blackdog
Member
I am brand new to marine aquaria -- still doing research and the tank (55 gal long) is sitting empty til I get a little smarter. I live less than a mile from the Massachusetts coast, and my question is whether it is possible to add elements to the tank straight from the beach. First, is it safe for the tank? Second, is it considered unethical or in bad taste?
1. shells for hermit crabs
2. sand brought home in a bucket
3. macroalgae/seaweed/crustaceans from tide pools
My uniformed belief is that it would be totally cool to stock my tank with geniune sand from where I live -- connecting with my environment and such. And to be able to say "See that hermit crab? He's wearing a house I brought home for him from Key Largo."
As far as safety to the tank goes, would it depend on whether something like the sand was introduced at the very beginning and allowed to cycle--before after or concurrent with live rock or commercial live sand? I'm also not sure how I would determine the size of the granules were I to try such a thing. Later in the tank's life, would you be able to quarantine objects from nature before adding them to the tank? Looking forward to hearing your opinions.
-Dave
38 gal freshwater with cichlids, where life is nasty, brutish and short
1. shells for hermit crabs
2. sand brought home in a bucket
3. macroalgae/seaweed/crustaceans from tide pools
My uniformed belief is that it would be totally cool to stock my tank with geniune sand from where I live -- connecting with my environment and such. And to be able to say "See that hermit crab? He's wearing a house I brought home for him from Key Largo."
As far as safety to the tank goes, would it depend on whether something like the sand was introduced at the very beginning and allowed to cycle--before after or concurrent with live rock or commercial live sand? I'm also not sure how I would determine the size of the granules were I to try such a thing. Later in the tank's life, would you be able to quarantine objects from nature before adding them to the tank? Looking forward to hearing your opinions.
-Dave
38 gal freshwater with cichlids, where life is nasty, brutish and short
