Question for SMART people

[nike4surr]

I am wondering if you can use sand, live rock, pods, even ocean water or anything else from the ocean out here in Cali. Back in Texas, we would collect many things from the ocean like peppermint shrimp, sargassum shrimp and anglers, blennies, ghost shrimp, pods, crabs, pipe fish and the list goes on. It was not good to use the sand because so much oil and pollution from the Gulf of Mexico pretty much contaminated the sand and the water was too dirty and did not have enough salinity to use. Can you use sand from out here? Does it have silicates?
What about live rock. Is there anywhere you can collect your own live rock? If you get dead or cooked rock, can you put it in the ocean for a few weeks, go back and get it? I would like to get some help with this.
Is there anything else you can collect from the ocean that is useful in captive tanks? I just really like going to the ocean and exploring and seeing what you can use naturally. I know about using QT tanks and other ways to kill "unwanted guests." I am just trying to get some info on collecting your own stuff. It's so much fun and is free. Any information would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[codybug]

A SMART person wouldn't collect anything from our coast. It's against the law to take anything - even empty shells. I've heard they have even had the DFG watch the tidepools just for this reason.

 

[afelder]

Two things prevent utilizing anything from local waters.

1. The water around here is cold and most creatures we keep are tropical. This means our local waters have parasites that our fish have no immunity to.


2. The State has made it illegal to collect just about anything except water from local waters.

 

[nike4surr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9244983#post9244983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by codybug
A SMART person wouldn't collect anything from our coast. It's against the law to take anything - even empty shells. I've heard they have even had the DFG watch the tidepools just for this reason.

If it's against the law to take anything, then how can anyone fish? People really call baywatch if they see you picking out crabs or pods from the water? I am genuinely interested now...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9245026#post9245026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by afelder
Two things prevent utilizing anything from local waters.

1. The water around here is cold and most creatures we keep are tropical. This means our local waters have parasites that our fish have no immunity to.


2. The State has made it illegal to collect just about anything except water from local waters.

OK, I definitely understand about the cold water. But from the Gulf of Mexico, water temps get up around 90 degrees and we still have tons of things to pluck from the water. You just ease them into our normal tank conditions.

Thanks for the reply guys, anyone else got any information?

 

[Charles99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9245228#post9245228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nike4surr
Thanks for the reply guys, anyone else got any information?

Yes- Support your LFS and coral propagation. :hammer:

 

[phishx]

this thread will get CLOSED as soon as i say that i ALWAYS COLLECT FROM OUR LOCAL WATERS! :lmao: :lol: :lmao:
:uzi: :spin2:

 

[Beach Native]

It'll get closed as soon as I point out the humor in someone claiming to be an "acting, modeling, car valet" looking for SMART people to give him information on picking up crap from the shores of the LA/OC beach area.

 

[phishx]

:lmao: haha... now i get it... someone re-did another RC account to gain info and save face for their ORIGINAL screen name

 

[nike4surr]

Ok, I was joking around with the title of this thread. I am completely new to this area and was just trying to get some information on how things work around here. Where I am from, it is absolutely not against the law to collect from the ocean. In fact, there are multiple threads telling you exactly when, where and how to collect from the ocean. An example http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8347
Even setting up groups to go out together, kind of how you guys set up the beach dive.

The boards I am use to going on, everyone is trying to help out other reefers as much as they can. I am use to most everyone giving help, especially to a "new" member in the area. I did not know that everyone who replies just tries to belittle you.

And what gives you the right to attack my personal integrity? If you do not like my questions, then please do not respond, or just p.m. me. Seriously, how rude is that? Just because I chose to move to LA to pursue my dreams, does not make me stupid. Actually it makes me extremely brave and couragous. And for your information, I graduated college with a dual degree and got accepted to a extremely good dental school. But I guess since I am a car valet and following my dreams, it makes me less of a person.

