Anybody catch their own fish/ use ocean water/ live rock?

[archatuthis]

Hello All,

I lve in Antigua in the Caribbean and just got back into my saltwater tank. I started catching my on fish, using ocean water, and live rock. Does anybody do this or know where I can talk shop with people who do?

Thank you
p.s. just caught a juv. french angel fish and got him eating first day on bits of fresh tuna. now he is spoiled and only likes that

[scubadude]

Hi Arch
There are pros and cons to your approaches, the first and foremost is legal issues collecting in your area (which I wont go into). I had a greenhouse for many years and did some collecting, mostly zoas and ocean water. The benefit is definately the cost and ability to see something you want as well as observe its natural habitat to help better the environment you create obviously. The ocean water is the main thing I wanted to comment on primarily because you will have pathogens/carcinogens in ocean water that you wouldnt have in man made saltwater, also the temperature, SG, PH, calcium etc. I have heard of ppl using a bleach to purify their ocean water but I do NOT understand the effects of this totally. I personally dont see the effeciency in collecting ocean water unless you need massive amounts of it....or you lived right on the ocean. Crabs and snails was a great item to collect IMO

[Port Richey Kid]

i do the same thing for fish here in fl but i do make my own water but my sand in the tank came from clearwater beach about 6 foot of water deep and most of the fish in my tank as well as rock came from shrimping and it came up with the shrimp