getting live rock

stewu · #1 09/26/2006, 11:06 PM

in the midst of setting up a 36 gallon bowfront aquarium. i live in boca and am wondering if it would be possible/effective to use small rocks from a local reef for the live rock for my aquarium. does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

Glove · #2 09/26/2006, 11:19 PM

Advice- you should really leave the stuff in the ocean, our reefs and natural flora/fauna are in enough trouble. There are plenty of places to pick up rock- dry or live.
Experience tells me you should look into local laws and regulations about taking wild stuff from the ocean. I know further south your not allowed to remove ANY rock and most stony corals are off the list. There are some corals and fish you can take, providing you have a fishing permit and understand the limit, ,size, and specie that are allowed to be collected.

Von_Rahvin · #3 09/27/2006, 11:49 AM

the short form is you can't take rock at all.
zip zero nada

the fines are not nice.
the regulations for what you can take is posted on the FWC website.

Zooguy · #4 09/29/2006, 02:50 PM

Your better off getting caught at the waters edge with a kilo than a live rock. They dont even let you take a bottle out of the water if it has growth on it other than plants. And if it has coral on it your probably going to get a ride in a cop car.
And DONT do what I did once and get the very same looking rocks from oh like the wall out in front of your house. Here they use old coral and it looks great. BUT its just a big phosphate block and all youll ever do is fight hair algee.
I have however found nice rock on the beach. I think your in the clear if its on the beach. Just dont use the blacks ones, there coal

thor32766 · #5 10/02/2006, 11:01 AM

yes, live rock is protected, its the first thing on the list of things you cant take. They dont play around about it.

reefez · #6 10/08/2006, 07:32 PM

Can't someone with some beachfront start a little rock farm for hobbiests?

Von_Rahvin · #7 10/09/2006, 07:57 AM

what do you think the tampa bay rock is? or the aquacultured rock?

savethereef · #8 10/25/2006, 08:45 PM

LOL i remeber i got busted for talking LR from Batangas Philippines last year i acted so innocent oh wow you cant take it aww i spent 3 hours diving to get it well i am sorry for this. Then as i turned around i saw them dump it in the trash. I though what a waste could of looked nice in my tank

i cherry picked the whole 90 pounds of LR Luckily no fine or anything of that nature.