I did not join this board to fight, I joined this board to learn more about this hobby. Now that I have gotten these replies, I guess I will just post as little as possible. Thanks for the welcome. If a mod reads this thread, just delete it. Sorry I asked.

 

[cthetoy]

You could start by reading the rules and regulations from the California Fish and Game and see what you could take.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/sportfishing_regs2007.html

 

[nike4surr]

Thank you

 

[So Cal shaggy]

Here in California there are very strict laws governing what you can take and how you can collect them from our local waters. It is unlawful to transport live fish from our local waters to your home that is the way it is stated in DFG regulations most inverts that are legal to collect for consumption however can be transported live. Collecting of shells is legal in areas that are not designated as marine preserves or reserves one you cannot collect anything from and the other there are posted restrictions on what can be collected and these rules change from area to area. I would not want to put anything live from our local waters in my tank even if was able to survive the temp increase I studied marine bio in college and focused on our local inverts and believe me when I say that our local waters have tons of microscopic parasites that attack fish and invertsbut if they are healthy fish and inverts that parasites do not cause them much if any problems but add the stress of capture, transport and temp increase from our tropical tanks and they will most certainly die. You can apply for a collectors license but they are very very expensive and there are restrictions on how you can collect including methods, areas and amounts per year that you can collect. Even as a business it is too expensive.

 

[Danger731]

Go down to the La jolla tide pool with a bucket and net. - just kidding

 

[Corriander]

I second So Cal Shaggy - lots of inverts (from pods to lobsters) that are technically 'legal' to collect but parasites and local water conditions make it a hazard to your tank.

If you have a small lab set up that you can isolate and culture specific algaes and pods, maybe you can do something. The hitch is the lab. A microscope and discecting scope with a good taxonomy guide are needed for starters. After that, a bank of culture vessles with proper lighting and aeration. Oh . . . I am forgetting the boat and plankton nets . . .

Unless you are in a pure academic pursuit, local collection of anything that is legal (aside from a lobster dinner from a beach dive) is cost prohibitive. It is better to skip the wild collection and buy cultures from a reputable source so you can skip much frustration.

 

[smoney]

when I go to the tidepools down by the beach, sometimes I see the local kids with buckets collecting tons of stuff, like octopus and starfish and stuff like that.

Iunno, I thought about getting some stuff from the tidepools, but its pointless, its all coldwater and you would have throw down some major dough for a fatty chiller.

 

[So Cal shaggy]

the children collecting animals, rocks or even shells from the tidepools is illegal. Politely inform them to this the animals cannot speak for themselves so it is up to us to help protect them. Collecting from the tidepools is illegal but depending on the area it is legal to collect certain inverts and fish for consumption but you must collect 1000' out from the mean low tide line

 

[JE]

first id like to say i cant help nike4surr out because he/she clearly asked for help from smart people. so im out...

second i was wondering since its illegal to collect off of our coast is it illegal to bring back items from the great barrier reef??

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9245228#post9245228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nike4surr
OK, I definitely understand about the cold water. But from the Gulf of Mexico, water temps get up around 90 degrees and we still have tons of things to pluck from the water. You just ease them into our normal tank conditions.

Thanks for the reply guys, anyone else got any information?

Nope sorry, it dosen't work. Talked with a researcher at UCSB. He's actually ran controlled experiments on the subject and said he had 100 % mortaility rate, even on things benie such as urchins and snails. So don't try it.

 

[nike4surr]

Thanks for the replies everyone. This has been really helpful. I looked over the gaming .pdf file and that gave a lot of good information along with you guys responses.

If I somehow offended anyone with this thread, I am sorry. I was just playing around with the title of the thread, and meant nothing by it. I am just trying to learn about this coast and how everyone works here. I pretty much got got the picture. It's crazy how different coasts have extremely different rules and regulations. But, I did not know until I asked. Thanks for the info and guess I wont be catching anything out here from the beach, except for a tan.

 

[JE]

well, you really offended me!




just kidding!!!!