lol i admit i may be a *lil* biased due to the fact that i want my local reefs to be preserved
. and yes there are a few very nice pieces, but you really gotta search for them imo... especially ones small enough to lift up to the surface (unless you got a lift bag). in temperate reefs, the livestock is the most intersting aspect imo.
sorry, maybe i interpreted the OP wrong. I had assumed he was going to collect wild temperate LR for a tropical tank. if that's the case then hitch hikers wouldnt survive plus he'd have to cure the stuff.
im with untamed on LR though. If you got the time and the handyman skills, make your own LR. GARF has a recipe that apparently works quite well. Ive always wanted to try it, but dont have the time. i will eventually though.
i think filtration in a coldwater reef setup is an absolutely VITAL aspect though. none of the temperate corals are dependent mostly on light. they rely more on solid food. that means that feedings in the tank will be heavy. so bioload is a very big thing in cold setups. there was also mention some time ago of how the nitrifying bacteria also works a bit slower in the cold.