I live by the ocean

Tamiescuage · 12/28/2015, 05:07 PM

I live right by the ocean. Is it ok to just put some shells and things from the ocean in my tank?
Cant find a straight answer anywhere.

Sk8r · 12/28/2015, 05:37 PM

In some areas there is restriction on removing things, especially live ones, from the seashore. If it's just collecting shells after a storm, probably no problem. They wouldn't likely hurt the tank, but they'll go algae colored after a very short time, whatever your prevailing algae is. All mine are dark red.

whosurcaddie · 12/28/2015, 05:42 PM

Like sk8ter said check your local laws. You don't want to incur a huge fine for some empty shells.

Bent · 12/28/2015, 05:48 PM

If I lived close enough to the ocean, I would totally just circulate ocean water with a pump to my tank.

davocean · 12/28/2015, 06:09 PM

^^ If only it were that easy!
Even our local public aquarium filters that ocean water as it has contaminants.
You don't list location so not sure what permits may be needed, and also keep in mind cold water creatures don't do well in our warm tanks

ichthyogeek · 12/28/2015, 06:27 PM

^^^^ except that you'd have to worry about parasites, infections, and all sorts of other nasties coming in from the water. Also disparate water temperatures, etc.

OP, depends on where you live. First you have to check local collection laws. If you are allowed to, then you can (but I'd do something to take care of pollutants, algal spores, etc.).

1MP3R1AL · 12/28/2015, 06:47 PM

^^^^^ THIS! So true.

If I lived on an island with the sea a foot away from my tank I'd still make my own water.

Abobis · 12/28/2015, 11:31 PM

I wonder how fish & coral survive in the wild

ichthyogeek · 12/28/2015, 11:50 PM

Because the fish and coral are used to the local parameters. Your fish aren't. And it's not just a one way thing. You run the risk of introducing Caribbean parasites/diseases into Pacific waters (where few things have an immunity/appetite for them) if you change the water in your Caribbean Biotope tank with Pacific water, and dump the waste water back in the ocean.

Ron Reefman · 12/29/2015, 07:02 AM

Wow, you'd think local water was all just toxic chemicals and bad bugs!

Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't use local water either. But it's really not as bad as you are making it out to be. I've been putting 'stuff' from the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys into my tanks for 10 years and I've never had any issues with toxins or parasites. You are just as likely to get them on a friend's coral frag. Maybe even more likely!

To the OP's question, shells that are clean (inside and out) shouldn't be a problem. But it won't take but a few days to a week and they will start to turn green. Take a small glass (like a shot glass) from your kitchen and put it in your tank. See how long it takes to start looking like something you don't want in your take.

Waters40 · 12/29/2015, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abobis

I wonder how fish & coral survive in the wild

In the confines of a tank, fish are not able to "escape" parasites like they can in the ocean. Ocean fish are not stuck in boxes, where the parasites can quickly multiply and overtake anything living.

CHSUB · 12/29/2015, 02:49 PM

i find it "funny" that people from the mid-west advise against using NSW....i've been using it since about 1982.

Abobis · 12/29/2015, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHSUB

i find it "funny" that people from the mid-west advise against using NSW....i've been using it since about 1982.

X2

I have been using it for 21 years without an issue.

Fish & coral come from the ocean!

1MP3R1AL · 12/29/2015, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abobis

X2

I have been using it for 21 years without an issue.

Fish & coral come from the ocean!

Well doggonnit, silly us!

This whole time I thought people grew out corals from the ocean, maricultured them in a cleaner healthier system, fragged them, repeated this process multiple times, and then sold them to me, where I dipped and cleaned them, put them in my system and grew them out and then fragged to others.

Coral come from the ocean! I learn something new everyday on this site

CHSUB · 12/30/2015, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MP3R1AL

Well doggonnit, silly us!

This whole time I thought people grew out corals from the ocean, maricultured them in a cleaner healthier system, fragged them, repeated this process multiple times, and then sold them to me, where I dipped and cleaned them, put them in my system and grew them out and then fragged to others.

Coral come from the ocean! I learn something new everyday on this site

glad we could help.....fyi, maricultured is done in the ocean. i've been to maricultured farms that were 1 mile from shore.

12/28/2015, 05:07 PM	#1
Tamiescuage Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 10	I live by the ocean I live right by the ocean. Is it ok to just put some shells and things from the ocean in my tank? Cant find a straight answer anywhere.

12/28/2015, 05:37 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	In some areas there is restriction on removing things, especially live ones, from the seashore. If it's just collecting shells after a storm, probably no problem. They wouldn't likely hurt the tank, but they'll go algae colored after a very short time, whatever your prevailing algae is. All mine are dark red. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/28/2015, 05:48 PM	#4
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	If I lived close enough to the ocean, I would totally just circulate ocean water with a pump to my tank. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

12/28/2015, 06:09 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	^^ If only it were that easy! Even our local public aquarium filters that ocean water as it has contaminants. You don't list location so not sure what permits may be needed, and also keep in mind cold water creatures don't do well in our warm tanks __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

12/28/2015, 06:47 PM	#7
1MP3R1AL Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: VA/DC/MD Posts: 299	^^^^^ THIS! So true. If I lived on an island with the sea a foot away from my tank I'd still make my own water. __________________ 24X24X12 Mixed : T5 / 13UP lighting \| Apex \| MP10 \| SCA-301 \| WW/CW/UV Sump Lighting \| DIY dosers 20L AIO SPS frag tank : UV/CW/WW/R/B/L/P LED - GONE

12/28/2015, 05:42 PM	#3
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Like sk8ter said check your local laws. You don't want to incur a huge fine for some empty shells.

12/28/2015, 06:27 PM	#6
ichthyogeek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Arkansas Posts: 742	^^^^ except that you'd have to worry about parasites, infections, and all sorts of other nasties coming in from the water. Also disparate water temperatures, etc. OP, depends on where you live. First you have to check local collection laws. If you are allowed to, then you can (but I'd do something to take care of pollutants, algal spores, etc.).

12/28/2015, 11:31 PM	#8
Abobis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 118	I wonder how fish & coral survive in the wild

12/28/2015, 11:50 PM	#9
ichthyogeek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Arkansas Posts: 742	Because the fish and coral are used to the local parameters. Your fish aren't. And it's not just a one way thing. You run the risk of introducing Caribbean parasites/diseases into Pacific waters (where few things have an immunity/appetite for them) if you change the water in your Caribbean Biotope tank with Pacific water, and dump the waste water back in the ocean.

12/29/2015, 07:02 AM	#10
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Wow, you'd think local water was all just toxic chemicals and bad bugs! Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't use local water either. But it's really not as bad as you are making it out to be. I've been putting 'stuff' from the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys into my tanks for 10 years and I've never had any issues with toxins or parasites. You are just as likely to get them on a friend's coral frag. Maybe even more likely! To the OP's question, shells that are clean (inside and out) shouldn't be a problem. But it won't take but a few days to a week and they will start to turn green. Take a small glass (like a shot glass) from your kitchen and put it in your tank. See how long it takes to start looking like something you don't want in your take. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

12/29/2015, 02:49 PM	#12
CHSUB "Certified Hobby Expert" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 2,038	i find it "funny" that people from the mid-west advise against using NSW....i've been using it since about 1982. __________________ Goniopora Police _________________ building a 60"x36"x30" peninsula reef...follow at "NEW TANK BUILD" on reef discussion forum! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110638