Florida FOWLR tank...
- Thread starter BBoley24
- Start date
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Be aware that there are laws and regulations in most coastal states about the collection of fish, rock, sand, etc. After you manage to legal obtain any of the following you are thinking of collecting, I would worry about where you get the water and sand from. The sand on beaches is usually dirty and polluted. Water close to shore is the same. It's like using water from a skimmer. Any filters on your tank won't harm any natural sources. Collecting livestock locally presents its largest challenge. Once again, check local and state laws. As far as getting natural sand and water goes, collect it far from shore bound pollutants.
BBoley24
New member
yes I checked on the local laws a few months ago before moving to florida. There are certain things and species that you are unable to obtain but for the most part collecting in moderation under a certain amount depending on species is allowed with a fishing license IE peppermint shrimp and small things... NO MANGROVES!!! anyhow... if I were to clean the sand from the beach like I do my aragonite when taking out... would that help the situation? I would only be using the animals from the current location nothing store bought.... my parents just built a house here and I thought it would be neat to have a little florida wildlife in their home. I have read many of your posts Travis and I respect your opinion!!!
Aquabucket
Premium Member
Not to be nit-picking or anything but have you collected in Florida before?
I have, and almost everything I collected near shore did very well. Pollution was never a problem. Too many people think just because you are collecting near metropolitan areas, beaches, etc... that the water, sand etc. is going to be unsuitable for aquarium use. Quite frankly the opposite is true. You can also take simple steps to filter the water before using it. Check out Paul B's 30 year old tank. He has been collecting his stuff off Long Island for years including water, pods and all types of marine life.
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AquaKnight
Active member
Any fish and sand are pretty much a good to go (as long it's not a state park), water is definitely fine (collect at high tide), the only thing would be collecting live rock, big no-no, as well as some corals, mostly gorgonians, that are off limits.
AquaKnight
Active member
TitusvileSurfer
New member
You have the gulf stream hitting hard in south Florida. The water is constantly being taken up north and being replaced with more from the Carribian.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
What does that have to do with anything?
I wasn't saying that EVERYWHERE is polluted, but to be careful and it might be better to err on the side of caution. But regardless of where you are, where your collection area is located, etc there is one solid fact about the oceans; to put it simply the shore is a skimmer. Many nasty things wash up on shore. It's not to mean that all the coast line all around the world is polluted and uninhabitable, but you should just be knowledgable about the environment around you. I'm sure you'll agree, but wouldn't you rather collect near an area that is more unrefined than one that is highly industrialized? To me, it just makes sense. I realize that there are many people that have many successful tanks with collected goods, and even then, lots of these animals only live close to shore. But, like I just said, it might be wiser to collect in an area that is potentially cleaner, near shore or not.
tcwayne
OLDGUY-OG
BBoley I have done water changes from Bradenton beach, Ft. desoto, Several places on St. Pete Beach and on saturday I got 25 gallons from Sunset Beach just south of Treasure Island. I have to dillute with filtered water and test very well but I have not ever had a problem. I guess there is some risk but my tank looks great and my fish seem to love it. In my 46 I have had in the past and currently have small fish that I caught with my cast net out at the grass flats at Ft. Desoto. I'm fully liscenced if anyone is questioning. i also get snails and crabs its alot of fun for me. All legal. Don't mess with rock or corals if you can get to them. I don't think sand is worth the trouble unless you can find some that hasn't someones feet or butt on it (not likely). Oh I almost forgot I mix the real ocean water in a 45 gallon tub and have to cool it with a fan and power head and sometimes ice.
Aquabucket
Premium Member
The gulf side of Florida has very little industry, the waters are very calm for the most part. You can find very clear water within 10-20 feet from shore. Much of the best collecting occurs in these areas. Also some really good collecting occurs right were the shore and mangroves meets the water. You can simply dip your net into the clumps of algae/seaweed then look into the net to see what you caught. These are called blind stabs. At any given stab you may find, blennies, gobies, pinfish, pistol shrimp, sand shrimp, crabs, and much more.
Another surprising thing is when you take blind stabs into floating algae and seaweed near the shore along beaches ~ here you can find filefish, puffers, and other surprises.
EDIT: I caught this awesome sandsifting goby right next to shore with a blind stab into the weeds:
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Aquabucket
Premium Member
Here are some other things I collected keeping in mind I caught all these things wading along beaches, tide pools, mangroves, and from docks etc...
Burrfish:
Frillfin Goby:
Red Sponge:
Everything except some of the rock in the tank below was legally collected near the shore at Clam Pass Park in Naples Fl. I was allowed to take some of the rocks that washed up on shore and had permission from the local ranger to do so. These rocks still had plenty of life in them including feather dusters, macro algae and pods.
Burrfish:
Frillfin Goby:
Red Sponge:
Everything except some of the rock in the tank below was legally collected near the shore at Clam Pass Park in Naples Fl. I was allowed to take some of the rocks that washed up on shore and had permission from the local ranger to do so. These rocks still had plenty of life in them including feather dusters, macro algae and pods.
Aquabucket
Premium Member
These type of gobies can be found right next to shore along tidepools hiding in clumps of gracilaria and of other types of seaweeds. All you have to do is take some blind stabs with a dip net and see what surprises you come up with.
