jimlin February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 so since i will be setting up my tank again soon, i was wondering if i could just fill the tank with ocean water and couple of rubbles for the cycling? anyone done this? good, bad?
YHSublime February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 I've read about people that have done it with no troubles, and I'm sure it was with water that wasn't as clean as what you're going to probably have in Hawaii. Somebody will probably chime in with more knowledge than me, but I would say go for it.
smallreef February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 Here...I would only do it if I could get a few miles off coast...in HI I think you'd be good just a few yards past the break....
jaddc February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 If you don't mind hauling the water -- go for it. My marine biologist wife recommends that you filter it (floss works) or else it will be full of particulates and thus nutrients for nuisance algae. Don't harvest from anywhere you that wouldn't eat the shellfish. While you are at it, grab some sand. Dig down to get some clean up crew.
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 what about filter sock and uv for the water and no treatment for the rubbles?
jaddc February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 That will work. The tank would be cycled from the start if you grab rubble and or sand from the ocean.
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 i dont plan on using sand. sandless. would that still be ok?
MBVette February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 It could be illegal to harvest live rock. Make sure you check the laws before you take anything out of the ocean.
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 the law said i can take one gallon worth of rubbles a day. i shipped my rocks there already, just need to get it started. the 75 gallon fowler tank, i might just fill it with rubble haha. cant beat free right?
MBVette February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 Ok cool. You sure as H-E-double hockey sticks don't want to deal with the EPA (or whatever agency it is) by taking things you should t.
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 hmmm.. wonder what is the biggest size a rock can be and still considered a rubble.
jaddc February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 i dont plan on using sand. sandless. would that still be ok? Oh yeah. You'll be fine.
Chad February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 Yea, Hawaii is awesome... Collect (certain species) as a local with a fishing license and loose rock / rubble without hard coral. Really cool... Granted, hard corals are illegal, but I think I'd get over that! Jim, seriously, man, learn to dive!!!
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 sweet. now i have to look into the rules for catching my own fish.
LCDRDATA February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 When I first got started with a saltwater tank (stationed at Hickam in the mid-80s) I just went down to Hickam Harbor with a couple of 5-gallon plastic jugs and took them back to home to Base housing to put in the 25-gallon tank. It had regular sand and a standard freshwater undergravel filter. I'll guarantee many of us have better water quality than what was going into the tank, but we stuck with hardy species or things we collected at the harbor or the channel to Pearl. Some time I'll tell you about the pistol shrimp that hitchhiked in on some rock (along with my first experience with bristle worms)... Long story short, I don't recall losing anything -- although we put a couple things back in the harbor that were looking a little off -- using nothing but the Hickam Harbor water and no supplements. Given the progress in technology since then, I'm sure you'll be fine.
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 ill take a couple of classes. im sure the mwr has something right?
LCDRDATA February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 You are correct, and you can rent any and all gear you need at MWR as well.
jimlin February 4, 2013 Author February 4, 2013 i heard a rumor that police dont have jurisdiction on military bases. if i was to live on base, i be so tempted to keep hard corals.
LCDRDATA February 4, 2013 February 4, 2013 Even if true, that doesn't mean you wouldn't run afoul of the MPs -- it's not worth it.
Jason Rhoads February 5, 2013 February 5, 2013 Are you not allowed to keep hard coral, or collect them. I am confused.
jimlin February 6, 2013 Author February 6, 2013 laws in hawaii do not allow one living there to keep any stony corals in the aquarium. you can collect and sell them with a permit, but its pretty hard to get those.
matt February 7, 2013 February 7, 2013 that seems so strange you can't keep sps you might have shipped to you...did I read that right?
jaddc February 7, 2013 February 7, 2013 (edited) That is right. Hawaii is concerned about two things. The depletion of its reefs by collecting - so you can't collect for your own tank and you certainly cannot export it for sale. They are also worried about having non-indigenous coral introduced into the ecosystem. So LPS and SPS cannot be imported. So that pretty much means no hard coral in the tank. You can have soft coral though. And, of course, fish-only system are fine. That said I'm sure there are work-arounds if you pay enough money and get a permit. Edited February 7, 2013 by jaddc
jimlin February 7, 2013 Author February 7, 2013 you do find illegal coral operations in hawaii. penalty is pretty steep if one gets caught.http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3zsKqNSqVwA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3zsKqNSqVwA
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