NSW From NYC in a reef tank

[EEE1986]

Hello everyone,

I’m fortunate to live in NYC, where I have access to several nearby ocean beaches. Locally, I have Coney Island/Brighton Beach, and I also frequently visit family in Atlantic Beach on Long Island.

Would it be a terrible idea to use NSW (natural seawater) collected from either of these locations in a reef tank? My main concern is pollution due to the proximity to such a large metropolitan area, but I’m curious if anyone here has tried it successfully.

Somewhat related, I recently watched the Serious Reefs video series on the 90/10 method, where @Ryan - Serious Reefs recommends using sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater to help kick-start a tank cycle. In theory, if I had access to a clean source of ocean sand from one of my local beaches, could that serve as a viable alternative?

I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts and experiences.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@Paul B can answer that best!

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm upstate now, but I still have family in Brooklyn and on Long Island, and I personally wouldn't trust using the water from these beaches out of concern of contamination. Consider that you have everything from oil and gasoline, to sunscreen, and agricultural waste in these area. I would stick to making your own saltwater, or purchasing saltwater from a reputable local reef store.

Paul B. will be able to tell you for sure. If I remember correctly, he collected salt water from NY waters for years, but no longer does so now out of contamination concerns. I also believe he collected it from a boat. Collecting right from the beach would put you at risk for more contaminates, I would think.

Good luck!

 

[areefer01]

I can't speak for the location you are at but in Southern California there is a tap for NSW that reefers often use. Scripps. Further North we have Monterey and when I have used water from the area, mostly in drought times, I treat collection like I do a dive day. I check the various beach, location, and harbor masters and get the water quality reports. If a bacteria advisory is in place I do not collect. That easy.

Bacteria can be due to storms, drainage, or mammal breeding. I figured if I can't do a dive then I shouldn't be collecting water and putting that in my tank. Other than that check local authority. It isn't so much about permits or permission but rather local or federal protected areas. Marine parks, refuges, or breeding windows. I found them very helpful.

Of course California is not New York so your mileage may vary. Paul does, or used to, collect so a good source in your area.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I don't think I would be pulling it from the East River... but as somebody above mentioned @Paul B collects NSW from upper Long Island. I think South Shore water would be cleaner as it faces the open ocean, but that is me guessing.

 

[Fish Fan]

Somewhat related, I recently watched the Serious Reefs video series on the 90/10 method, where @Ryan - Serious Reefs recommends using sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater to help kick-start a tank cycle. In theory, if I had access to a clean source of ocean sand from one of my local beaches, could that serve as a viable alternative?

I wanted to mention, that the sand I think would likely be polluted too, but I don't know for sure. What I would encourage you to do, however, is to check your local laws carefully before removing sand from a beach. In most locations that is actually illegal. Again, likely Paul B. will know for sure, but I'd encourage you to stay within the law

 

[Damage12]

I live in West Palm Beach. It’s always suggested to go out 5 miles or so to collect water, but even then I wouldn’t do it. In NY, not a chance.

 

[Fish Fan]

I live in West Palm Beach. It’s always suggested to go out 5 miles or so to collect water, but even then I wouldn’t do it. In NY, not a chance.

What are you trying to say??

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I use NSW all the time (condition dependent) If your worried do an ICP test of the area you want to use.
Also using NSW you may have to adjust DKH and salinity.

 

[areefer01]

I use NSW all the time (condition dependent) If your worried do an ICP test of the area you want to use.
Also using NSW you may have to adjust DKH and salinity.

ICP will not get you the bacteria details. There are numbers that you can call to get water conditions.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

ICP will not get you the bacteria details. There are numbers that you can call to get water conditions.

This is true. But, this is one of the reasons I use NSW, for the Biome. If that worries you though, you can run the water through a UV filter.

 

[EEE1986]

If the consensus winds up being no for NSW collected from local beaches, anybody have any experience with this product? https://www.petsmart.com/fish/food-...e-nutri-seawater-5324384.html?redirected=true

I wouldn't use it as my primary saltwater source but may consider it for cycling so I can introduce some natural biome. I have my doubts that this product is truly "live" though once it's been packaged, sealed and sitting on a warehouse/store shelf for a prolonged period of time.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

If the consensus winds up being no for NSW collected from local beaches, anybody have any experience with this product? https://www.petsmart.com/fish/food-...e-nutri-seawater-5324384.html?redirected=true

I wouldn't use it as my primary saltwater source but may consider it for cycling so I can introduce some natural biome. I have my doubts that this product is truly "live" though once it's been packaged, sealed and sitting on a warehouse/store shelf for a prolonged period of time.

Nope... for the reasons you stated.... plus the buffers they use may send your DKH through the roof.
The people that use NSW swear by it... I have yet to see the "I used NSW and it destroyed my tank thread"
The people that are Nay sayers never have used it.
Shore based public Aquariums use it... Scripps, AOP, Cabrillo, Monterey, etc.

 

[Paul B]

I was born in Brooklyn near Coney Island but now live on the east end of Long Island. I worked on the construction of the Maritime University near Coney Island and used a lot of water from the shore there.

