Upper Atlantic Beach Question

[JarJarBlinks]

Hey all,

I have the opportunity to go to Marthas Vineyard(Specifically, Katama Bay), on a private plane trip and I have the ablilty to carry back a few hundred lbs of sand, creatures, ect. I just have a few questions.

In my FOWLR, I have a 2 inch deep sand bed of Oolite aragonite sand. Could I bring back some sand from the ocean(I could get it from a few feet of water), and have it used in my tank. I am worried about what is on it, the composition, and how big and course it is.

Is there any creatures I could use for my 45 gallon FOWLR? Specifically, snails, seaweed, ect.

Anything at all useful for the reef at the bay?

Thanks alot guys!
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know for sure, but there were some posts about this last year or so - they said that things from our northern climate don't survive in the tropical climate of our tanks.

But lucky you going to Martha's Vinyard! Have fun!

 

[fishfarmer]

I had success seeding a FO years ago with copepods and amphipods from Rhode Island waters. I collected a few seaweed covered rocks and they hitchhiked in. If your keeping your FOWLR in the mid 70's I'd say give it a try. Long Island sound gets a decent sprinkling of tropical fish during the late summer. I've pulled those out of 55 degree water 8O . I'd be really concerned about pollution though and would probably collect a few pounds of fine sand/silt from estuarine waters as opposed to a high surf swimming beach.

 

[SPC]

Posted by fishfarmer:
I'd be really concerned about pollution though and would probably collect a few pounds of fine sand/silt from estuarine waters as opposed to a high surf swimming beach.

-Yea I hate it when I get used syringes and medical waste in my reef tank :wink:
Steve

 

[wade1]

Just for your editifcation... sand holds less pollutants than does organic material. Higher energy environments also hold less than low energy (read beach vs estuary)... if you want to bring things back and are worried about pollution, use activated carbon heavily and stick to more sandy/rocky substrates.

 

[fishfarmer]

Wouldn't finer substrates hold more life than coarse sand, especially off a high energy beach?

 

[wade1]

Depends on if you've asked Dr Ron or not!

But, yes, there is more life in places with less energy. But, its a choice you have to make... more organic/metal pollutants or more life?

 

[JarJarBlinks]

OK, i am confused. So you are saying that I should look for quiet areas that have lots of life in them? like shallow areas around the bay?

 

[fishfarmer]

Your looking for worms, amphipods, snails, seaweed and various other life forms including bacteria. A lot of these organisms will be found where there is a lot of food collected: shallow, slow lagoonal type habitats. These areas will probably be fairly warm so critters taken from these areas may fair better at the tropical temperatures of your tank.

Since these areas generally have slower moving water, they will also collect other things like Big Mac containers, soda bottles, fishing tackle, condoms, and other pollutants so you may want to take samples from different areas to minimize the risk of pollutants. I'd say stay away from marinas or areas downstream of those where pollution would be highest.