View Full Version : Going to Florida coast soon.
SirSmapty
09/05/2006, 06:41 PM
I plan on getting some authentic white beach sand while I'm there. If I leave a bucket full of sea water on the deck of the boat when I go snorkeling and some sea creature happens to find it's way into it and I don't notice it till I get home 14 hours later, will it survive, and what are the legal ramifications if the animal were to get caught?:beachbum:
Valab
09/05/2006, 06:52 PM
This site is a bit dated but gives some good info on collecting in Florida near the bottom of the page.
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/CollectYourself.html
nano10
09/05/2006, 06:54 PM
[welcome]
I believe there is a gentleman up here in NJ that spends his days and nights in the state pen for selling Atlantic City beach sand on the big auction site called eBay. Selling and stealing sand is illegal but i don't know about the creatures.
donald altman
09/05/2006, 07:08 PM
you must have a florida fishing license.. you must adhear to your limits... sand and rock are not permited to be taken from the beaches nor are marine plants. All hard corals are protected and will land you in jail faster then you can shake a stick. Softcorals are fine as long as you adhear to the florida bag limits. I would look at the florida DNR website and read. I have seen people spend alot of money and time in jail for a few dollars worth of easy obtainable things. Also by buying tank raised fish and aquascaping you ensure the best chance florida reefs have at survival.
Matt Rise
09/05/2006, 07:20 PM
When Hurricane Floyd came through back a few years ago I was working in Ft. Lauderdale. My co workers and I went down to Miami Beach to see some waves, I ended up with about two dozen Mangrove seed pods that had washed up on the beach. Brought them home and they all grew...ended up keeping four, trading the rest.
SirSmapty
09/05/2006, 07:54 PM
Thanks guys. Well, It looks like I'll be in Pensicola Beach. I know there is some nice sand there, but I don't think their is any reef stuff that far north.
As far as taking the sand, I don't think 10 gallons worth will be noticeable, plus, from what I'm told, the people we are visting have a condo ON the beach. The litterally walk of the steps and are in sand.
This should be a productive trip since I'll be getting a car while I'm there.
^^ just hope i dont see you will be in jail soooo fast.
it is illigal to take ANY live sand or any sand at all
several reasons.. most already being stated but every year they spend millions pumping that sand back onto the beach.
anyways
" don't think 10 gallons worth will be noticeable"
yeah well what if we all did that?
stick to soft corals and things you can legaly take.. anyways its dumb to put fl sand into your tank. the water quality here is so bad. adn on the beaches is worse. ( oils. and other things)
btw there is " reef stuff" there. theres reefs in almost every part of fl. well every part of the world actualy
donald altman
09/06/2006, 05:23 AM
sand you are gettnig off the beach is very bad and will in the long term be detrimental to your tank.
First you are using sand that people walk on through and litter into. You are also using the same sand that organisms get washed up into and decmopose. (beach sand) And lastly the water run off from land into the beach sand you are able to collect will be full of contaminents. Anything peolpe use in thier yards or homes will be in that sand. The fertilizers, pesticides and
general polution especialy after a rain would be enuogh for me to spend 10 to 12 dollars on some sterile clean mined sand. It's up to you.. I wouldnj't use beach sand.. if you collected it a few miles off shore maybe but even then I would just buy some from a fish store already being used in tank.
Ditto what Donald said. I have been to many florida beachs and when building sand castles with the kids you find all kinds of stuff like cigarettes,cigars, soda/beer cans, diapers, food and condoms just to name a few.
schnell76
09/06/2006, 01:08 PM
Try going to an east coast beach such as New Smyrna, just south of Daytona area, and take some sand from there. I will bet you anything a resident would call you on it. All it takes is one person to see you and your butt ends up in trouble. Beaches such as New Smyrna have gone through a multi-million dollar replacement program since the canes of 04 and our tax dollars paid for it. Residents can be a little protective of their newly finished beaches ;) My guess is that Pensicola has done some sort or restoration to their beaches as well.
Think of it this way.......would I go in your backyard and take some of your dirt or grass :confused:
alexinfla
09/06/2006, 01:21 PM
Wow, he has it explained to him very nicely that it is illegal....he says "thanks, enough for a 10gal won't be noticable"...AMAZING!!!!!! Super attitude :eek1:
If for any reason at all, you think Florida sand is the be all, end all of sands...then order it from a licensed dealer in the Keys.
conchead
09/06/2006, 02:17 PM
I'm in Florida, as far as beach sand laws go, there has to be a law saying you cannot take beach sand, or you would have contractors at the beach with front end loaders getting fill dirt for free. As far as a bucket of sand? for someones tank? just not in front of the marine patrol,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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