Florida Reef Biotype

[Tobman]

I am intending to purchase my live rock and sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater, as I have heard great things about their product.

In that vein, I want to include only fish, coral and other livestock that actually live in the Florida reefs. Where can I find information about what species live in the Florida reefs, are reef-friendly fish-wise, and are relatively easy to keep in a reef aquarium.

 

[cwegescheide]

Well if you want to have a reef with lots of fish, maybe a few sea fans, sponges and brains and maybe some riccordia then your good to go. I have seen a little Elkhorn SPS corals and thats about it. I've only snorkled in a few places in the Keys though. It was nice but NOTHING like reefs in other parts of the world.

As for a source that would know of course Tampa Bay Saltwater would be my first stop. I've seen their rock in a few locals tanks and it is nice but nothing compaired to Marshall. Tonga, Kaelini etc..

Chris

 

[Tobman]

Yes, but Marshall, Tonga, Kaelini are wild and by purchasing wild live rock we are contributing to the destruction of world reefs; not good. That is why taking live rock in the US is illegal. My concience tells me I should pruchase aquacultured live rock. Furthermore, purchasing live rock from the US, supports US local economy, such as yours in Florida.

How is Marshall, Tonga, Kaelini so much better? In terms of the amount and diveristy of life on it? The pictures and testimonials I have seen concerning TBS live rock indicate that it is teaming with a high diversity of life.

 

[cschweitzer]

Diversity of life, colors of the corraline, and much more porous...those are the main reason behind using "better" rock. With porous rock, you need between 3/4 - 1 1/4 lbs/Gal. With denser rock, it will take between 1 1/4 - 2 lbs/gal for quality bio-filtration. We are at the advantage of being able to go to TBS to "cherry pick" our pieces, which is one of the best benfits to TBS or Triton. Watch out for mantis shrimp(s) getting FL aquacultured rock.

 

[Bullredchaser]

Atlantic Blue tangs will be a nice addition along with ricordea,mushrooms,clove polyps,zooanthids,knobby sea rods,encrusting gorgonians,cleaner shrimp,coral banded shrimp,peppermint shrimp,conch(aquacultured (ORA),blue and red leg hermits,sea cucumbers,damsels,and know acording to Julians Sprung new book Acropora Cervicornis is now being aquacultured in the Keys under a government license.All of the above except for the acropora has been collected by my self or with fellow dive partners.I have also seen in the flats but never had an interest for condalactis anemones.Know I will say that even though Tampa Bay Rock is a bit heavier there is no denying it's the most beautiful as it's usually covered in so much coraline and life compared to the lifeless rock you usually see from other parts of the World. Also I believe the book Natural Reef Aquarium by John Tullock gives a couple of nice examples of Carribean and Gulf of Mexico reef biotopes.

 

[Tobman]

Thanks Bullredchaser, that is very helpful information. One question for you:

You said: "Now I will say that even though Tampa Bay Saltwater live rock is a bit heavier there is no denying it's the most beautiful as it's usually covered in so much coraline and life compared to the lifeless rock you usually see from other parts of the World."

The most beautiful aquacultered live rock or the most live rock of any kind? Better than wild live rock from other parts of the world?

Some have said to me that while the TBS live rock is good, it does not compare to wild live rock from say Fiji, in terms of the quantity and diversity of life in it. Also, it is heavier as it is less porous and as such does not support as much life or provide quite the haven for critters as more porous rock would. What do you think?

Do you have direct experience with TBS live rock and what do you think of it?

 

[cwegescheide]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8137724#post8137724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tobman
Yes, but Marshall, Tonga, Kaelini are wild and by purchasing wild live rock we are contributing to the destruction of world reefs; not good. That is why taking live rock in the US is illegal. My concience tells me I should pruchase aquacultured live rock. Furthermore, purchasing live rock from the US, supports US local economy, such as yours in Florida.

How is Marshall, Tonga, Kaelini so much better? In terms of the amount and diveristy of life on it? The pictures and testimonials I have seen concerning TBS live rock indicate that it is teaming with a high diversity of life.

Well its hard to explain really.. I would say the shapes of the rocks themselved are way nicer than the TBS rock I've seen. The Marshall rock for instance has lots of "branches" and odd shapes in the rock. It looks like a bunch of old large corals that were compressed together and fused I guess. there is LOTS of porus holes in the rock that I see pods crawling in and out of all the time. Pretty cool if you ask me. There was also a lot of coraline all over the rock in many different colors. I do understand what your saying about the collection of liverock from reefs though. To be honest I never really thought about that.

 

[chrisaggie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8138909#post8138909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bullredchaser
Atlantic Blue tangs will be a nice addition along with ricordea,mushrooms,clove polyps,zooanthids,knobby sea rods,encrusting gorgonians,cleaner shrimp,coral banded shrimp,peppermint shrimp,conch(aquacultured (ORA),blue and red leg hermits,sea cucumbers,damsels,and know acording to Julians Sprung new book Acropora Cervicornis is now being aquacultured in the Keys under a government license.All of the above except for the acropora has been collected by my self or with fellow dive partners.I have also seen in the flats but never had an interest for condalactis anemones.Know I will say that even though Tampa Bay Rock is a bit heavier there is no denying it's the most beautiful as it's usually covered in so much coraline and life compared to the lifeless rock you usually see from other parts of the World. Also I believe the book Natural Reef Aquarium by John Tullock gives a couple of nice examples of Carribean and Gulf of Mexico reef biotopes.

Clove polyps are native? I've seen encrusting gorg, but never cloves.

 

[Bullredchaser]

Oops I meant cinnamon polyps not cloves,good catch Chris.

 

[NanoKat]

Hey Tobman...I read this thread a few days ago and thought of a book I had picked up recently. I, too have wanted to start a tank at some point with all native species. I just found the book again and it is one of the "Peterson Field Guides" called "Coral Reefs, Caribbean and Florida." It's a nice scientific sort of guide with lots of black and white drawings and alot of color photos also.

Good luck!

Oh, and the book is available on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Coral-Reefs-Caribbean/dp/0618002111/sr=8-1/qid=1158621960/ref=sr_1_1/104-6996602-3471128?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

[andyr45]

Look into "the Reef Set" Florida Carribean Bahamas by Humann And DeLoach. It can be purchased as a set or three individual books. It's devided into Reef Fish, Reef Coral, and Reef Creature. Real Nice!

 

[Zoos]

Do a search for username Bomber, he has a 300g tank with what you want. lots of pictures too.

 

[Zoos]

Here's the link
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=292233

 

[chrisaggie]

Be aware that when looking at Bomber's tank there are many corals which are illegal for the average collector to take home (since we were talking about collecting earlier).