Live Sand Collection?

[Kara]

After reading about the DSB and recommended depth of the bed, I'm thinking about increasing my sand bed 1-2". A new infusion of live sand would be nice. Luckily, I live in south Florida and both my fiance and I are divers. Once the water warms up, I was thinking about collecting the sand from the ocean. A lot of websites sell 'Florida Live Sand' which from reading the info, sounds like the exact same thing as the stuff I would collect. Any drawbacks to using sand (kept wet and directly) from the ocean?

I'm also planning on collecting macroalgae for my tank. We have a lot of really neat native varieties that are manageable.

I got a list from the Fish & Game service on things that are collectable and things that aren't.. sand and macroalgaes aren't listed so, I'll be ok in that respect.

 

[OrionGirl]

Most collectors are sure to go far from the shore, to decrease the odds of picking up pollutants. Otherwise, I'd quarantine it, and be prepared for some die off. If you q-tank it first, you can also edit the hitch hikers--reduce the odds of bringing in something nasty.

Aside form keeping it wet, you'll only want to get about the top 5-6 inches. Try and maintain the layers during transport and stocking it into the tank. Don't bag it tightly--it needs oxygen too.

Good luck--I wish I had the option!

 

[Kara]

quarantine tank.. hrum.

Does it need to be elaborate set up like my tank? Or can I go simple, like a 10gal eclipse? I've been wanting to set up a quarantine tank, just not sure how to set one up!

Does it need super wattage lighting? (I have 230watts total on my 46 gal tank)

Filtration?

Protein Skimmer?

I'd like to keep it down on the cost side, but I do see a q-tank as necessary.. Can it serve as a refugium when not being uilized for quarantining (is that even a word?.. hehe)?

 

[fishfreek]

Here is an article on the benifits of quarinten and a simple description of how you can setup a q-tank for rather cheap.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showquestion.php?faq=2&fldAuto=17

For your live sand q-tank you dont need anything extravagant. Just something to put the sand in and keep the SG and the temp correct while you make sure there are no nasty hitchhikers in it.

 

[Kara]

great link! Thank you Fishfreak! This is exactly what I was thinking.

I'm also considering buying the "SurfZone Live Sand Activator Plus. Featuring WONDERMUD" from IPSF" for the tank, to jump start it as a refugium. Not a true refugium (as I understand a refugium is run on the same water as your main tank), but would be nice to have a place to breed amphipods and other fish candy.