I'm currently on the Gulf Coast and have plenty of access to seawater, sand, macro algae. Is a terrible idea to put some of this in my luggage and bring it home, and put it in my tank? Has anyone done this before?
Not a terrible idea, as long as rules permit it, but I wouldn't put it straight in your tank. Anything from the ocean should get a long QT because there is a high likely hood of bringing over some unwanted pest.