Question for people who live near an Ocean

[pearsont74]

Has anyone who lives near the ocean gone and gathered odds and ends for your sw tank? I live 10 mins from the gulf of mexico and just curious about if it would be ok to introduce things I can find in these waters to my tank. The help the cycling process...live shrimp, lil crabs...even plants and rocks that have organisms on them. You'd be amazed of what I can find out wading out to sand bars and such Was also thinking of gathering rubble for my sump (i know its illegal to gather "live rock" so I am not going there)
Just tryin to cut my cost alittle since the cost of the equipment is killin me.
hope to get my tank started here soon...tryin to pre-research before jumpin in.

 

[X the Outsider]

You'd have to be careful you're not going to be bringing in any toxins into your tank. You could use shells, but I highly advise cleaning them before putting them in your tank.