[jpmwjm]

This weekend I am heading off to Florida for a week and a half. I've made arrangements to buy some mangroves from an agricultural center. Its actually a family vacation, but we hope to visit several beaches an a couple of islands on the gulf coast. Also hope to see the shuttle launch!! We were thinking of collecting a small amount of sand and one shell from each beach to add to the tank. Hope to start this as a little family tradition. Should this be ok for the tank? We plan on soaking the sand in RO/DI water then premixed saltwater for a couple days before adding it to the tank. Of course it will be in small amounts. No more than a few ounces from each beach. Is there any other precautions to take. By the way during travel the sand will be allowed to dry out.

[Krazy]

I see no problem with it if you put the sands on a cookie sheet in the oven and bake it for a while, it'll get whatever could be bad off..

For the shells, just boil them for 30 mins or so, that'll clean them off for ya

Take pictures, and Have FUN !!!

[jpmwjm]

Thanks for the Tips! I'll check back in when I get back, if I cant get to a computer sooner.

[blind1993]

i did that from hawwai and got some black sand

[kolokefalo]

Blind,

Did bad phenomena happen to you when you took the black sand from Hawaii? You know like Bobby when he took the tiki doll on the Brady bunch?

[Reticentregret]

forget findind good shells here ..... eveytime i go .. mm nuthin ... go early morning you have no idea how many shell hunters there are they go at day break so get otu before the suns up cause on every beach you will always have competition and look under some of the wooden steps and docks over the dunes to the beach if the tide reaches it overnight youde be surprised how many dried up starfish youll find. lots of good mother of pearl here tohugh.

[Reticentregret]

i though that bad luck thing was just for the hawain lava rock? which redminds me i want to use a ton of lavarock for my base rock is this a bad idea or will this throw off water quality its cheap at landscapign places around here.. and id be able to easily manipulate it to my ideal shapes

[Six-line Wrasse]

The main problem with non-ocean going rock is leeching different substances into your tank. Lava rock in particular is known for leeching phosphates. I wouldn't do it.

[kolokefalo]

If you are going to be near Tampa there is a beach in my hometown of Tarpon Springs. It is called Howard Park. It is essentially a barrier island which a causeway was built to reach it. I get all my seashells from there. You can find alot of very nice colors, purples, orange, and reds if you take your time. I have about 1 pound of them which I boiled for 20 mins ready to go into my new tank as soon as I get it set up. Tarpon Springs is about 15 miles west and north from Tampa. PM me if you like and I can give you my cell number and some driving directions.

[jpmwjm]

Well I am back in WV now. It was an eventful trip. Saw the shuttle launch. Went to several beaches. I was in the area between Vero beach and Titusville for most of the trip.
kolokefalo--Thanks much for the offer but I just got your message yesterday, when I got back. I was able to go to Sanibel Island for one night. Found some great shells. Now I have to fight with my wife and kids about which ones to put in the tank and which ones they want to keep. I did find a few small dried pieces of coral on the beach too. They are going in the tank for sure. neat little additions. I have been drying the sand over the last couple of days to add to the tank. I did buy 34 mangrove plants also.

Side note: for anyone living in the Titusville, Cocoa area. I stumbled onto a pet shop called the hidden reef on US 1 near Port St. John. He has only been open a month or two. He said he had been a saltwater wholesaler for some years now. He had some great coral and inverts. He said he ships to eastern us states also. It may be worth taking a look at if you live close. He does not have anything online yet though.

[blind1993]

ok just tell me when he gets some things online beacuse i live in ga and i can get some things. also i will give u some addvice about the sand. get boiling hot water and just dump 3 buckets on it. a bucket every 5 min. and that should kill all bad bacteria. and animals.