Coastal sand/rock/critters

[serpinski]

This is my first post. To the creators of this site and association, I say bravo!

What about the local fauna we can find in our coastal region? Sand, rock, and critters. Not to mention natural sea water. Does anybody use or have anything from Texas in their reef/aquarium?

Are there any indigenous species that can be beneficial to our little ecosystems?

I have a year-old 120 tall with ~140 lbs of tonga, fiji, and namoli rock. Remora Pro skimmer, industrial 400 MH, and I run charcoal every now and then through a Magnum 350 canister. My nitrate level (~40 ppm) has always been too high to start introducing corals to my aquarium. I'm still learning though.

I've got a Regal tang and two blue damsels.

This is a great site and I'm happy to be here.

Anybody have any sources for Southdown or suitable white sand? I am in the San Antonio area but willing to travel.

:-o

[Chris]

Welcome to the group Serpinski. As Gene said, check the thread he linked to for more information about getting a group order of SouthDown sand.

There's a guy i've talked to that lives close to S. Padre island whol mentioned he finds all sorts of snails and shrimps off the coast which he uses in his tank. I'd be a little weary of using actual sand from the beaches though... there's no telling what pollution you'll bring back to your tank.

8)

[Troy Valentine]

Welcome to the Forum

When I first started in the hobby, I was 16 with no money and a truck, most of my first creatures came from the coast. I would catch pipefish, sea horses, flounder, clams, ghost shrimp, blue crabs, Algae blennys, peppermint shrimp, beautiful green algae off the jettes, piggy perch, and a lot of stuff that I had know Idea what it was. It was a blast! I plan on one day setting up a tank that will contain only Texas coastal specimens....

It is also is a great excuse to travel to the coast.....Breathe that salty air....