Same live rock properties??

[alexmir]

I live in houston texas, 30 minutes away from the coast of Mexico (Galveston). The water here is not clear and beautiful like the ocean in florida or tropical destinations, but is still saltwater, and is still the ocean. It is very silty and brown. Would the rock collected from the water here Have the same benefits of live rock bought from a store.
I know it would not be coraline covered, and probably not as beneficial, but it would still have very tiny marine life and bacteria growing in it. I plan on QT it for at least 3-4 weeks. Im thinking it would be great base rock, and still benefit my DT.

 

[jonthefishguy]

There are many things wrong with this idea. For one, its illegal. You cannot remove life, including live rock from the US waters without permission ( and permission will never be granted to you) and can/will face federal sentence along with a hefty fine if caught. Also, many chemicals wash up on the coastal areas from run off. Many coastal areas have a higher level of chemicals such as oil, fecal matter, and anything else that runs off into the waterway from stormdrains and what not. I wont give you a list but these two are the most important reasons why not to do so. QT your live rock will not remove what the rock has already obsorbed. Live rock from stores are purchased from wholesalers that get their liverock from supliers overseas from countries that allow harvesting in designated areas and dont have the same issues as we do here. Some live rock is not even naturally made. Some of it, which is known as aquacultured is manmade and left in certain areas of the ocean for 6months to a year, sometimes more and then harvested.

 

[alexmir]

I just got back from the beach tonight and ran inside to post, so i hadnt thought through it very long. But i understand what your saying, i just got overly joyed with the thought of free live rock!!! haha, thanks for the help

 

[donald]

Originally Posted by jonthefishguy
There are many things wrong with this idea. For one, its illegal. You cannot remove life, including live rock from the US waters without permission ( and permission will never be granted to you) and can/will face federal sentence along with a hefty fine if caught. Also, many chemicals wash up on the coastal areas from run off. Many coastal areas have a higher level of chemicals such as oil, fecal matter, and anything else that runs off into the waterway from stormdrains and what not. I wont give you a list but these two are the most important reasons why not to do so. QT your live rock will not remove what the rock has already obsorbed. Live rock from stores are purchased from wholesalers that get their liverock from supliers overseas from countries that allow harvesting in designated areas and dont have the same issues as we do here. Some live rock is not even naturally made. Some of it, which is known as aquacultured is manmade and left in certain areas of the ocean for 6months to a year, sometimes more and then harvested.

he's on the money plus all the bad crabs that you are going to have to fight with!!!

 

[ophiura]

It is also not typically carbonate rock in this area, so it is not porous, does not have the nice shapes, etc.