Do you know about the free ananomies?

[Delphinus]

There's nothing saying that a person can't have a successful cool or cold water SW tank going, if given the proper care and attention...

However, if you think hobbyists cannot damage the natural environment, read on.

Caulerpa taxifolia has wreaked havoc by becoming endemic in several areas in which it is non-native. Guess how it got into those areas? Look no further than fellow hobbyists carelessly disposing of cuttings. Seems we are far from innocent in this hobby. Several jurisdictions ban the traffic of this species altogether due to the irresponsible methods of disposal in the past.

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/seagrant/cautax2.html
http://www.ridnis.ucdavis.edu/Caulerpataxifolia.html
http://www.tijuanaestuary.com/exotics.asp
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/southeast...ulerpamain.htm
http://www.projectpacific.org/caulerpa_taxifolia.html
http://ozreef.org/content/view/94/2/

Interesting quote from this last site:

Within the state of New South Wales, it was listed as a noxious marine vegetation in October 2000 and cannot be bought, sold or traded with fines of up to $11,000 for breaking these rules. It was allowable to keep it within a fully contained aquarium until December 2004, but it has now been upgraded to a prohibited species.

Can you imagine? Wow, eh?