Sea water
- Thread starter Jwise
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Yeah Paul, you’re the go to guy for NSW!You should be surprised that people use fake water for their reef tank. All our fish come from NSW and none, unless they were captive bred came from ASW,
I have been taking it from the surf for 53 years. No problems yet. I just back up to the ocean and dump it in my Jeep. I don't do anything to it except filter out the floating gunk.
I am on Long Island NY so if it is green or muddy, I diatom filter it.
Debra, was looking to see if you posted lol
rusty88
New Member
I have only ever used natural seawater,I am a commercial fisherman so collecting seawater is not a problem,15-20miles from any land the seawater is always crystal clear ,deep indigo blue.My first reef tank housed a good sized Gonni ,i still remember tipping two 5gal containers of seawater in the tank ,the Gonni would double its size and reach out for the nutrients.Softies were insane in size also.This was 15yrs back.
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I live buy the ocean but was always worried id bring in pest by using natural seawater. This summer maybe Ill try it when I can get off shore and collect it.
Collect it and put it in a Brute trash can with an HOB skimmer for 24 hours. Raise the alkalinity and calcium, pH will raise on its own just from the aeration. You can even drop a pump in and run a UV on a loop.
The water I use has been collected from over 50' down about a half mile off shore. It's been run through a huge sand filter and that's it. Depending on the time of year I clean it as I described above and then try to match tank parameters.
Everyone's happy in my reef.
betareef
Active Member
That's interesting. Since I collect mine from the surface, the waves have already kept it well aerated. From 50' down it's not well aerated I guess.
By doing frequent smaller water changes, I don't usually worry about matching anything but temperature. Maybe I should, dunno, but have not had problems.
pacificnewt
New Member
I live in Monterey, CA and have used the natural sea water in a few of my tanks intermittently over the last few years. I’ve taken it from wide, open sandy beaches and also rocky coves. The water from the surf at the beaches tends to be super murky and have a lot of sand/silt suspended in the water column as well as sand crabs, kelp, and other marine debris (including, unfortunately, plastic). The water I harvest from the rocky tide pool areas on the Monterey Peninsula is consistently clearer but has more run off present due to the high density of residential neighborhoods lining the shore. I usually get it from the sandy beaches and just run it through a fine mesh to get most of the debris out. I have never noticed any adverse health impacts in my tanks but also I’ve never seen an explosion in growth as some other users. I would guess since I’m collecting water from super cold temperate ocean waters, most of the micro flora & fauna die off as soon as I bring the water temp up from 52 to 79. The only marine life that survives more than a day or two in my tank are the tigger pods that naturally live in the local tide pools. My rainsford goby loves them!
No it's not from the depth it's been collected at. The research facility stores it in an underground tank with no light. I bring it home in 5 gallon containers and keep it still and dark for a couple more days. That kills/limits any microscopic flora and fauna that made it through the sand filter. pH drops to 7.4 and alkalinity is 7.4 - 7.8.
When it's aerated It comes up to a pH of 8.1 and I dose to raise alk and calcium.
When I did a 50% water change on a friends reef tank, he was running IO Reef Crystals, it was pretty dynamic. LPS swelled up, fish's colors got brighter, LPS put their polyps out more. That was last year and he switched to NSW only. Everything is growing great. Faster ? Not sure, it's not my tank so I don't know what growth rates were before.
Yes! I use a filter sock when getting it. Have been using it last 4 years with next to no issues. I get it at a university of Florida location an test it before adding to my tanks. They get it from a pipe located way out ,far from any beach contamination ( suntan lotions etc). I have " 0" issues an a great looking mixed lps an sps with fish tank(s). Lucky or otherwise it's works in my case.
The University is getting it far enough off shore and deep enough that it's not going to have any surface contaminants. Wave action brings everything lighter than water into concentration at the shore and eventually on to shore. Suntan lotion is the least of your worries. Oil, cleaning solvents, anything and everything a bilge pump dumps into the sea arrive at the shore but aren't present in any significant amount below the first thermocline.
This and salinity may be off. I want to use natural sea water but its always 1.023 when i tested it. May try a different area next time.
betareef
Active Member
According to Wikipedia, at the mean salinity of seawater around the world - "At a temperature of 25 °C, the salinity of 35 g/kg and 1 atm pressure, the density of seawater is 1023.6 kg/m3"
Seawater - Wikipedia
1979fishgeek
Well-Known Member
I’m very lucky to live a right on a tidal estuary, yes it can be silty at times like today when the winds churned it up but my corals absolutely love nsw and if anything the biggest issue I have with my tank is low nutrients I think because of all the natural denitrifying bacteria in the mud. It’s my free miracle mud. lol
I’ve used it for 10 years now and just throw a pump over the sea wall and pump it directly into my tank.
This tanks been running a little over a year now and 99% just from small frags.
I’ve used it for 10 years now and just throw a pump over the sea wall and pump it directly into my tank.
This tanks been running a little over a year now and 99% just from small frags.
1979fishgeek
Well-Known Member
Video added.
???? No video that I can see.
1979fishgeek
Well-Known Member
Sorry, don’t know why but it just would not load. I’ve stuck it on YouTube so I can add a link…. I’m ok with reef tanks not so great with technology. Lol
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betareef
Active Member
This seems to be a consistent thing, yes they do seem to like the natural stuff. I am sure the chemistry of artificial salt is correct, so it must be the little extra things, like the plankton and yes, nutrients.
If I ever get a really big tank, or get too old to lift buckets of seawater, I plan to get a pump and pump it into and out of a big plastic tank that I will put in the back of my ute (pickup truck).
areefer01
2500 Club Member
You can but you need some common sense.
A lot depends on the location and quality. Doesn't matter what Bob above does at the end of the day it is your display and you are responsible. So at least know what could happen then what your risk level is and do what you feel is best. No reason not to use it just know how to use it.
- Make sure you can collect water at the location you chose. Marine parks and/or reserves may be prohibited
- Check water conditions is they are available. Mammels like sea lions can cause some issues depending on their location, breeding, etc. This is no different than diving or swimming on the beach.
- Do not pull water near storm drains
- Do not pull water from a golf course or agriculture area due to pesticides
- Doesn't hurt to filter, store, then use
A lot depends on the location and quality. Doesn't matter what Bob above does at the end of the day it is your display and you are responsible. So at least know what could happen then what your risk level is and do what you feel is best. No reason not to use it just know how to use it.
betareef
Active Member
That's interesting. Not something Australia does as far as I know, but we can't take coral, not even dead on a beach, and there are some areas where we cannot take molluscs. I have to think about why they would ban the taking of water. Maybe they don't want the extra traffic and disturbance of some very sensitive areas?
Of course. I noted happily, the other day, about some covenants for housing and residents of golf course estates, which specified what chemicals they were allowed to use. Of course the golf club is protecting their own greens, waterways, and fairways, but it all helps in the eventual runoff.
good point, if I wouldn't swim in it, it isn't going in my tank
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