 15 years I've collected many different plants and animals while snorkeling in the Florida Keys (all legally) and although many don't believe it, I've collected a variety of livestock off the sand while at the beach. In fact, some algae comes home with me and we find many tiny critters in it, from tiny mollusks to tiny crabs, sea stars, sea cucumbers and copepods. And some livestock can be found just lying in the sand all on it's own like the gorgonian attached to this clam shell. BTW, that gorgonian was still in my tank when I sold most of my livestock and downsized from a 120g DT to a 40g cube.

 

[Charlie_11278]

Charlie, I live just off the Gulf of Mexico and I bring home algae every once and awhile when we do a beach walk. Some of it the tangs and other herbivores go crazy for and some they won't even touch. And some of it will barely grow in the tank (or refugium) and some of it grows like a weed. Some of it is easy to remove and keep under control and some of it attaches to rocks as it spreads and can be a huge PITA to remove... go ahead, ask me how I know. LOL!

You might want to take a look at the Snorkeling & Collecting thread linked in my signature below. Over the last 15 years I've collected many different plants and animals while snorkeling in the Florida Keys (all legally) and although many don't believe it, I've collected a variety of livestock off the sand while at the beach. In fact, some algae comes home with me and we find many tiny critters in it, from tiny mollusks to tiny crabs, sea stars, sea cucumbers and copepods. And some livestock can be found just lying in the sand all on it's own like the gorgonian attached to this clam shell. BTW, that gorgonian was still in my tank when I sold most of my livestock and downsized from a 120g DT to a 40g cube.

Woah!! I went to the beach the other day aiming to find some cool stuff but ended up finding a bunch of nerite snails

 

[Ron Reefman]

Charlie, what body of water are you doing beach walks at, and where? I'll admit to being lucky to be in SW Florida where I can find all kinds of cool stuff on the beach. But it has to be the right kind of day to find the best stuff. Down here it's the day or two after a strong cold front passes through and gives us strong westerly onshore winds that wash stuff up from the shallows offshore. I'm sure other locations have different kinds of precursors for a good beach day (for collecting). And you have to know where to look. We find the best porcelain crabs and pistol shrimp inside soft orange sponges. If you look close you can see a couple of crabs I found in this sponge.

 

[Charlie_11278]

Charlie, what body of water are you doing beach walks at, and where? I'll admit to being lucky to be in SW Florida where I can find all kinds of cool stuff on the beach. But it has to be the right kind of day to find the best stuff. Down here it's the day or two after a strong cold front passes through and gives us strong westerly onshore winds that wash stuff up from the shallows offshore. I'm sure other locations have different kinds of precursors for a good beach day (for collecting). And you have to know where to look. We find the best porcelain crabs and pistol shrimp inside soft orange sponges. If you look close you can see a couple of crabs I found in this sponge.

Sunset beach in California that's awesome last time I went I didn't find anything too exiting but if I ever wanted to set up a freshwater I'll know where to find nice rocks( they were odd shaped, smoothed and nice colored)