For about 50 years I used water from the Long Island Sound but now it has a problem. I have been collecting amphipods from the beaches here at low tide.



Nothing is alive under the rocks. They used to be loaded with amphipods, eels, crabs and snails. But for the last two years, nothing.

The last time I used this water 2 years ago, I made a produce farm and it a long time to eliminate the seaweed. I wrote to the EPA but they never got back to me and probably don't care. Maybe the water off Brooklyn is better as that is the Atlantic.

I know the Riverhead Aquarium uses it right from the south shore near the canal. I am not sure where to collect it there but as soon as I get time, I will drive over there to look for a spot. I would try it from there.

 

[Damage12]

What are you trying to say??

The water looks like this inshore most of the time (picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s crystal clear) on an incoming tide in West Palm Beach but even inshore the water has fuel, debris, oil from boats. Even if I went 5 miles offshore, I would still worry about the water quality for contaminants.

I’ve lived in NY for 30 years prior and that water is nowhere near the quality of where I live now. I wouldn’t even think twice about using NY sea water whether collected offshore or not.

 

[Privateye]

I wouldn't recommend it, at least not without significant ozone treatment. I grew up in NYC and, because of that, I attended a dissertation last year on the benthic ecology of the area. NYC still dumps TONS of wastewater directly into the bay.

The New York Bight, which is a trench that extends from just off NYC into the Atlantic, is known for having polluted water. Crabs in that area have an increased incidence of shell erosion diseases.

RO/DI water would be my recommendation.

 

[EEE1986]

I was born in Brooklyn near Coney Island but now live on the east end of Long Island. I worked on the construction of the Maritime University near Coney Island and used a lot of water from the shore there.

For about 50 years I used water from the Long Island Sound but now it has a problem. I have been collecting amphipods from the beaches here at low tide.



Nothing is alive under the rocks. They used to be loaded with amphipods, eels, crabs and snails. But for the last two years, nothing.

The last time I used this water 2 years ago, I made a produce farm and it a long time to eliminate the seaweed. I wrote to the EPA but they never got back to me and probably don't care. Maybe the water off Brooklyn is better as that is the Atlantic.

I know the Riverhead Aquarium uses it right from the south shore near the canal. I am not sure where to collect it there but as soon as I get time, I will drive over there to look for a spot. I would try it from there.

Thanks for sharing that. I know the NY Aquarium at least used to use water from the ocean when I volunteered there in highschool years ago but I'm pretty sure they heavily filtered the water and treated with ozone. I wonder if Riverhead aquarium does the same? Looking forward to hearing back about your explorations of the south shore.

 

[Paul B]

I wouldn’t even think twice about using NY sea water whether collected offshore or not.

I used it for 53 of the 55 years my reef has been running. Can't be too bad.

 

[Fish Fan]

If the consensus winds up being no for NSW collected from local beaches, anybody have any experience with this product? https://www.petsmart.com/fish/food-...e-nutri-seawater-5324384.html?redirected=true

I wouldn't use it as my primary saltwater source but may consider it for cycling so I can introduce some natural biome. I have my doubts that this product is truly "live" though once it's been packaged, sealed and sitting on a warehouse/store shelf for a prolonged period of time.

It's a marketing scheme to call water "live". I'm not saying it's a bad product to use, I've never used it. If you're looking for an option, consider mixing your own saltwater using gallons of distilled water you can purchased at any grocery store or pharmacy.

The water looks like this inshore most of the time (picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s crystal clear) on an incoming tide in West Palm Beach but even inshore the water has fuel, debris, oil from boats. Even if I went 5 miles offshore, I would still worry about the water quality for contaminants.

I’ve lived in NY for 30 years prior and that water is nowhere near the quality of where I live now. I wouldn’t even think twice about using NY sea water whether collected offshore or not.

Yes, the water around Florida is much, much nicer looking than what we have in New York

 

[EEE1986]

If the consensus winds up being no for NSW collected from local beaches, anybody have any experience with this product? https://www.petsmart.com/fish/food-...e-nutri-seawater-5324384.html?redirected=true

I wouldn't use it as my primary saltwater source but may consider it for cycling so I can introduce some natural biome. I have my doubts that this product is truly "live" though once it's been packaged, sealed and sitting on a warehouse/store shelf for a prolonged period of time.

It's a marketing scheme to call water "live". I'm not saying it's a bad product to use, I've never used it. If you're looking for an option, consider mixing your own saltwater using gallons of distilled water you can purchased at any grocery store or pharmacy.

The water looks like this inshore most of the time (picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s crystal clear) on an incoming tide in West Palm Beach but even inshore the water has fuel, debris, oil from boats. Even if I went 5 miles offshore, I would still worry about the water quality for contaminants.

I’ve lived in NY for 30 years prior and that water is nowhere near the quality of where I live now. I wouldn’t even think twice about using NY sea water whether collected offshore or not.

Yes, the water around Florida is much, much nicer looking than what we have in New York

For the record I use tropic Marin salt mix for my reef tank and am all for mixing up your own salt water at home but just thought it would be cool to experiment with natural seawater and possibly incorporate some local biome into my next tank. Doesn’t sound like it’s worth the risk though so I’ll just stick with TM.