From: dyson@sunfish.physics.uiowa.edu (Richard L. Dyson)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Coral safe for Freshwater tanks?
Date: 19 Aug 92 21:22:24 GMT
Article-I.D.: space.Bt921D.I62
Reply-To: dyson@sunfish.Physics.UIowa.EDU
Organization: Department of Physics & Astronomy

In article <1992Aug19.173146.1353@socrates.umd.edu>, you write:
> In article <Bt798B.J85@space.physics.uiowa.edu> dyson@sunfish.Physics.UIowa.EDU writes:
> >In article <22929@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM>, frazier@maxwell (Greg Frazier) writes:
> >> nick@socrates.umd.edu (Nick Lemberos) writes:
> >> : subject says it all.  found some nice coral while down in the florida
> >> : keys (some I bought, others I found in the water).  
> >> 
> >> Coral is not good for freshwater tanks.  It will cause
> >> your water to harden.  Also, it is considered in poor taste
> >> to purchase coral, and only an asshole removes it from the
> >> ocean.  Yes, that was a flame.
> >
> >
> >Not only an asshole, but a CRIMINAL one.  It is a federal offense to
> >evne TOUCH coral in the ocean inside the US waters!
> I wanna thank you guys for all the name calling.  It is nice to know
> someone can ask a question, get answers and insults all at once.
> 
> I didnt harvest any LIVE coral.  I picked up 4 dead coral rocks from a
> rock beach down at Key West.  We are talking rocks, white and abundant,
> like what all the Keys are made of.  Very very dead and useless.  
>
> While there are some protected areas (John Pennecamp State Park), I 
> find it VERY hard to believe it is a crime to "TOUCH" coral every-
> where in the US.  You are not supposed to touch anything when diving 
> but there are no indications that touching coral was illegal.
> 
> I stand politically corrected.
> 
> nick

       Well, I do apologize for the insult.  BUT, I just came of a
snorkeling trip to the Florida Keys a week ago and I know what I was
told (and have read in the past) that it is against the law (federal, I
believe) to even touch coral in North America if it is in the ocean.
THIS APPLIES TO LIVING AND DEAD.  IF IT IS IN THE OCEAN IT IS NOT TO BE
TOUCHED.  While I was on the water, our boat captain even called in to
the Coast Guard to complain about another boat's snorklers standing.
I heard (from later radio traffic that the CG did arrive and give the
boat captain a citation.  (I believe it is several hundred $$, but don't
know for sure.)

        On a more friendly note, the coral there is really beautiful.
Lots of French and Grey Angelfish, yellowtailed snapper, blue strip
grunts, sting rays, hogfish.  Pretty damn nice for a land locked Iowan!
Even swam up on a pair of 3.5 ft Baracudas.  (That'll make the heart
skip a beat!)

        One comment I had was that I thought that the coral at John
Pennecamp that they take you out to see on the tour boot was nicer than
the ones I saw off Key West.  In case I get to return there, do any of
you locals or regualars have any other recommendations for a snorkeler?  

rick
-- 
Richard L. Dyson               INTERNET:  dyson@sunfish.Physics.UIowa.EDU

                     The days just prior to marriage
                     are like a snappy introduction
                           to a tedious book.