Are local algae and critters safe for my tank?

[iamwhatiam52]

I just moved to a house on a canal in Freeport.

A spoonfull of algae from the canal has more life in it than I could describe! Amphipods, copepods, tiny crustaceans of bewildering varieties, flatworms, segmented worms, unsegmented worms, even a pinhead sized nudibranch.

If I feed or introduce some of this to my mixed up reef (algae for my tang, pods for the rest of the gang) can any of it become a problem? Will it even survive if not eaten?

How about the sponges and tunicates growing under my floating dock?

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[fishome25]

during the summer I collect tons of algae for food. some inverts do make it in. but I don't experiment with too many.

 

[Aerowen]

i am sure the amphipods and copepods will be fine, alot of people start their cultures this way.